I have just been through, and I say ‘been through’ rather than ‘read’ because this is very much a reference work, a really useful book. It’s Beat about the Bush: Exploring the Wild, a Comprehensive Guide, by Trevor Carnaby. It is the latest in a series of his reference books covering a number of wildlife species, but this is, as the title says, a Comprehensive Guide.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN : From my Hide – The day of the sparrow
It takes the form of questions and answers, the sort of queries that come up in terms of wildlife and the environment, whether it is at home or in the bush. For example, the first question, under the chapter on mammals, is, ‘What is the difference between indigenous and endemic?’, and towards the end in the chapter on the general environment, ‘How does the moon affect tides?’ The Q&A idea works well: my wife and I have tried it, she asks the questions and I have found the answers in moments
Apart from those already mentioned there are chapters on birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, plants, and field signs and clues. There are frequent useful lists, helpful comparative tables (like how to tell the difference between swifts and swallows and martins), and identification guides. There is a comprehensive glossary and index. There must be literally thousands of photographs, all by Carnaby, who, by the way, has been working in the bush for 20 years.
It is NOT a field guide. There are over 600 pages and it weighs 1.3kg, so this is a book for beside your chair at home or on the back seat of the vehicle when you are on safari.*
Staying in the wild, that remarkable individual, the greatest of all environmental and wildlife media people, Sir David Attenborough, has set a new record.
The latest episode in his new series, Blue Planet Two, featuring life in water, was downloaded by about 80 million Chinese, all at the same time, creating something of a first, causing the Internet to actually slow down. It is thought this incident makes Attenborough the most watched individual on Earth.**
And coming home, we had a home invasion the other day, a redwing starling invited itself in. It ended up in the bedroom, where my wife managed to corner it. She had it gently in her hands, but it escaped, leaving a handful of tail feathers behind it. We did eventually coax it out of the cottage and it seemed to be flying just fine. Now, those tail feathers. The redwing starling is noted for its red-patched wings, naturally, but have you ever seen its tail feathers? The outer ones, the long ones, are mainly black but with white dribbles leaking into the black. The smaller feathers are mainly cloudy white with black stripes right across them and the smaller the feather the fluffier they are. They are really quite beautiful – they are in a little vase on my desk.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN : From My Hide: Rare pine martens remain elusive
We have lots of redwings around and their haunting, liquid call is just so evocative.
*Beat about the Bush: Trevor Carnaby, Jacana, Johannesburg, 2017. **The Week: The Best of the British and Foreign Media.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
For news straight to your phone, add us on WhatsApp 082 421 6033
