Second Edition of RSPB Handbook of the Seashore

Since the first edition of the RSPB Handbook of the Seashore was published in 2013, an enormous amount has changed - personally, professionally and across the marine world itself.

Over the past 13 years, marine science has advanced at an extraordinary pace. New technologies, deeper scientific understanding, and the dedication of marine researchers have transformed the way we study and monitor our seas and shorelines.

Where once observations relied largely on divers, field notes and personal records, we now have powerful tools such as high-resolution underwater cameras, automated submersibles, environmental DNA (eDNA) and even satellite technology helping us track change across our ocean and coasts with remarkable accuracy.

Our understanding of species has evolved too. Scientific names continue to change as advances in molecular biology and genome sequencing reveal new relationships between organisms. Projects such as the Darwin Tree of Life Project aim to sequence 70,000 species of eukaryotic organisms across Britain and Ireland, helping scientists better understand the evolution of life itself. As a result, species once thought to belong to one genus may now be reclassified into another, leading to changes in their scientific names.

Alongside these scientific developments, our seas are also changing in more visible and concerning ways. Rising sea surface temperatures, explored in this second edition, are reshaping the ecology of our shores. Different species of kelp and barnacles are becoming more common, while warmer waters around the South West coast are bringing exciting new arrivals for keen rockpool explorers, including an increasing variety of nudibranchs like the Rainbow Sea Slug.

Species once restricted to the warmer waters of South West England are now moving steadily northwards in cooler conditions, providing a striking reminder of how climate change is altering marine ecosystems around the UK.

One noticeable absence from the original handbook was the birdlife so closely associated with our coastlines. For this new edition, Maryanne Taylor has contributed species accounts for the seabirds and shorebirds we encounter around the UK coast, helping make this the most comprehensive and up-to-date edition yet.

Returning to writing about the seashore has been a genuine joy. It has offered the chance not only to revisit a world I love, but also to discover just how much our understanding of it has grown. I hope this second edition inspires readers of all ages to step onto the shoreline, explore its wonders and connect more deeply with the life around them.

You are never too old to be young and to discover something new. And who knows? You may even encounter one of the latest species to arrive on our warming shores: a fascinating, if bittersweet, sign of changing seas.