A landfall in Oman

Oman is a nation in Arabia, just south of Saudi Arabia. Michael Gallagher has compiled an entire book about its avian fauna, complete with illustrations signed Martin Woodcock.

"Birds of Oman" is a reference work more than a field guide. The species presentations are short and succinct. That being said, the color plates are surprisingly good and even have local color (pun unintended). In fact, "Birds of Oman" could work as a coffee table book. It includes all birds you are ever likely to see in Oman, including some of "our" birds, such as grey herons, mallards, grebes, cranes, grey-lag geese... So *this* is where they go when tired of the Swedish winter and boredom!

Even rare vagrants and unconfirmed species have been included on the lush color plates, which may give the reader a slightly skewed view of the avian theatre of this distant Arabian land. But then, birds do fly. So perhaps we shouldn't complain too much about it?

I'm not sure if Oman is anyone's favorite haunt when eager to see mallards or geese, but if you really want to make a landfall, I'm sure "Birds of Oman" is the book for you.