RSPB Id Spotlight – Coastal Birds

Whether you are scanning cliff faces packed with auks or watching large seabirds dive underwater to find food, visiting a colony of coastal birds is an unforgettable experience. But can you tell a Razorbill from a Guillemot? Or accurately distinguish between a Fulmar and a Common Gull? The vast and varied coastline of the UK provides refuge for an enormous number of seabirds that visit our shores to breed or spend the winter months here.

RSPB ID Spotlight Coastal Birds is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 44 of our most widespread and familiar coastal birds by renowned artist Stephen Message.

– Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification
– Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field
– The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our coastal birds. The conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB is working to support them is also covered.
– Advice on the best time of year to visit a seabird colony and practical tips on what we can all do to reduce the plastic waste that can end up in our seas are also included

The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

Author Biography:

Stephen Message is one of the UK’s foremost bird artists as well as an experienced birdwatcher. He studied Graphic Design, then specialised in natural history illustration at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and has worked as a freelance artist ever since. Stephen has twice been runner up for the Bird Illustrator of the Year, and he was also the runner up for the Birdwatch Artist of the Year in 2017. Stephen has illustrated many books in his career, including Waders of Europe, Asia and North America, Bill Oddie’s Birds of Britain and Ireland and the Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia.

Marianne Taylor is a freelance writer, illustrator, photographer and editor. Marianne worked in publishing for seven years before taking the plunge as a freelancer in 2007. Since then, she has written more than 25 books for adults and children on a range of natural history subjects, including RSPB Garden Birds, RSPB British Birds of Prey, RSPB Seabirds and The Way of the Hare. A passion for all wildlife, but especially birds, has always been a driving force in Marianne’s life.