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Science/nature/environment

Curlews

(11 Posts)
jollyg Tue 25-Nov-14 10:21:40

I keep reading in the papers curlews are an endangered species......... not here they aint , Lowland Scotland,

We live opposite a playing field and every grey day they come wheeling in, circle once ,then land scaring any other birds who happen to already be insitu. Have a good hunt around for tasty morsels and then they are off again.

I think they come over from Scandinavia

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 25-Nov-14 10:30:21

I love the sound of a curlew. We don't get them down here in the South.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 25-Nov-14 10:30:42

I hope they're not endangered!

annodomini Tue 25-Nov-14 10:52:35

'Whaups' we called them in my Scottish childhood. I can hear their call in my head now you mention it jollyg. One of the sounds of my homeland. Oh, now you've made me all nostalgic!

whitewave Tue 25-Nov-14 10:57:00

We get them on the South Coast and I love their call, so distinctive.

I also love listening to robins on my walks they are so clear especially on a winters day.

Greyduster Tue 25-Nov-14 11:42:27

I love the call of the curlew. I fish regularly on a large moorland reservoir in the Peak District and it is the only thing that ever distracts me from what I'm doing. I have to just sit and listen. I told DH that I wanted a recording of curlews as part if my funeral music (not that I'm going anywhere yet - I hope!) He thinks I'm bonkers!

ffinnochio Tue 25-Nov-14 11:48:54

It's the buzzard's plaintive cry that does it for me. I always stop, look up and listen. Wonderful.

Lapwing Tue 25-Nov-14 12:41:46

I see and hear Curlews regularly on the beach opposite my house and in the nearby fields - lovely birds.

Teetime Tue 25-Nov-14 14:04:29

I loved to hear the curlews when we where in N Yorks walking up on the moors above Wensleydale - we don't get them here in the East Midlands. Its a beautiful if plaintive cry.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 25-Nov-14 14:06:15

Yes, that's where I first heard them Teetime. Wensleydale. Lovely area.

jollyg Wed 26-Nov-14 10:37:39

Todays lot just flew in! However they are the silent variety, maybe 20-30 birds