Taken at Cley Marshes, Norfolk, on October 5th 2019.
(1/1250th sec at f10. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 48 - 57 cm; WS: 89 - 106 cm

The Curlew is the largest European wader. It has a distinctive very long, evenly decurved bill. It is uniformly streaked and barred grey-brown, with no outstanding plumage features.

It is resident in the British Isles, although scarce in south-east England. It is widely distributed in Europe. Birds winter around Mediterranean or western European coasts.

It breeds in taiga on open bogs or arable fields along rivers, on coastal meadows, wide pastures, moorland, etc.

It has Red status on the UK list. Around 66000 pairs breed in the UK, and 140000 birds spend the winter here.

Sightings

31-Jan-2024	:	Slimbridge, Glos	(20)
07-Nov-2023	:	Slimbridge, Glos	(50+)
22-Jun-2023	:	Steart Marshes, Somerset	(1)
12-Jun-2023	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(3)
18-May-2023	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1)
15-Mar-2023	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1)
28-Oct-2022	:	Flamborough Head, E. Yorks	(1)
28-Oct-2022	:	Tophill Low, E. Yorks	(27)
27-Oct-2022	:	Flamborough Head, E. Yorks	(1)
13-Jun-2022	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(2)
30-May-2022	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(4)
23-Jun-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(2)
07-Jun-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(6)
14-Apr-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(2)
31-Mar-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(2)
28-Feb-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(h)
16-Oct-2020	:	Holkham NNR, Norfolk	(1)
16-Oct-2020	:	Warham Greens, Norfolk	(50+)
15-Oct-2020	:	Holkham NNR, Norfolk	(1)
13-Oct-2020	:	Overy Marshes, Norfolk	(50+)
12-Oct-2020	:	Holkham NNR, Norfolk	(1)
18-Feb-2020	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1)
08-Feb-2020	:	Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk	(1)
07-Feb-2020	:	Holkham NNR, Norfolk
06-Feb-2020	:	Cley Marshes, Norfolk	(9)
04-Feb-2020	:	Overy Marshes, Norfolk	(60+)
03-Feb-2020	:	Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk	(5)
03-Feb-2020	:	Thornham, Norfolk	(18)
05-Oct-2019	:	Cley Marshes, Norfolk	(2)
04-Oct-2019	:	Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk	(2)
03-Oct-2019	:	Morston Salt Marsh, Norfolk	(2)
03-Oct-2019	:	Stiffkey, Norfolk	(1)
03-Oct-2019	:	Holkham NNR, Norfolk	(50+)
02-Oct-2019	:	Cley Marshes, Norfolk	(9)
22-Jul-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(5)
08-Jul-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(2)
24-Jun-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1)
16-Jun-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1)
03-Jun-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(2)
24-May-2019	:	Strathdearn, Highland	(2)
23-May-2019	:	Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire	(5)
23-May-2019	:	Waulkmill, Aberdeenshire	(4)
19-May-2019	:	Achnasheen, Highland	(h)
29-Apr-2019	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(1)
24-Mar-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(h)
23-Mar-2019	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(2)
05-Mar-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(19)
28-Jun-2018	:	Arnside, Cumbria	(6)
27-Jun-2018	:	Arnside, Cumbria	(20+)
26-Jun-2018	:	Arnside, Cumbria	(25+)