The Biggest Twitch: Around the World in 4,000 birds

The Biggest Twitch

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There was no tension in this story, their race was to beat an old record and it never felt like they weren't going to succeed. I never got the feeling like they might give up due to mental exhaustion or whatnot. May have been more interesting if there was a My guilty pleasure read is usually a detailed birding adventure story.

May have been more interesting if there was another group doing this at the same time. Also the list of birds is so immense and diverse that following along with the bird details requires way too many field guides or stops to look up things on the internet so I was much less invested in what they were looking at.

The Biggest Twitch - Around the World in 4000 Birds

They also kept reminding us that they were obligated to write this up as a book afterward and it made me feel like they forced much of the story. Finally, Alan just seemed a little smug and mean spirited at times, though maybe his humor doesn't come across in his writing as well. Jan 19, Anne rated it really liked it Shelves: What do these evocative and beautiful names have in common?

Ecuador, Panama, Texas, Cyprus, Finland, Ghana, Ethiopia, Brazil, and of course North Wales among other places feature in their enviable itinerary of birding, and each location is brought to life by the authors, along with the food, accommodation, local characters and, naturally, the stunning list of birds. This is just as much a travel guide as a birding book, and it captures the flavour of each location extremely well — I now have a wish-list of places that I would love to visit too!

Alan and Ruth take turns in writing chapters of the book, and they have quite different writing styles — I found this approach refreshing and interesting. Some of their adventures are truly hair-raising such as the bush fire escape or hilarious such as the Brazilian taxi driver desperate to teach Ruth Portuguese , and throughout the book they are generous in their praise for the fellow birders and locals who helped them in their mission. The attempt on the world record keeps the momentum going, and the reader cannot help but get swept along with the atmosphere.

When the world-record breaking bird is spotted, you want to cheer along with them — and still there is more to see… There are colour photos of some of the gorgeous birds at many of the locations but I wish there were more — I envisage a big coffee-table version of the book with lavish photos on every page!

Sep 29, Robin rated it liked it. While I am not a bird watcher, I have enjoyed reading four books about those who are, this being the latest in that genre. I am fascinated by the sport and the dedication of those who do bird watch. I am amazed at the lengths people will go to to see them,and the logistics and resources it takes to do so. Alan and Ruth undertook an interesting and in many ways unpredictable journey to see if they could break the world record for the number of birds seen in a calendar year, and they were successf While I am not a bird watcher, I have enjoyed reading four books about those who are, this being the latest in that genre.

Alan Davies

Alan and Ruth undertook an interesting and in many ways unpredictable journey to see if they could break the world record for the number of birds seen in a calendar year, and they were successful beyond their imagination. The book they wrote to describe that journey is well-written and also interesting. Birding around the world while name-dropping; leeching off contacts and letting everyone know how well-loved and fabulous they are.

The worst birding book I have ever read.

Mr J Cryer rated it liked it Nov 11, Susan Harrison rated it it was amazing Apr 19, Godricvt rated it liked it Jan 13, Tony rated it really liked it Sep 11, Ross M rated it it was amazing Jul 20, Ernie Pianalto rated it really liked it Dec 31, Joaquin Phlathaguen rated it liked it Aug 08, Neal rated it it was amazing Jan 03, Jamie Everett rated it it was amazing Sep 07, Arnau Soler rated it liked it Sep 21, Matthew O'Donnell rated it really liked it Jan 02, Emily Crow rated it liked it Aug 13, Middlethought rated it it was amazing Aug 06, Sherry rated it it was amazing Jan 05, But there is no mention as to why it was such luck.

Still, you can learn a good bit. And you can pick up on other random tips, such as when traveling through Africa you should always fill up on fuel whenever possible and get local currency ahead of time.

538,48 RUB

Finally, perhaps the most surprising thing that makes big year books a favorite of mine is that they are almost universally well-written. But, for the most part, The Biggest Twitch avoids this trap. One of the ways that Davies and Miller accomplish this is by splitting authorial duties. Basically, one of them would write a chapter, and then the other would tackle the next.

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Their styles are similar enough not to be jarring, but sufficiently different to add a little variety. It was a good idea on their part. Overall, I found this book to be amusing with very few dull stretches. However, the lack of an index and list of birds seen is unfortunate. That is, if you think you can resist the powerful encouragement to actually do so!

by Alan Davies and Ruth Miller

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