After seeing a Whimbrel on the shore one day in Alvor, we went back on the following day, and saw it again further down the coast, and I managed to get some closer shots. It was low tide, and this more remote part of the coast must have been a favourite place to forage, as we saw the Whimbrel again on three different occasions.  |
THE WHIMBREL NUMENIUS MINUTUS.
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This large wader, is very like a Curlew, but smaller, and darker, with a stronger head pattern, but belongs to the Curlew genus.
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In fact, at first glance I thought it was a Curlew, but there are several differences.
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The Wimbrel has a dark cap, with pale central stripe, dark eyestripe, with pale band above eye.
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The bill is blackish, and downcurved...but..
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usually more bent, less smooth curved, than the Curlew.
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It feeds by probing soft earth for small invertebrates, but also eats insects and berries.
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Here you can clearly see the pale head stripe.
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All these shots were taken on the second of December.
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One last shot, and then he got out of range.
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WILD BIRD WEDNESDAYSATURDAY'S CRITTERSI'D-RATHER-B-BIRDIN
