The Curlew Harbinger of Spring by danob

Photography • Creatures • posted on Apr 25, 2006

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Description

Curlew (Numenius arquata) Description The curlew is the largest wader in Europe, and has a distinctive long down-curved bill. Their plumage is mostly brown on the upper body with streaks on the neck and underparts, grading to white below the tail. The white rump is conspicuous in flight. Both sexes and the juveniles look alike. Its call is a very distinctive "cooo-leeee" which gives the bird its common name. Behaviour Curlews spend most of the winter months in estuaries and mud-flats, feeding on small marine worms, shrimps and shore-crabs. In early spring the birds move inland to breed in upland blanket bogs, lowland raised bogs and rough pasture. Outside the breeding season they are frequently seen in small flocks, often in the company of other waders. The bird is quite special to me for it was one of the first birds I would spot with my father as a child in the Spring, he was a noted ornithologist and would sing the Ditty " On a moor I saw a plover and a Curlew called her lover Peewit... Peewit... spring has surely come again!"

Comments (29)

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RodolfoCiminelli

1:25PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Great capture my friend......!!! Excellent photo.....!!!!

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kenwas

1:28PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Excellent!

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ironsoul

1:30PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Very, very nice picture. I find the call of these birds very haunting. Thanks for sharing.

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Piliph

1:52PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

An excellent bird picture !

wingnut55

2:00PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

very nice shot ! (at the weekend i saw several Whimbrel here in Lisbon, passing through on their way to Iceland or Scandanavia. unfortunately none of my pics are good enough to post, have to try to catch them on their way back in the autumn).

Valerie-Ducom

2:03PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

wowwwwwwww, excellent image with a perfectly lighting ;) very good !!!! Hugs

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danob

2:06PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Yes Malcolm, they are very similar but a little smaller in size to the Curlew

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Lledeline

2:27PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Great capture

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Cosme..D..Churruca

2:41PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Superb capture... total perfection !

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GiveMe

2:44PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Wonderfully sharp and detailed. Another awesome shot. Tks Danny :^)

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CarolSassy

4:01PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

I love the curved bill, his 'WHAT!?!!?' look, and the pretty colors of his/her feathers. Fantastic pic! V (:

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TwoPynts

4:46PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

A cute Harbinger and wonderful photo!

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GBCalls

4:59PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Super nice shot! Excellent

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YohannR

5:03PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Great pic...!!!!!!!!! V

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babuci

6:07PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Excelent capture of this bird, I always like an introduction with it. You do your work sooo right!

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Margana

6:21PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Lucky you to have had an ornithologist for a father.You must have many wonderful childhood memories.Lovely capture...beautiful detail and fabulous combination of textures and color.Most excellent Danny.-M :^)

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claudialee

8:24PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

Strange looking fellow. How nice that you shared this memory with us, and the beautiful photo of he bird. Thanks and Hugs!!!!

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Richardphotos

8:27PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

what a beautiful bird and awesome closeup capture

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nongo

8:41PM | Tue, 25 April 2006

coooooo-leeeeee!!!! I mean coooool image!!!!!!

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lafayette

11:46AM | Wed, 26 April 2006

Excellent light and details! Thanks for your comment on my doggie, since few time i did not post and comment because i had not the moral, but RR is here and it's a good thing te be better! Have a nice evening

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kansas

11:52AM | Wed, 26 April 2006

A wonderful photo of this Curlew. Brings back memories of fishing in the spring at a lake which was named Lake Curlew. Curlews lived in that area. Thank you.

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