 Curlew (Numenius arquata). Taken at Cley Marshes, Norfolk, on November 8th 2024. Taken at Cley Marshes, Norfolk, on November 8th 2024. (© David Hastings) (1/500th sec at f9. Click image for larger version) Description L: 48 - 57 cm; WS: 89 - 106 cm The Curlew is the largest European wader. It has a distinctive very long, evenly decurved bill. It is uniformly streaked and barred grey-brown, with no outstanding plumage features. It is resident in the British Isles, although scarce in south-east England. It is widely distributed in Europe. Birds winter around Mediterranean or western European coasts. It breeds in taiga on open bogs or arable fields along rivers, on coastal meadows, wide pastures, moorland, etc. It has Red status on the UK list. Around 66000 pairs breed in the UK, and 140000 birds spend the winter here. Sightings | 09-Sep-2025 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 02-Jun-2025 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 12-May-2025 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 27-Apr-2025 | : | Crog Hill, Oxon | (h) | | 15-Mar-2025 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (2) | | 05-Mar-2025 | : | Langstone Harbour NR, Hants | (2) |
| | 08-Nov-2024 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (2) | | 07-Nov-2024 | : | Warham Greens, Norfolk | (5) | | 06-Nov-2024 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (6) | | 06-Nov-2024 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (8) | | 05-Nov-2024 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (7) | | 05-Nov-2024 | : | Warham Greens, Norfolk | (18) | | 04-Nov-2024 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) | | 05-Aug-2024 | : | Pagham Harbour, W. Sussex | (8) | | 02-Aug-2024 | : | Pagham Harbour, W. Sussex | (5) | | 27-May-2024 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 31-Jan-2024 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (20) |
| | 07-Nov-2023 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (50+) | | 22-Jun-2023 | : | Steart Marshes, Somerset | (1) | | 12-Jun-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 18-May-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Mar-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 28-Oct-2022 | : | Flamborough Head, E. Yorks | (1) | | 28-Oct-2022 | : | Tophill Low, E. Yorks | (27) | | 27-Oct-2022 | : | Flamborough Head, E. Yorks | (1) | | 13-Jun-2022 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 30-May-2022 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (4) |
| | 23-Jun-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 07-Jun-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (6) | | 14-Apr-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 31-Mar-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 28-Feb-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (h) |
| | 16-Oct-2020 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (1) | | 16-Oct-2020 | : | Warham Greens, Norfolk | (50+) | | 15-Oct-2020 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (1) | | 13-Oct-2020 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (50+) | | 12-Oct-2020 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (1) | | 18-Feb-2020 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 08-Feb-2020 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) | | 07-Feb-2020 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | | | 06-Feb-2020 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (9) | | 04-Feb-2020 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (60+) | | 03-Feb-2020 | : | Thornham, Norfolk | (18) | | 03-Feb-2020 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (5) |
| | 05-Oct-2019 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (2) | | 04-Oct-2019 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (2) | | 03-Oct-2019 | : | Morston Salt Marsh, Norfolk | (2) | | 03-Oct-2019 | : | Stiffkey, Norfolk | (1) | | 03-Oct-2019 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (50+) | | 02-Oct-2019 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (9) | | 22-Jul-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (5) | | 08-Jul-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 24-Jun-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 16-Jun-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Jun-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 24-May-2019 | : | Strathdearn, Highland | (2) | | 23-May-2019 | : | Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire | (5) | | 23-May-2019 | : | Waulkmill, Aberdeenshire | (4) | | 19-May-2019 | : | Achnasheen, Highland | (h) | | 29-Apr-2019 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 24-Mar-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (h) | | 23-Mar-2019 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (2) | | 05-Mar-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (19) |
| | 28-Jun-2018 | : | Arnside, Cumbria | (6) | | 27-Jun-2018 | : | Arnside, Cumbria | (20+) | | 26-Jun-2018 | : | Arnside, Cumbria | (25+) | | 18-Jan-2018 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (100+) |
| | 12-Oct-2017 | : | Morston Salt Marsh, Norfolk | (3) | | 10-Oct-2017 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (7) | | 09-Oct-2017 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (6) | | 17-Jun-2017 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Apr-2017 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (1) |
| | 14-May-2016 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 17-Apr-2016 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 24-Oct-2015 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (4) | | 23-Oct-2015 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (1) | | 22-Oct-2015 | : | Snettisham, Norfolk | (1) |
| | 08-May-2014 | : | Newport, Pembrokeshire | (4) | | 04-May-2014 | : | Teifi Estuary, Ceredigion | (1+) | | 13-Apr-2014 | : | Churn, Oxon | (1h) |
| | 26-Jun-2013 | : | Hickling Broad, Norfolk | (5) | | 06-May-2013 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 14-Apr-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 31-Mar-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 27-Jun-2012 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) | | 29-May-2012 | : | Newtown Harbour NNR, Isle of Wight | (1) | | 28-May-2012 | : | Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants | (2) | | 06-Apr-2012 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 19-Apr-2011 | : | Bryher, Isles of Scilly | (2) | | 17-Apr-2011 | : | Isles of Scilly | |
| | 11-May-2008 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 24-Feb-2008 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (5) |
| | 24-Oct-2007 | : | Mudeford, Dorest | | | 20-May-2007 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 26-Aug-2006 | : | Spurn Head, Yorks | | | 01-May-2006 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 11-Feb-2006 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | |
| | 03-Apr-2005 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | |
| | 13-Jul-1999 | : | Isles of Scilly | |
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