Book on Cotswold birds

2:52pm Sunday 11th May 2008

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A BROADWAY man has put pen to paper once again and written a second book about common birds of prey in the Cotswolds.

Hawkwatch, North Cotswolds to Coasts 1988 - 2006, by Mark Turner is the follow-up to his first book published in 2001 called Birding Buzzard Country.

In it, he documents a collection of field notes and observations of colleagues on birds of prey occurring in rural middle England.

It features incidents in southeast Worcestershire, North Gloucestershire, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwickshire as well as information on raptors appearing in other parts of the UK.

Mr Turner, of Church Street, said: "My first book, was in my opinion, well received locally and it generated many reports of birds of prey passed on to me from interested local people.

"All this new found enthusiasm that I discovered among residents in the Cotswold prompted me to write a second book, more pages with detailed records of common and rare raptors in our region."

Hawkwatch gives an insight into the rare visitors to the author's patch and includes several tips for birdwatchers to improve their fieldcraft through a portrayal of actual events, reinforced with graphic details.

Observations of birds in southern England and Wales are referred to including Red Kites, which often turn up in the Cotswolds and are recognised by identification tags fitted to their wings and nestlings.

It also features illustrations by Mr Turner, a self-taught artist who strives to represent his subjects as realistically as possible.

The book is on sale for £10.50.