Whinchat Ridge

Life Secrets of a Travelling Songbird

Steve J Smith

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Paperback

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English

Saron Publishing
23 October 2025

Mountains; Wildlife: birds & birdwatching; The Earth: natural history general

Professional ornithologists and ardent bird lovers alike will treasure this delightful account of the little-known whinchat. A passionate life-long observer of this shy little bird, Steve has spent summers for the past forty years observing, monitoring and drawing it. Keen observation skills and endless patience have resulted in a unique biography of this charming little bird, as well as poetic descriptions of the Monmouthshire moorland and mountains. A retired countryside ranger in the Brecon Beacons National Park, he is renowned as the leading expert in this often-forgotten tiny creature, featuring in articles, films and studies. But this book is no scholarly tome but a delight to read for anyone with an interest in our countryside, nature and conservation, written as it is with passionate, lyrical prose. Details of the lifestyle and habits of this unassuming, yet fascinating, small bird sit side by side with lyrical descriptions of the author's intimate knowledge of Monmouthshire hillside and moorland. Recommended by nature experts such as Iolo Williams (BBC Wales naturalist and TV presenter) and Dr Stephanie Tyler MBE, ornithologist, zoologist, naturalist, conservationist and author. With beautiful photographs and line drawings by the author, Whinchat Ridge is sure to captivate every reader.

By: Steve J Smith
Imprint: Saron Publishing
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 10mm
Weight: 236g
ISBN: 9781913297633
ISBN 10: 1913297632
Pages: 146
Publication Date: 23 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Living in the eastern valley of Gwent all his life, Steve has had an interest in natural history, particularly birds, since early childhood. This interest gathered momentum with maturity and he began to study birds in greater depth. He has been a licenced bird ringer with the British Trust for Ornithology for many years. Steve has contributed to many journals and books by other writers and has become an authority on the whinchat in Wales. He is also a keen photographer and artist as well as a part-time shepherd, helping to preserve rare breed sheep. He is a recently retired countryside ranger and he describes his interest in the whinchat as 'obsessive'

Reviews for Whinchat Ridge: Life Secrets of a Travelling Songbird

Iolo Williams, BBC Wales naturalist and TV presenter: 'Steve is Wales' Mr Whinchat, and this book is the result of years of diligent ﬁeldcraft and endless patience. It is citizen science of the highest quality.' Dr Stephanie Tyler MBE, ornithologist, zoologist, naturalist, conservationist, and author: I have known Steve Smith for more than 30 years and have a huge admiration for his commitment (or dedication) to his long-running study of Whinchat in the hills of South Wales. He spent many hours in the field and developed exceptional nest-finding skills as well as an intimate knowledge of the behaviour of his birds. Sadly his population declined as did other populations in the UK during the study period.