Curlews or Whimbrels?

[Catherine]

The light was very dull as we were sailing down the Beaulieu River, so these pics are very grainy - sorry!

The first bird was standing, seemingly eating something light in colour. The second one was preening.

We often see Curlews feeding on the marshes at Keyhaven, but they are easy to recognise there. These two were also very large - much bigger that Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits, etc.

[rolf]

Looks like a curlew Catherine, Whimbrels are quite a bit smaller

[joe]

Whimbrels have pale line through the eye,2 dark bands along the crown, bill is shorter and more bent.
Joe

[Catherine]

Wondered though as the bills are not very long. Maybe they're juveniles?

[Ccanutus]

Male Curlew have a shorter bill than female, that could be the explanation.
Guilaume

[Catherine]

Thanks for your IDs, gentlemen.

I guess it might well have been a male Curlew then. I was just comparing the length of the bill with that of one I'd photographed at Keyhaven earlier (shown below) Do you think these birds (next pic - flying down Southampton Water) were Curlews as well, or might they have been Whimbrels?

I know it's difficult when you don't have something in the photo to compare them to size-wise ....

[rolf]

I would say all Curlews from the length of the bills Catherine, nice shots.

[Ccanutus]

I would say Curlew as well

[Catherine]

Thanks again, gentlemen! So I guess I still have to see (or photograph) a Whimbrel!

BTW, the last photo was taken on the last visit of the QE2 to Southampton, some time ago. Later that day a Hawk of the Red Arrows called to salute and say farewell to that great ship. However, the Red Arrows didn't arrive en masse to fly past in formation - so maybe the Curlews decided to do that instead!