The Curlew 



THE Curlew's favourite resorts in winter- 

 time are the extensive sand flats 

 and mud banks found round our coast. 

 Here it can follow the receding tide and 

 use its six inches or more of downward 

 curved bill to its heart's content, probing 

 for worms and other creatures upon which 

 it feeds. In passing it may be mentioned 

 that the bird finds it long bill very useful 

 during the summer-time, in extracting dung 

 beetles from their tunnels in the ground. 



When the flowing tide has covered the 

 Curlew's feeding ground, the bird flies off to 

 some field in the open country not far off, 

 and waits patiently until the ebb has left 

 the sand flats and mud banks bare again. 



If you are not careful you may mistake 

 the whimbrel or May fowl for the Curlew. 

 It is similar in appearance, but smaller, 

 and has a different note. 



About the end of March or beginning 

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