Hey all,
On sunday 28th Oct. at 12:30p.m. the Hunter Home Brewers on there
twitchathon run came across three unusual birds. At first glance from a
distance, without binos' they looked liked Whimberels, but on closer
inspection we knew we had something different.
Once I.D.'ing these birds there was no doubt they were Little Curlews.
Three birds in total together, occasionally feeding. They were seen on Ash
Island. Looking from the northern end of the road that splits the main pond
they were seen about 20-30m's left of the first telegraph pole. We spent up
to an hour confirming these birds (during a twitchathon!) and was made
obvious by all distinguishing features we had Little Curlews.
Stilts were feeding around the Curlews and were much taller by
comparison ( Whimberels are taller) , the much shorter, curved beak was also
obvious. Key points noted was the lack of a large black stripe running from
base of beak to back of head, these birds only had some smudge of black
around the eye and slighlty forward. Broad cream to buff eyebrow broadened
behind the eye. The birds also flew showing no white rump/back which is
obvious in Whimberels. The general 'jiz' of the bird was different. Feeding
and walking sometimes with a head motion going back and forth like a pigeon.
The head also was noticeably different, looking human like due to peak at
rear and rounded inwards at back. Also tilting head on side.
These three Little Curlews were seen by five people and there is no
doubt about there identification. Unfortunately I have not been able to
locate these birds again since sunday, but saying that there is much habitat
on the Island for these birds.
Good Luck, Steve Roderick.
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