Book review: ‘Wintering’ by Stephen Rutt

Wintering is a short but entertaining book in which Stephen Rutt sets out to observe in a single season all the species of migrant geese that overwinter in Britain.

Not formerly much of a goose fanboy, Rutt’s interest is sparked by the arrival of large numbers of pink-footed geese near his new home in southwest Scotland. He is putting the finishing touches to his first book, The Seafarers, at the time, but soon finds himself being distracted. As someone who has often been distracted from work by pink-footed geese above the Dee Marshes, I have considerable sympathy with this predicament.

The writing is unpretentious and informative—just as it should be. By the end of this book, I had greater admiration for this under-appreciated family of birds.

Recommended.