Members’ survey latest ....................................................Phil Brown

Atlases are about maps, and the distribution maps, based on the fieldwork of a small army of observers, are clear and easy to understand. Most resident species, such as Kestrel and Lapwing, have three maps each, one showing summer, another winter, and the third change since 1980-85. Winter and summer visitors get just a single map, while non-breeding visitors present in both seasons qualify for two. The maps do include the major rivers of Norfolk, making it much easier to place the distribution dots. These come in three sizes –small, medium and large, each indicating population numbers.

The texts for each species are the work of Moss Taylor, who not only writes well, but has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Norfolk’s birds, He was the driving force behind The Birds of Norfolk, published in 1999, so really knows his stuff. The text puts each species into sharp perspective, and every one makes interesting reading.

Species coverage is comprehensive, and even includes Caspian Gull, which receives a full page. Rare visitors are given two or three paragraphs at the back of the book, though some, such as Ring Ouzel and Dartford Warbler, do qualify for maps. Incidentally, it’s worth noting that the birds are given the familiar names we all use, so there are no Tundra Swans or Hedge Accentors lurking here.

Much of the book’s visual appeal comes from the superb selection of photographs, taken largely from David Tipling’s extensive library. David gave the BTO permission to trawl through his entire digital library of over 7000 images to select the pictures they wanted. However, at times the selection is bizarre. Why use two pictures of Red-throated Divers in summer plumage, one even with a chick, when this is a species that doesn’t breed in Norfolk, and is rarely seen there in this plumage? Many of the photographs were not taken in Norfolk, either. It won’t take you long to spot a number of shots that look out of place, even if it’s not always obvious; the Pintail were taken in Japan, the Mallard in New Mexico, but I only know that because David told me. There’s even one very large photograph depicting two birds, one of which isn’t on the British list. I will leave you to work it out.

So how can we do better in Suffolk? My first suggestion would be to use several authors for the texts, as the marathon work undertaken by Moss Taylor can hardly have speeded up the long interval between fieldwork finishing and publication taking place. Sadly, this atlas is already four years out of date, so I believe it’s vital to ensure that our atlas comes out as soon as possible after the fieldwork ceases this year. Secondly, we should have a strict rule that only photographs taken in Suffolk should be used to illustrate a Suffolk atlas, and that details of where and when each photograph was taken should be provided. We are lucky enough to have some great photographers living in our county, so this shouldn’t be difficult. If the editors decide to use line drawings, too, then let’s only use Suffolk-based artists.

However, criticisms aside, this is a volume that most Suffolk-based birdwatchers should have on their shelves, and are likely to refer to often. It may even inspire those of us who live south of the Little Ouse/Waveney to venture north a little more often.

Garden Warbler