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Birding and/or birding guidebook?

I'm just starting to think about planning the pieces for a trip that is planned for October. I found a naturalist who takes out birding groups and he has recommended "There’s a very beautifull nature reserve (Diaccia Botrona) close to Castiglione della Pescaia ( avery nice medieval village)." We are staying at a farm about 35 minutes west of Siena and have been told this will be a full day trip.

Has anyone been there who can chime in here? By any chance does anyone know of a newer guidebook for the birds of Italy? The only source I can find is out of print and waaaayyyy expensive to purchase; clearly Italy isn't in the same place with birding as either the UK or US are! Thousands of books on wines are easy to find :-)

Thanks very much -

Posted by
16895 posts

No, we don't have any birding books on our library shelves that I could recommend. Maybe internet resources will be better than what's in print. Good luck!

Posted by
54 posts

My husband is a birder and uses these two guides:

The Birdwatcher's Pocket Guide to Britain and Europe by Peter Hayman and Rob Hume
Collins Bird Guide 2nd Edition: The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe by Lars Svensson

(He has another one, and we're looking for it--but the ones listed above are his mainstays.)

Posted by
54 posts

He said another that is quite good is Birds of the Mediterranean by Paul Sterry.

Posted by
96 posts

Twitcher is the term used in England and it looks perhaps Canada for bird geeks, right? Yes! My previous trips to Europe have involved bringing either no guidebook or struggling to write down what I thought I saw for reference later. You?

Posted by
96 posts

Well, a FOS (first of season) Robin or the amazing Pileated Woodpecker are good places to start on the road to becoming a twitcher! Hope you decide to join our ranks George! Reading is a great way to spend your time as well :-)