User-friendly Field Guides
IDENTIFICATION KEYS & GUIDES
DOWNLOAD, PRINT & LAMINATE:
COMMON ORCHIDS OF THE WEST HIGHLANDS
Print the six pages. Pair pages back-to-back and laminate the pairs. Then sellotape outer sheets first, next inserting the inner sheet and you've got a robust waterproof guide for use in the field.
COMMON PERIWINKLES A4 page/side 1 (laminate pp 1 & 2 back-to-back)
COMMON PERIWINKLES A4 page/side 2
COMMON BARNACLES A4 page/side 1 (laminate pp 1 & 2 back-to-back)
COMMON BARNACLES A4 page/side 2
COMMON PERIWINKLES A5 both pages (laminate winkles & barnacles back-to-back)
COMMON BARNACLES A5 both pages (laminate winkles & barnacles back-to-back)
CRABS & CRAB-LIKE CRUSTACEANS (a fully illustrated field key)
Print the eleven pages, then proceed roughly as per Orchids. The back page will be blank and, take care as you collate and sellotape-bind because the spine will be a bit bulky.
THREE XANTHID CRABS (fully illustrated descriptions of some unusual crabs)
Print the six pages, then proceed to laminate and collate as per Orchids.
TIDES EXPLAINED (PDF)
JELLYFISH #1 ( Link The Wildlife Trusts)
JELLYFISH #2 (Link- Marine Conservation Society)
WHALES & DOLPHINS (PDF - Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society)
BUMBLEBEES (PDF - Bumblebee Conservation Trust)
EARTHWORMS (Link - Earthworms Society UK
BRITISH MARINE SPONGES - (PDF - Marine Conservation Society)
THE FERN GUIDE (BOOK: A key to the British ferns, clubmosses, horsetails and quillworts).
KEY TO COMMON FERNS (FOLDING WATERPROOF CHART)
Field Studies Council publications both by James Merryweather former trustee of SLEF. Probably the most popular, most used, fern guides in the UK. [Have to be paid for, but FSC prices are very fair.]
MALE FERNS - IDENTIFICATION CHARACTERS CHART (spreadsheet)
Identifying Britain's Ferns a YouTube video from James Merryweather.
HIGHLAND COUNCIL FIELD GUIDES (Merryweather Natural History series)
More from James Merryweather on his 'Auchertyre Academy' YouTube channel.
We are currently looking at options for making the content below available online.
- FERNS (complete illustrations - hundreds - to accompany The Fern Guide, above)
- 9 SEASHORE LECTURES (for teachers & students, includes a course manual)
- FLOWERLESS PLANTS (an introduction for beginners to liverworts, mosses, ferns, horsetails, clubmosses, quillworts and even lichens)
- RHODODENDRON (talking about an invasive non-native weed of great importance in our area plus an introduction to the Lever and Mulch method for its removal)
- HIGHLAND SEASHORES (a lavishly illustrated friendly guide in ten sizzling chapters - for residents and visitors, available from Amazon Books.
Assistance with the notorious British male ferns (advanced stuff - courage!).
BUZZARD OR EAGLE? (PDF - RSPB)
Golden Eagle, White-Tailed Eagle and Buzzard identification made easy by comparing them, from the people who know best - RSPB. You can also obtain copies (laminated card) from the RSPB office, Old Corrie Industrial Estate, Broadford, Isle Of Skye IV49 9AB; 01471 822 882.
FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL FIELD GUIDES
See the full range, suitable for all ages and levels. They cover most aspects of UK natural history and we recommend them most highly!
... more to come
