UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. • Assess an area before undertaking gardening or maintenance. The curlew is the largest European wading bird, instantly recognisable on winter estuaries or summer moors by its long, downcurved bill, brown upperparts, long legs and evocative call. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn. They are different birds. See some of the ways you can get into green living. Coastal numbers build up from July and reach a peak in January and February. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. * This map is intended as a guide. Both of the estuaries are nationally important for Curlew, with five-year peak mean figures of 3,750 and 1,500 respectively, the maximum usually being recorded in November or December (Musgrove et al 2007). Flock of Birds. However, when the breeding season occurs, the number of birds in a locality is the usually just a mating pair. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Two fabulous flocks of birds flew overhead today, near Eastbourne. Please use the Contact link in the header and select 'Subscribe to Blog' to receive email updates. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Its long, downcurved bill is an unmistakeable feature and perfect for probing the mud for prey. Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help. Flocks of up to 200 or 300 birds can often be found in Wirral fields. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. All content is copyright protected. The curlew can be seen around the whole UK coastline with the largest concentrations of found at Morecambe Bay, the Solway Firth, the Wash, and the Dee, Severn, Humber and Thames estuaries. The bush curlew is sometimes recorded in flocks. As for your bat theory, you may have a point. Catch up with the RSPB’s own nature detectives on the case as they look to save some very special places. The habitat codes showed that 56% of the tetrads with wintering Curlews were farmland, mostly improved (34%) or unimproved (11%) grassland, with few on tilled land. Nature is an adventure waiting to be had. Most of the rest (34% of the total) were on tidal sites or saltmarsh. The eerie, 'cur-lee' call of the curlew is a recognisable sound of wet grasslands, moorlands, farmland and coasts. Cute. Find out more about the partnership, © The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. Look for them in their breeding habitat from April to July. And perhaps bats turn into blue tits during the winter :whistle: Adele, the egret was rather more cooperative than usual. Click image. Following the floods this winter, watch how one area is using nature as a natural protector. The winter distribution of Curlew is almost the opposite of that in the breeding season, with birds in both estuaries and adjacent areas, and concentrations east of Northwich and towards Sandbach, whilst they are absent from most of agricultural Cheshire and the eastern hills; some of the records in the latter areas were noted by the observer to be from birds in February returning to their breeding sites. Marilyn, the egret was posing beautifully and as for the blue tit I just couldn't resist posting the shot. SC037654, We use cookies on our website to help give you the best online experience. Although there were more records of Curlews on farmland, the large flocks are in tidal areas so that most of the birds are on the estuarine mudflats where they feed on worms such as ragworm, and crabs and molluscs. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I love the Egret and the little upside-down bird! Most British-breeding birds move out, to the west coast, southwest England, the south of Ireland or France, while there is a large influx of birds from the northeast, especially Finland (Migration Atlas). Even the residual smell of food can attract animals, including predators which can kill curlews and their chicks. Sponsors: Heritage Lottery Fund, Cheshire County Council (Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire East), Forestry Commission, Macclesfield Borough Council, Halton Borough Council, Natural England, Shell UK, United Utilities, Vale Royal Borough Council and the Zoological Gardens Chester. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. This website uses cookies to aid the operation of the site. The reserve has seen more than thirty species of wading birds. Coastal numbers build up from July and reach a peak in January and February. Canada geese, here they say those birds are evil :left: Darko, so I've heard. The first was a large group of curlews, our largest wading bird; but these were high over the feeding grounds. And finally, after all the exotic species, a blue tit (feeding 'antipodean' style). Find out more about the nature and wildlife outside your window. Many Curlews were found in traditional sites, and observers noted the tendency for birds to frequent the same fields from week to week and indeed from one winter to another. From records submitted to the annual county bird reports, the inland roosts, which used to be a feature of the county in the 1970s and 1980s (Elphick 1979) now seem to be occupied in autumn but not into winter. They're smaller than mallards, and very pretty little ducks when seen on the water. As many as 3,000 were in the Mersey estuary in December 1933 and flocks of varying sizes up to 2,000 were common in the Dee estuary at any time during winter. In winter he had observed flocks, generally from 50 to 100 birds, scattered all over the miles of banks exposed at low tide. The habits and movements of our largest wader would repay further study. Footage of a curlew in its natural habitat. Cheshire and Wirral Ornithological Society. Look for them in their breeding habitat from April to July. Many Curlews were found in traditional sites, and observers noted the tendency for birds to frequent the same fields from week to week and indeed from one winter to another. Love the egret! Two fabulous flocks of birds flew overhead today, near Eastbourne. The national totals for wintering Curlew have shown a shallow long-term increase, in which the countyâs estuaries have shared. Especially in hard weather, ragworms burrow deeper and the shorter-billed males cannot reach them as easily, so the sexes often form separate flocks, with the females at the coast and males tending to feed inland, but there is considerable movement between the tidal areas and inland fields, often daily. Coward (1910) wrote that they were most abundant on passage, but at all seasons Curlews may be seen on the mudflats and sandbanks of the estuaries of the Dee and Mersey. Dustin Warncke Recommended for you Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird, Help nature thrive as a corporate partner, Climate change effects on nature and wildlife. Another unusual one for me, though I'm pleased to say that my attempt at identification proved accurate. This is a heavier crop (no large version). Tell me more. We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy, The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Greatest breeding numbers are found in N Wales, the Pennines, the southern uplands and E Highlands of Scotland and the Northern Isles. Please send usage requests via the contact link at the top of the page. I've posted some large versions of some of these which you can get by clicking the relevant photos.Click image. Registered charity number 702484. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. It’s nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans? Curlews can be seen all year round. Heathland home to more than 2565 species. Curlews can be seen all year round. As well as a free gift and magazines, you’ll get loads of ideas for activities to try at home. Life After Death Experience (NDE) with Steve Gardipee, Vietnam War Story | One of the Best NDEs - Duration: 16:38. Find out how to identify a bird just from the sound of its singing with our bird song identifier playlist. In April and May numbers of their smaller cousin, Whimbrel, will be moving through towards their northerly breeding sites and …