Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Adult, Unknown sex - X
Media notes
A distant photo of the Far Eastern Curlew landing shows the grey barred underwings.
Observation details
Cameron's account: When I arrived at the mudflats, the first bird I spotted was a very large curlew, overall buffy in appearance, foraging on the mudflats about 200 metres away. It had an extremely long down-curved bill (straighter for about 1/3 length then curving towards tip); body size was substantial being much larger than a Whimbrel which I've seen at the same location and distance many times before. It had a plain buffy face with just a very slightly darker buffy-brown crown, and a slightly pale supercilium and chin contrasting with a just slightly darker broad buffy brown patch from bill to eye and then back. It showed a pale buffy eye ring. The main identification contender was Long-billed Curlew, but then it took flight and I saw grey (not tawny or cinnamon) underwings. I called Pam and Boris who were there within an hour. During that time the bird foraged at a considerable distance. When Pam and Boris arrived I was on the mudflats and they were on the dock, but in contact via mobiles. On their first view they saw the bird in flight and noted grey underwings. We realized this was not a Long-billed Curlew and most likely a Far Eastern Curlew. Over the next 3 hours we studied and confirmed the identification of Far Eastern Curlew. It showed grey and heavily barred underwings; distinctly but thinly dark brown streaked neck and chest, with heavier streaks extending along the sides and flanks. In flight the topsides of the inner primaries were barred pale grey contrasting with the darker brown outer primaries and coverts. The secondaries and secondary coverts, also barred (secondaries), were overall pale buffy-grey grey. The greater and outer median primary coverts were dark brown and contrasted with the rest of the wing. The tail was barred with dark brown and pale buff, and the rump was pale buff with short longitudinal brown streaks. When stationary the lower scapulars were dark centred brown with broad grey edges, and the upper scapulars also had broad dark centres with brighter rufous-buff edges. The legs were very long and a medium grey colour. A distinctive feature was feathered leggings that extended about 1/3 the way down the tibia. The bill was mostly dark with a paler pinkish base to the lower mandible about 1/3 from the base. The eye was dark. The bird called many times, and most often it was a mellow rising "curr-lee." I got recordings and will upload them. I did get a suite of diagnostic photos on 31 May that fully document the Far Eastern Curlew. Though I got better photos on 1 June -- so have a look at that checklist.
Technical information
- Model
- Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Lens
- EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
- ISO
- 6400
- Focal length
- 400 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/25.0
- Shutter speed
- 1/30 sec
- Dimensions
- 3443 pixels x 2295 pixels
- Original file size
- 3.15 MB