The RSPB Spotlight series introduces a selection of iconic UK wildlife to the general reader. This latest title focuses upon the swallow & the swift, two well known birds that, although unrelated, are often combined &, indeed, confused in the popular imagination. Traditional heralds of the European summer, swallows & swifts have many things in common. Both feed on aerial insects & are thus similarly adapted for an aerial lifestyle, with long wings, aerodynamic bodies & fast agile flight. Both have a penchant for breeding on or around buildings, bringing them into close contact with people. & both are long-distance migrants, departing our insect-free shores in autumn to spend winter in sub-Saharan Africa then returning the follow spring. These seemingly miraculous journeys, combined with a predilection for returning to the same building to breed year after year, has seen both birds embedded deep in our cultural heritage. Appearances, however, can be deceptive. Swallows & swifts are not related. Swallows (which also include martins) belong to the order passeriformes, or perching birds, alongside the likes of sparrows & robins. Our UK species, the barn swallow, is the best known of some 83 species worldwide. Swifts belong to the order Apodiformes, alongside hummingbirds, & our common swift is one of some 100 species worldwide. The striking similarities come down to convergent evolution, a process by which animals from separate evolutionary roots evolve to resemble one another in this case, by adapting to the shared demands of a life spent catching small flying insects. The similarities are so striking that it is perhaps unsurprising how often swifts & swallows are confused. This highly readable study looks closely at both birds, examining both their differences & similarities. Separate chapters cover all aspects of their biology & lifestyle, from their mind-boggling migrations to the mud construction of their nests. Fascinating secrets are revealed, such as how swifts may pass an entire year in flight without once landing. The book also looks at other swifts & swallows around the world, placing our two UK species within this broader context. Finally, it examines the relationship that we have enjoyed with these birds since time immemorial, spanning both culture & conservation, & offers expert tips on where & how you can watch them for yourself. ...

This is the first book to explore in detail every RSPB reserve in Britain, from the wild forests of Caledonia & teeming seabird cities of the northern coasts, to the rolling heathlands, pristine wetlands & urban oases of the south. Here you`ll find everything you need to plan & enjoy days out at some of the best wildlife-watching places anywhere, with full details of access arrangements, visitor facilities, advice on when to visit & the wildlife you can expect to see throughout the year. For every reserve you`ll find a map of how to get here &, where appropriate, the trails around the reserve & the habitats you`ll find, so you can plan your visit according to what you`d like to see & how much time you have to visit. Illustrated throughout with colour photographs of these beautiful wild places & the animals & plants that live in them. ...

This laugh-out-loud book is bursting with facts, lists, jokes & funny stories all about nature! From the hilarious Andy Seed, winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2015 for Best Books with Facts, comes the amazing Incredible Book of Fantastic Fascinating Nature published in partnership with the RSPB. Which fish can walk on land & climb trees? Ever wondered what makes a tiger walk backwards? How much poo comes out of an elephant`s bottom? Where does chocolate come from & what are nature`s oddest funghi? Discover answers to these & much more in this amazing book of weird nature! This funny & fascinating book is also bursting with brilliant games & quizzes & hilarious artwork from Scott Garrett. An unmissable book for nature lovers! ...

Discover the amazing wildlife you can find in your own garden with this fascinating guide! Find out all about garden birds, animals, plants & creepy-crawlies. Turn the pages to discover colourful butterflies, friendly robins, shy hedgehogs & much more. You might even get some unexpected visitors! Features stunning photographs, brilliant facts & handy tips on where & when to spot the wildlife that visits your garden. The perfect guide for young nature-lovers everywhere! ...

Discover over 1, 000 species of animal, plant & fungi found in Britain
- from the humming-bird Hawk moth to the False Deathcap
...

A book & rubber stamp set, with six colourful ink pads. The book is bursting with ideas for making pictures with the circles, triangles, squares & petal shapes on the stamps. Step-by-step instructions show how to make animals, robots, a princess`s ball gown & a castle & there`s lots of space for children to fill with their own pictures. ...

A book & rubber stamp set, with six colourful ink pads. The book is bursting with ideas for making pictures with the circles, triangles, squares & petal shapes on the stamps. Step-by-step instructions show how to make animals, robots, a princess`s ball gown & a castle & there`s lots of space for children to fill with their own pictures. ...

A fun & fascinating flap book that follows rubbish on a journey from the bin to the sorting factories & recycling centres. Over 60 flaps reveal how glass, metal, plastics & paper are recycled & what happens to the rubbish that can`t be recycled.

Includes:: a large, fold-out page showing the amazing machines that separate materials in recycling centres.

...

Chipo & his little sister Gentle live on Papa Fudu`s dumpsite in Rubbish Town, searching for valuable things amongst the rubbish to try to stay alive. Life isn`t easy
- luckily, Chipo has spirit, courage & lots of imagination! & now, he has a plan... But when Chipo & Gentle are caught with something precious that Papa Fudu wants for himself, they have to think quick, move fast. Suddenly they`re on the run... Along with their friend Dede & their loyal dog, Mouse, Chipo & Gentle set off on a dangerous & exciting journey to find a safe place to call home
- meeting a cast of extraordinary characters along the way.

...

Rubens` Antwerp: A Guide highlights the life & work of Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) in a comprehensive & accessible way. The Antwerp museums & churches contain about a hundred paintings, drawings, designs & sketches by Rubens. A large part of those are public. Antwerp is the only city in the world that is so deeply rooted with Peter Paul Rubens & his baroque heritage. Rubens` Antwerp: A Guide means that you can experience Rubens & the Baroque in an intense way. This multifaceted acquaintance with Rubens goes hand in hand with a dive into the glorious past of the vibrant city of culture, where the master`s life largely took place. A mapped walk takes you to the various places in Antwerp where Rubens` work can be seen. You can visit his house with the studio, where so many masterpieces came about. You also visit the homes of his friends Balthasar Moretus & Nicolaas Rockox, & you can admire paintings of him in the historic churches in the rooms for which they were made.2018 is the official Rubens` year. ...