Couzens has written her a book that is not ground-breaking but accurately reflects his highlights and low points of birdwatching at the same 'patch' over a number of years. The patch in question has had details modified so that it is not obvious as to its exact location, and leaves you to concentrate on the birds and other animals that he sees.

The book is split into 12 chapters, one per month. There are several sections in each chapter each corresponding to a specific day and date and are not strictly chronological. Couzens writes about the significant days when he has visited his patch that end up meaning something to him. In each of the sub chapter he writes about the birds and other fauna that he sees, he notes significant and rare birds and and reinforces the fact that when you visit these places some days you do not always get what you wish for.

The writing style is very amiable and easy to read. He has masses of energy and enthusiasm for the wildlife in general and birds in particular, and his writing comes across with that. What he highlights here is that the regular and consistent viewing of the same patch can reap benefits in terms of sightings of birds, and the seasonal pointers that pepper the book allow you to imagine the birds as they arrive and the weather conditions at the time.

I did enjoy this book, it It is not really long and I read it really quickly. His main aim of the book is to get you ,the reader, out there searching for birds and animals and keeping records. He does cover other issues, such as the the way that the seasons give structure to the year; he details the new arrivals and the unusual birds that he sees. He mentions things that strike him as being interesting, and he writes about the way that the birds on his patch have changed from years ago.