Field / Identification Guide Handbook / Manual
New
By: James Shipman(Author)
120 pages, colour photos, colour & b/w illustrations
Click to have a closer look
About this book
Customer reviews
Biography
Related titles
About this book
Read our interview with James here.
Identifying Bats of Britain and Ireland will help anyone understand the fun and adventures to be had working with these fascinating animals. Packed with insider information, it offers expert guidance on how to identify bats in the hand. As you learn the process of handling them safely, you will also discover the key features that distinguish one species from another.
Filling a gap between basic books and more technical volumes, this guide uses humour, mnemonics, rhymes and images as it communicates in simple terms the techniques required when training for a bat licence. Detailed images, diagrams and tables help in comparison between species, and the fundamentals of bat ecology and survey equipment are discussed. All British bat species are covered, as well as possible vagrants.
Warning: James's infectious enthusiasm for bats is likely to rub off – reading about these fascinating mammals may well become a lifelong obsession.
Customer Reviews (5)
-
Perfect guide!
By
Kriz
7 Jan 2025
Written for Paperback
Helpfully concise and keeps useful tips short and digestible, with useful simple diagrams. I become overwhelmed by the masses of jargon and information in many books and often end up reading pages and pages without really taking anything in, so I am certain that this guide will be the final block in helping me perfect my bat ID skills. Can't wait to use it in the field.
5 of 5 found this helpful
-
Was this helpful to you? Yes No
-
A must have!
By
Arabella
18 Jan 2025
Written for Paperback
The diagrams are easy to follow and the concise ID descriptions are well complemented with high quality photographs. I have already used it out in the field and it is the perfect size to take out and about. The ruler included within the back cover is going to be a game-changer!
4 of 4 found this helpful
-
Was this helpful to you? Yes No
-
A brilliant guide written by a passionate bat worker!
By
Rebecca
20 Jan 2025
Written for Paperback
James is so incredibly passionate about bats, and training how to correctly handle and identify them, and it definitely comes across in this guide! Easy to use and find all the info you need, it's packed with so many helpful ID tips and tricks, I can't wait to take this out and field test it. It's so well thought out, including things like a printed ruler within the fold-out cover, next to average forearm lengths and weights for those times you are pondering a cryptic bat in the hand. This is going to be a well-used book indeed!
2 of 2 found this helpful
-
Was this helpful to you? Yes No
-
Essential guide for bat workers
By
Josh
21 Jan 2025
Written for Paperback
This guide provides a highly detailed but accessible approach to identifying bats in the UK. It has unique and helpful identification tips that you would struggle to find in other resources. An invaluable reference for anyone involved in bat work.
2 of 2 found this helpful
-
Was this helpful to you? Yes No
-
Pocket James!
By
Craig
21 Jan 2025
Written for Paperback
Now you can take one of the best ever bat workers with you everywhere!
James is the most naturally gifted bat worker I've met. He can identify a bat at fifty paces, with one eye closed. At night!
This gift has now been chronicled to give you the key features and characteristics for identifying UK species, and much, much more.
Above all, James is selfless and wants to help you learn. This guide is for everybody.
5 of 5 found this helpful
-
Was this helpful to you? Yes No
Biography
James Shipman is a lifelong bat enthusiast who loves to inspire and motivate future bat workers. He works as a senior ecologist and is involved in numerous bat-related projects. In 2016 he was recognised with the Bat Conservation Trust’s Pete Guest Award for outstanding contribution to bat conservation.
Field / Identification Guide Handbook / Manual
New
By: James Shipman(Author)
120 pages, colour photos, colour & b/w illustrations
"At long last, a book that anyone who works with bats needs to identify British bats (and the vagrants and migrants that visit these shores in ever-increasing numbers). A long overdue tome that is well written by someone who knows his subject. The book is full of all the 'hints' and 'tips' you'll need to look for on those difficult to identify, or cryptic species. Thanks to James, it will sit well in my bat-book library."
– Colin Morris
"For me this is one of the most anticipated bat books for a several years and I'm delighted that James has taken the time to put it together. I was pleased to see that the book reflects the authors approach to batwork – managing to combine accurate and well-observed descriptions in a light-hearted and often humorous way. This is another excellent book from Pelagic that will happily join the others on the bookshelves of anyone working with British bats in any capacity."
– Richard Crompton, Ecology on Demand
"An essential companion for anyone new to bats or already working with them in the UK and Ireland. Brimful of practical ID tips along with detailed photographs. This is a book that captures James's generosity, fun loving personality and joy at sharing his knowledge with others."
– Graham Hart, Suffolk Wildlife Trust
"A great book I would recommend for those starting out on their bat journey and those who would like a refresher. Full of facts while being easy to read, understand and remember. James' chatty style is wonderfully fun, so you'll be learning and laughing."
– Laura Holmes, ecologist and UK bat specialist