Sunday, 24 July 2011

Curlew




The last of my postings from my recent trip to Rutland Water.

This Curlew flew in whilst I was waiting for the Spotted Sandpiper to show itself. The Curlew is a lovely bird and has beautifully intricate plumage, although some may see it as a `brown` bird!

This is one of Britains largest breeding waders and is primarily identified by its very long, deeply down-curved bill. It is a ground nesting bird, hence the plumage colouration, with up to 38,000 pairs breeding in Britain on the uplands and boggy, grassy heather moorland. The call of this bird is the evocative `cour-eee`, from which it gets its name. These birds are fairly long lived, with the oldest ringed bird being 31 years old.
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14 comments:

  1. Roy24 July 2011 at 21:16

    Lovely shots John, I only ever see a Curlew at Titchwell.

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  2. holdingmoments24 July 2011 at 23:37

    You got closer than I've ever managed.
    I love the sound they make.

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  3. grammie g25 July 2011 at 01:15

    HI John...there is something about the these long billed shore birds I really love ....an the Curlew is no except...thanks for posting him ..I think it has beautiful patterns...even if they are brown!!
    Grace

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  4. Chinatours25 July 2011 at 02:59

    It is always enjoyable to see the pics in your blog, so nice! Greetings from China.

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  5. Britta25 July 2011 at 07:31

    Dear John,
    thank you for that interesting post! I never saw this bird - but it reminds me of others, smaller ones stalking around in the Wadden Sea near Sylt - same sort of beak. (Can't find their English name)

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  6. John25 July 2011 at 20:07

    Thanks Roy! I have seen Curlew at Maxey before and I know there have been a few reported in the PBC area this year, I have just failed to get one as yet!
    J

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  7. John25 July 2011 at 20:09

    Hi Keith,
    It helps that I was in a hide, otherwise I am sure it would have flown, they seem to be quite nervous birds! I love their call too, reminds me of time spent in the Highlands of Scotland.
    J

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  8. John25 July 2011 at 20:11

    Hi Grace,
    Thankyou. Waders are lovely birds to watch for a while. What amazes me is how their bills have nerve endings on the end to help them locate food, quite remarkable!
    J

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  9. John25 July 2011 at 20:12

    Hi Chinatours,
    Many thanks, I try my hardest to make the photo`s worth looking at!
    J

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  10. John25 July 2011 at 20:15

    Hi Britta,
    Thankyou. Maybe the birds you are talking about are Curlew Sandpipers, they have a similar bill, but then again Dunlin sometimes have a long, curved bill, these are much smaller birds though and are a different colour (ish).
    J

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  11. theconstantwalker25 July 2011 at 20:31

    Beautiful birds to see John.
    Last week I saw a small flock feeding in a field on my way to work.
    They were there again the next morning.
    So the next day I take my camera... guess what!!
    I will be better prepared next time lol.

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  12. Susan Scheid26 July 2011 at 02:30

    I remember hearing a curlew for the first time in Wales last summer. A wonderful thing. And that bill is quite something. Love your photos, as always!

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  13. John26 July 2011 at 22:17

    Hi Andrew,
    It is always a thrill for me to see a Curlew!. That is what you might call Murphy`s law, something that normally happens to me, I see loads of interesting things to photograph when I don`t have my camera and when I do, nothing! ;)
    J

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  14. John26 July 2011 at 22:18

    Hi Susan,
    The sound of a Curlew is certainly something wonderful! Thankyou for your kind words about my photographic efforts!
    J

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