Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Species
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). Taken at Standlake Common, Oxon., on April 29th 2019.
Taken at Standlake Common, Oxon., on April 29th 2019.
(1/250th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 7th 2019.
Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 7th 2019.
(1/4000th sec at f9. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 37 - 45 cm; WS: 78 - 88 cm

The Whimbrel is like the Curlew but slightly smaller. It has a shorter bill and a rather dark eye-stripe.

It is a summer visitor to northern Europe, including the northern Scottish islands. It spends the winter on African coasts.

It breeds on taiga bogs, on mountainsides above the tree line, and tundra.

This is a Red list species in the UK owing to the small number (400-500 pairs) of breeding birds.

Sightings

28-Apr-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

28-Apr-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)

23-May-2019 : Waulkmill, Aberdeenshire (2)
07-May-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
29-Apr-2019 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)

13-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (3)
10-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (1)

30-Apr-2015 : Stoborough Heath NNR, Dorset (1)

08-May-2014 : Newport, Pembrokeshire (10)
04-May-2014 : Teifi Estuary, Ceredigion (3+)

05-Mar-2009 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
28-Feb-2009 : Tenerife, Canary Islands

22-May-2005 : Quinta da Rocha, Portugal
19-May-2005 : Castro Marim, Portugal

13-Jul-1999 : Isles of Scilly