Curlew or whimbrel - no photos I'm afraid

morebabies

Hi, we have a flock of these in our field for the past week now, we love birdwatching but cannot tell which breed we're looking at. We can't get any close range pictures I'm afraid, they're very timid, there's about 20 of them altogether and we're in County Mayo. Also even though I've studied the pictures of Curlew vs. Whimbrel, and the sound of their calls, I just can't get close enough to identify for certain.
I know whimbrels would pass through Ireland around this time. What I'm wondering is, would they typically spend a week in one place on their migratory route? I thought this might make it more likely that they're curlews, but still so unsure.

Kamili

Did you hear them call by any chance?
If so this might help - you can hear samples of their calls and might be able to distinguish them from this.

Curlew:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/c/curlew/

Whimbrel:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/w/whimbrel/

IOLARMARA

Whimbrels have a blackish band crossing their eyes and are smaller with smaller bills. I see alot of them on the Kerry coast in flocks on their migration. My best guess is that they are Whimbrels.

morebabies

Thanks guys, successfully identified as whimbrel now.

flyingsnail

Can I ask the same question please but with two not so good photos, came across a pair of them just outside Limerick city.

DellyBelly

They are Whimbrel as well.

pawrick

A picture of similar I took today flying over the back garden today, I think they overnight in the pond/small lake in the neighbour field. I had been out to take some pics of a buzzard who flies past every day so just happened to have the camera to hand. (Have more pics but photobucket is acting up and this is the only one i could upload).

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