Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching: Eastern Waterbirds in Flight (Peterson Reference Guides)
Though commonly called seawatching, this on-the-fly observation and identification method is by no means restricted to the coast. There are impressive waterbird migrations on the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and many inland lakes and rivers. Nor is it restricted to migrating waterfowl, as the principles of flight identification apply as effectively to ducks flushed off a pond as to distant migrating flocks. Like Hawks in Flight and The Shorebird Guide, the Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching breaks new ground, provides cutting-edge techniques, and pushes the envelope in bird identification even further.
Reviews (43)
602 Pages of waterbird glory in a very textbook-like format
First of all, the Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching/Eastern Waterbirds in Flight is a great value. The book covers 112 species of birds waterbirds with an eastern North America distribution. Waterbirds are basically birds that can be seen regularly swimming or floating on the water's surfaces such as waterfowl, gulls, cormorants, terns, shearwaters, etc. Unlike Roger Tory Peterson's original concept of using paintings as illustrations, this book is done entirely with photographs. However, each photograph is well done. All photographs are of birds in flight, usually flying next to similar species which really helps highlight the difference in profile, size and flight patterns. The species accounts cover indentification and range including maps. There is little information given to biology of the covered species. Without trying to sound corny, the book really is a work of art.
Sets a new standard for seabird identification!
There is a lot of great and practical information in this book to make you a better birder - for beginners to experts. I bird the west coast both from the land and pelagics. The amount of information in this book is amazing - for instance - picking up cues to identify a species by the flock arrangement and size. Highly recommended. I found this book very useful and I live on the west coast. Eagerly waiting for the west coast version!
Extremely useful!
This book has already been useful to us as we do lake watches along Lake Erie. The photos of large and distant groups of birds is so often what we see and need so much practice at identifying. While not a field guide, I have been putting it in a bag and taking it along on each trip to the lake.
” otherwise this a very useful entry to the genre
Helpful, laid out well. A more appropriate title might be “Waterbirds,” otherwise this a very useful entry to the genre.
Amazing guide!
I loved the details on each species. It really gave a realistic outlook at what birds will really look like out on the sea /Lake!
Another Cutting Edge Guide
Well-written, beautifully photographed book of all the seabirds expected in the Eastern US. Great descriptions of the places where these are best seen as well. A must have for birders of all experience.
An Avalon must
Good work. I love Seawatching and this book really came in handy.
A must for serious birders
If you are serious about birding and want to step up your game to the next level in identifying and watching waterbirds, you must consider this book. Unlike the more familiar Peterson's guides with their gorgeous bird portraits, The seawatching guide uses more than 900 photographs to assist birders in identifying birds along the eastern seaboard. I am not a big fan of photographs when trying to learn to identify birds and always felt that Peterson's highly color-saturated drawings provided the best, bar-none portraits that clearly showed the features a birder needed to pay attention to in order to identify species. But the purpose of the seawtching guide is slightly different and I believe the photos are the best choice in this case. Photographs, just like watching birds in "real life" show the lighting and often difficult conditions one faces, particularly when trying to identify birds that are not very close. The point of this guide and photos is to help birders learn the techniques advanced birders use to spot the "anomalies" in a flock of birds and identify what that anomaly is. Drawings would not be as useful as the photos and two main kinds of photos are used: portraits and flock photos. For example, let's say you are at the shore and you see a flock of Scoters migrating, but something tells you they may not all be Surf Scoters. The book shows a panoramic photo of a flock of Scoters that includes Surf and Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, a Bufflehead, and a Hooded Merganser. The text then points out what to look for to identify the "strange birds" in the flock and the photo presents what is essentially the same view and conditions you would face in the field. This helps you learn the techniques to spot the silhouette differences (e.g. does this one have a rounder head or longer neck than the others?) when looking at a flock or string of birds in flight. The book covers the following waterbird families (this is from the book) Anatidae - 44 species (swans, geese, ducks) Phalacrocoracidae - 3 species (comorants) Anhingidae - 1 specie (anhinga) Gaviidae - 3 species (loons) Podicipedidae - 2 species (grebes) Alcidae - 6 species (alcids) Procellariidae - 7 species (shearwaters and petrels) Hydrobatidae - 3 species (storm-petrels) Fregatidae - 1 specie (frigatebird) Sulidae - 3 species (gannets and boobies) Pelecanidae - 2 species (pelicans) Stercorariidae - 5 species (skuas and jaegers) Laridae - 18 species (gulls) Rynchoptidae - 1 species (Black Skimmer) Sternidae - 13 species (terns) Note that this is not a field guide to ALL the species, it is intended as a way to provide much more information and build skills for birdwatching along the eastern seaboard of the U.S. The depth of information is extraordinary and extremely helpful. There is information on seasonal arrivals of birds, along with very in depth information about the species included the book. There are extensive range maps and even quizzes intended to build skills when looking at a string of flying birds and identifying the "anomalies." For example, on the Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) there are extensive descriptions about the appearance, silhouette, flight/flocking habits, dates of arrival, similar species and subspecies. There are a LOT of photos, on an average two-page "spread" when looking at the book, you may see four photos plus a range map. One of the photo is a portrait, one a flock relatively close up, another is a large flock in the distance with silhouette information and then there is another flock in "mid range" talking again about identifying points. It is the next best thing to standing at the shore with an expert at your side, describing how to pinpoint the identifying characteristics in the birds you are seeing. It is unbelievable how much info is packed into this book (610 pages or so). And one thing I really liked was a section near the back that described specific places like the Outer Banks of North Carolina (where I bird a lot) with extensive information about the birds you can see there and when. They included 47 spots all up and down the seaboard and I found it incredibly useful. It really helps me to plan trips (when the best dates would be and the best places). Honestly, this is a huge, thick book, but there is so much great information in it that I'm afraid I'm not giving it justice. Needless to say, while this may not be the best book for an "Intro to Bird Watching," it is a FANTASTIC resource for those interested in birds they may see along the coast. I highly recommend it.
A Great Reference Whose Use Extends Well Beyond the Coasts
There are lots of specialty birding references and some end up standing heads and shoulders above the crowds. This book is one of those. Years ago I first read
Extremely detailed and thorough book for sea bird watching
I've been interested in bird watching since I was a kid in the Boy Scouts. I've always lived on the East coast of the US, but never on the ocean. Although living inland, I've been within flying distance of sea birds including seagulls, ducks, geese, et. al. I've also had some experience watching loons and other waterfowl. For years I've relied only on the Internet and my Audubon field guide. While I continued to appreciate the details of the field guide, it wasn't until I read the Peterson's Reference guide that I realized what I was missing. Wouldn't it be nice if a bird just came right up to me and stood there so I could see its size, shape, color, and behavior. Well expecting my time participating in a Pigeon Watch (in Syracuse, NY) and a few brave geese that walk right up to my porch, I can honestly say that NEVER happens. Thus the need for a book that better describes with flock and individual flight patterns of sea birds. This guide details very specific "typical" patterns of bird in flight at different altitudes, distances, with and without other species, etc. The book is very focused on teaching the telltale characteristics useful to distinguish one species from another when they are not close enough (and they are in flight) to determine the species based on plumage alone. As both a conservationist and hunter, I have (and continue to) find the book extremely useful. Based on my experience I also intend to seek out Peterson's field guide. I really hope they would consider a dedicated and in-depth guide for upland (ground) birds in the US as well.
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