long-billed curlew

Actually our largest shorebird it breeds on plains and prairies. In days of old a most plentiful gamebird on the plains and prairies but now so rare it is protected by law.

This is the largest North American shorebird. It is largely a grassland species breeding in the western plains and wintering primarily in Mexico. However it is not uncommon in the valleys and coasts of California in migration and in the winter. These birds are highly skilled at manipulating...

"Long nose" is a Norwegian expression for someone who's just been tricked, fooled, "taken for a ride". But I think this bird isn't actually easily fooled. I stood stock still as s/he approached, but when s/he got this close s/he was under no illusion that I was a statue, so...

Often see walking around the tidal lagoons next to the villas and apartments in El Gouna, catching small fish at the shore edge.

... and this not-quite-so-long-billed Curlew. I wonder if maybe it was a younger bird? Does anybody know whether their bills get longer with age? Or is this a Whimbrel, but without the usual marked eye streak?

There were other birds around, such as this Long-billed Curlew ...

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area at East Bay boat ramp.

Before I take off for another birding adventure day, here's who was hiding in the reed shoots yesterday ... along with several other of the same species, so I'm not sure this is the exact same one. I'll try to get back to the hotel earlier today. Hopefully in time to get caught up with browsing...

... and a few seconds later, down the hatch, shell and all!

Toss it backwards...

Ever wonder how that long bill actually manages to get food into their throat?

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) Sexes similar. Photographed in Galveston Island State Park, northeast of Jamaica Beach, Galveston County, Texas, USA. Barrier Island, coastal prairie at ca. 3 m (10.7 ft) elevation.

The muses of tragedy and comedy. And I admit, I had to look up their names. These are just a small sample of the many beak forms in the mixed crowd of waders. That always fascinates me with waders - how they mix and get along, probably because they are so specialized and therefore not competing...

Newport Beach's Back Bay is a long estuary with dense foliage along its bank and is a great place for shooting shore birds.

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus americanus) Two subspecies are recognized with both being mapped for Texas in the winter months. Since subspecies parvus generally has a much shorter bill I interpret this as subspecies americana. This is North America's largest sandpiper species. Sexes...

"No, not fries".

Birds seen from behind can be almost as comical as those seen head-on.

Temporary bling, fleeting bling, but bling nonetheless.

(see muddy beak pic for explanation)

(see muddy beak pic for explanation)