Water Birds

Contents: Introduction. 1. Made for mud and water. 2. Journeys across the skies. 3. Of paddling princes and paupers. 4. Watching flying boats at the zoo. 5. Sinking sea crows and drowning bald ravens. 6. Sleek submarine spearer. 7. Those crotchety old fishermen. 8. In camouflage colours. 9. The hush-hush herons at witch's water. 10. This hunchback remains hidden. 11. The story of satin and lace and saffron face (and lanky legs, of course). 12. Candyfloss bottoms and ragamuffin grumpusses. 13. Escargots-morning, noon and night! 14. The stork with the smiling face. 15. Gross but rare: the adjutant. 16. The thrust of the black sword. 17. Ibis in crisis. 18. Funkypunky spoon feeders. 19. The tutu battalion's corps de ballet. 20. Trumpets in the sky. 21. The spirit of wildfowl. 22. Goosebumps with wild geese. 23. Monster of the gloom. 24. The hanky waver. 25. Kickboxers in the swamps. 26. Don't be a greedy (or silly) coot! 27. Spider's legs on lily pads. 28. Black stilettos and pink knitting-needless. 29. My most elegant wader in the country. 30. Like soldiers on the stones. 31. 'Did-ye-do-it? 32. The pinocchio birds. 33. Viragos in war paint. 34. Landmine in the grass. 35. A bit of shanky panky! 36. Pipers in the mud. 37. Now you see it, now you don't! 38. The flicker flyers. 39. Blizzard birds. 40. About terns. 41. We three kings. 42. Air raiders.

"Birds of a feather have you ever sat by the edge of a reed-fringed jheel on a misty winter morning at dawn? If you get there early enough, when the sky is still dark purple and freckled with stars and the waters are still and calm, snuggle into your windcheater and settle down. And listen and watch and yes, don't forget your binoculars! sport the silhouette of a crane. Identify the trilling call of a dabchick. Discover the exotic plumage of the brahminy duck or pay attention to the snazzy avocets dozing in the water. From grebes to pelicans, cormorants to cranes, herons, storks, geese, ducks, kingfishers, gulls, and so many other water birds, Ranjit Lal takes you bird-watching with a dash of humour, a tinge of admiration and lots of love for these magnificent creatures. An indispensable resource for all bird lovers, this book offers hours of compelling reading and pleasant browsing." (jacket)