Cirlew

[V6GTO]

I've been stalking this guy for days but this is as close as he'll let me get.(400mm)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/V6GTO/Fauna/Cirlew.jpg

Martin.

[CyberDyneSystems]

These little pipers can be very tough,. they are small too,.. and they can get away in so many ways!

Nice job catching him :)

[Richard51]

What a neat bird!! Persistence pays off!! Nice work.

[V6GTO]

This is the view I normally get.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/V6GTO/Fauna/FlyingCirlew.jpg

Martin.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Hey,. the flight shot is nice too :)

[robertwgross]

The long-billed curlew, (Numenius americanus), has a very long bill.

The whimbrel, (Numenius phaeopus), has a long bill, but not as long as the curlew.

By my estimate, the whimbrel's is 3 or 4 times the size of its head, and the curlew's is more like 5-6 times.

I've never seen one flying. Only walking around the mudflats at low tide.

---Bob Gross---

[V6GTO]

The long-billed curlew, (Numenius americanus), has a very long bill.

The whimbrel, (Numenius phaeopus), has a long bill, but not as long as the curlew.

By my estimate, the whimbrel's is 3 or 4 times the size of its head, and the curlew's is more like 5-6 times.

I've never seen one flying. Only walking around the mudflats at low tide.

---Bob Gross---

Bob,
These shots were taken on the Mediterranean Sea in southern Spain, does that help with identification?

Martin.

[robertwgross]

These shots were taken on the Mediterranean Sea in southern Spain, does that help with identification?

All I know are the ones of North America. I was just trying to point out some of the subtle details that makes it one species or another. When I saw my first one, I thought it was a Rail, but its bill is even shorter yet.

I just know that it isn't an owl.

---Bob Gross---