The last comprehensive review of Nottinghamshire's birds was produced more than four decades ago. Much has changed since then, and a new avifauna is long overdue. Birds of Nottinghamshire draws together historic reports from the 19th Century, records from the files of the county bird club (Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers), and data from national and regional surveys and monitoring programmes. The resulting account presents an overview of the present state of the county's birdlife, set against a context of environmental and climatic change. The gravel pits in the Trent and Idle Valleys form major corridors for birds moving across Britain and Nottinghamshire has attracted more than its share of national rarities. These include Britain's first Egyptian Nightjar and Lesser Yellowlegs in the 19th Century, Bufflehead, Redhead, Cedar Waxwing and breeding Black-winged Stilts in the 20th Century, and a memorable nesting attempt by European Bee-eaters in 2017. The woods and heaths of Sherwood lying in the middle of the county also provide a haven for an array of iconic species including Nightjar, Woodcock, Honey-buzzard and Hawfinch. Birds of Nottinghamshire describes the past and present status of the 334 species that have been recorded in Nottinghamshire up to 2017. Lavishly illustrated with photographs taken within the county, and sketches from the internationally recognised artist Michael Warren, it is intended to be an authoritative reference to the birds of Nottinghamshire.
The authors are all members of Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers.
"[...] The Birds of Nottinghamshire is a weighty tome that runs to 606 pages, a result of the incredible amount of information it carries, both informative and entertaining in equal measure. You can’t have an interest in the birds of Nottinghamshire and not own this book."
– Paul Stancliffe, BTO book reviews