Curlew
Numenius arquata
47.5768, -3.01884
Field Notes
Description:
Often referred to as Eurasian or Common Curlew, this is the largest of waders (Scolopacidae) in its range. It reaches about 50 cm in body length and sports an inconspicuous long curved bill of some 10 - 12 cm in length.
Habitat:
Observed in wetlands, on shores of stream in an estuary, adjacent to a series of protected dunes (ornithological reserve, nidification site for Sand martins) and separately protected (geological reserve) rocky shores. The estuary itself is very rich in birdlife, but, on the wader side, I observed only one Curlew and one Whimbrel (visible on pic N° 5, smaller one of the two, on the right - I did not get any good pics of Whimbrel this time, but more about this species in one of my previous spottings here https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/1347884444).
Notes:
This series of pics was a tough nut to crack as I had to shoot from a distance (as the entire areas were protected, I was unable to approach) and in a bad light condition (against the sunlight). The area itself was gorgeous to explore, it is very rich in wildlife, and birdlife in particular.
The estuary is adjacent to two highly protected and very interesting natural areas. The first one is the dune system at the edge of estuary, at the time forbidden to entry (nidification site). Second protected area is the Natural protected Geological reserve, immediately adjacent to the former and to the beach; and its scenery is spectacular.
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