i just started playing morrowind and i am wondering what mods to get. I would enjoy more creature diversity, shapeshifting spells, and more beast races (or something to expand the current beast races) but if there are other "must-have mods" out there i would like to know about them. Forgive me for my over-asked question

Pluto's http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1060141 is a good place start.
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Mods.Detail&id=1981 has shapeshifting and more.
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Mods.Detail&id=5911 might be of interest.