Wild Things columnist Eric Brown discovers a few secrets revealed in the latest bird location guides now greatly expanded after 37 years providing clues to scarce birds' whereabouts.

During 1987 a book appeared which revolutionized birdwatching in southern Britain. There had been a few previous attempts to connect birders with birds in printed form but details were lacking. Then Don Taylor of the Kent Ornithological Society, Jeffery Wheatley of the Surrey Bird Club and Tony Prater of the Sussex Ornithological Society combined to produce a ground-breaking book for birdseekers. Suddenly, even the most half-hearted birder could hunt the right places for anything from a nightingale to a Baird's sandpiper.

For less than a tenner the book made available every tiny detail of productive sites which could be scrutinized and used to locate good birds. You could scan a site index listing which birds should be present in which season or look up a particular bird in another index which directed you to sites where it could be found.

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These volumes have been updated and slightly tweaked through the years until arriving at the latest off the "Where to Watch" production line. "Where to Watch Birds in Surrey and Sussex" and "Where to Watch Birds in Southeast England" , which includes Essex, London and Kent, are much expanded and improved on their predecessors.

All the usual fine detail is there from maps, road directions, public transport and a calendar for each site advising which times of year birds are present. The latest volumes include satnav details and telephone numbers for most sites.

Another important addition to the 1987 version concerns lifting secrecy around rare breeding birds. Back then, breeding areas of goshawk and honey-buzzard remained strictly secret. But now the birding authorities have agreed such details may be published. Goshawks are thriving in Sussex with up to 60 pairs breeding annually and there are at least 20 honey-buzzard pairs. Several regular locations for both are revealed in the book.

Keeping publications like these up to date is challenging. By the time information is collected, checked and published it has often changed. Thus the Southeast England book informs on page 85 that for Crossness Nature Reserve in Belvedere there is no official car park but easy parking on Norman Road. Industrial works led to street parking being banned but there IS now an official park by arrangement only. As for most of the listed sites there is a telephone number to call before travel.

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Many an ornithologist cut their birding teeth on publications like these which continue to bring a 200-species-a-year target within range of once-a-week birders. Absolutely essential for the beginner and experienced birder alike whether planning to visit Richmond Park, the south coast, Surrey heaths or industrial areas of the lower Thames. The number of sites included has escalated from that first edition. Surrey now has 88 sites, Sussex 96 sites and Kent about 70 sites. Other minor sites are also mentioned.

When you arrive at these places you may need an identification guide. The RSPB Birds of the British Isles pocket guide is ideal for beginners. Whether it is 290 species as claimed in the back page summary or 280 mentioned in the introduction there are plenty to satisfy. Every page features concise text, distribution maps and a couple of Rebecca Nason's superb photographs. This lightweight pocket-sized guide is destined to become a best-seller.

Where to Watch Birds in Surrey and Sussex by Matt Phelps and Ed Stubbs

Where to Watch Birds in Southeast England (Essex, London and Kent) by David Callahan

Both published by Helm for Bloomsbury price £27.99 each.

RSPB Birds of the British Isles by Rebecca Nason is published by Bloomsbury price £12.99