Autumn may not be the ideal time to publish a Butterfly book but delayed by COVID-19, the 4th edition of WILDguides Britain's Butterflies is now available and it's a must have!
A lifelong interest in Butterflies began for me in the 1960’s when as a young budding naturalist ‘The Observers Book of Butterflies’ became a source of wonder and inspiration. Fast forward another forty years to the millennium and with the dawn of the digital age, I bought my first digital camera and needing a new reference book I bought the WILDGuides first edition of ‘Britain’s Butterflies. Using photographs, cleverly arranged on a montage of food plant flowers or habitat, this edition would still be adequate for the novice but times move on. The fourth edition of this ground-breaking book has now evolved into the benchmark for modern photographic field guides. The original duo: David Tomlinson and Robert Still, joined by David Newland and Andy Swash from the second edition have ensured the book keeps pace with modern taxonomy and uses the best available photographs. The foreword, written by Julie Williams CE of Butterfly Conservation, reminds us of their alarming decline around the world and the need to conserve them - hopefully their work will ensure that future generations, are inspired by butterflies too.
Right from the start, this book
looks and feels well made with a soft yet durable cover (flexibound). Weighing
in at 610g and measuring 8 ½ x 6”, it will easily slip into a backpack. There
are over 600 high quality colour images and 76 colour distribution maps
throughout the 256 pages which cover in detail, the identification of all 59
butterfly species that breed regularly in the UK in addition to former breeders
and migrants. Written with an easy-going style, it will appeal to the beginner
but is worthy of a place in the bookcase of the more advanced observer. The
sections on food plants and on recording / monitoring have been expanded and
the species order has been revised to reflect the latest taxonomy.
The introduction sets the scene
for making butterfly identification as simple as possible then covers how
butterflies and moths differ and their biology. The sections on ‘where to look
for butterflies’ and their identification by ‘type’, separated into six families
and then eleven broad groups (eg ‘Browns , ‘whites and yellows’, skippers etc) is
a sensible approach for the beginner. A brief section on colour variation and
aberration whets the appetite for more advanced identification. References to
other books are included, which provide more depth of information.
The bulk of the book deals with
species accounts which are covered in an exemplary, consistent format and how
appropriate that the first section commences with a favourite for many
observers - the Swallowtail.
Where this book excels, is the
ease with which species can be found with each having a double page spread,
information on the left and relevant images on the right.
The conservation status, legal
protection status and measurements of each butterfly are followed by an up to
date distribution map which colour codes the main breeding range, secondary
breeding and for extinct species, the former location. The tried and tested
‘clock diagram’ uses another colour coded scheme to clearly denote when each
life stage occurs, noting that in the north of the species range, this may be
slightly later. Tips on where to look for the species plus possible confusion
species followed by a concise summary of the species’ status in Britain and
Ireland.
The colour plates are superb, males
and females are distinguished where possible, sometimes with annotated close up
images or including both upperwing and underwing shots when appropriate. Some images of subspecies (eg Silver-studded
Blue and Grayling) and forms (eg Comma) are included and a list of subspecies
is included in the main national list (page 237 onwards).
Former breeding species, rare
migrants and vagrants occupy the next thirty pages, detailing their likely
origins. The very rare migrant, Scarce
Tortoiseshell, is included in this section and is only ‘new’ species addition since
the first edition. There was an exciting record of sightings at different
places in south-east England in 2014. Southern Small White gets a mention too,
expanding its range rapidly in Europe and recorded near Calais in 2019. Some
records of either may of doubtful provenance but who knows whether these small
advance parties could one day become UK colonists?
The concluding section features a
complete list of British (and Irish) butterflies, tips on butterfly watching
and photography, butterfly conservation plus recording and monitoring. Having found
your butterfly and photographed it, the online presence of butterfly
conservation and regional groups ensure images can be enjoyed by a wider
audience and these act as ‘news’ of emergence and productive sites.
Published by Princeton University
Press on 14th September 2020, the target price of £17.99 can currently
be found as low as £13.40 at various outlets. Be sure you are buying the
correct edition, with a picture of the Comma on the cover!
This field guide is an absolute
‘must have’ for anyone contemplating a wish to identify and learn more about
butterflies. Whether simply observing butterflies in the garden, the
countryside, local nature reserves or whilst on holiday, it contains all the
information you need when in the field to identify your ‘finds’. For the price,
this fourth edition is a snip and will bring you right up to date! Happy
hunting next spring…
