A captivating journey through a year in the lives of Britain’s best-loved birds

Have you ever wondered what our familiar garden birds are really up to when they’re not stealing peanuts from the feeder or nesting beneath the eaves? In Nightingales in November, natural history broadcaster Mike Dilger opens the door to a world we rarely see, revealing the secret lives and astonishing seasonal rhythms of twelve iconic British bird species.

Structured as a beautifully crafted bird almanac, the book follows each species through the year, uncovering remarkable behaviours and little-known truths gathered over decades by birdwatchers, ringers, nest recorders and migration specialists. From discovering where British-breeding swallows spend Christmas Day, to knowing the exact moment juvenile tawny owls first appear, this is the perfect “dip-into” companion for anyone curious about British birdlife.

Drawing on cutting-edge satellite tracking and millions of ringing records, Dilger also brings to light the extraordinary mysteries of migration, including the epic journeys of cuckoos during the eight months they spend away from the UK, and the surprising fact that not all robins are as stay-at-home as we once believed.

Illustrated throughout by Darren Woodhead, this richly informative and engaging book blends resident birds, summer visitors, winter migrants and passing travellers into a vivid portrait of the avian year.

A delightful and insightful read for birdwatchers, nature lovers and anyone with a fondness for the wild lives unfolding all around us.