A Busy Curlew
A Curlew: From the collection of Alan Smith
A few days ago, Alan sent us the marvellous image you will see below, we wanted to share it with everybody at the earliest opportunity. We asked Alan if he would wite a few words for context whilst we re-jigged our schedule. Here it is.
The Lune estuary is a favourite place for many different species of birds over wintering here and taking advantage of the varied diet offered to them.
One bird in particular has been very busy indeed, a Curlew that was colour ringed as a chick at its nest site in Bowland has adopted Sunderland Point as a regular commute for its daily feed. How do we know? As well as being colour ringed it was also fitted with a geo-locater, this is an ultra-small, ultra-lightweight backpack containing sophisticated technology that sends a signal back to base of all its movements. It’s powered by a small solar unit to charge the battery, sadly during the last spell of dull overcast weather the battery went flat and stopped signalling. Hopefully with some more sunshine it will start transmitting once again, meanwhile I am on the lookout for a Curlew with a small backpack attached.
I attach a diagram of the Curlew’s movements and it makes for fascinating observation and highlights how modern technology can help with wildlife movement.
Satellite photograph provided by Alan Smith
We can’t resist the opportunity of adding this great photo of Alan’s of a Curlew in flight.
Curlew in flight: From the collection of Alan Smith
We are also pleased to report that we have been entrusted with the archive of Dorothy Calverley, who with her husband Ken lived in Morecambe but for many years spent as much time as they could at Sunderland Point in The Little House (Number 5).
Dorothy is the daughter of (William) Arnold Townley. The Townley family has a long history at the Point stretching back four generations to the early 19th century. They also have links by marriage to the Gardner, Birkett and Loxam families.
Dorothy has kindly given permission to post photographs from her collection on the website. We start with this wonderful Sam Thompson study of her uncle Hubert and grandfather William taken some time in the 1930’s.
Hubert and William Townley c1930’s: From the collection of Dorothy Calverley
Update on The Busy Curlew
After we posted Alan’s article showing the trail of the busy Curlew, we had several concerned replies on whether it has been curtains for our missing Curlew. We were also worried and kept a watch on the shore.
The busy Curlew found: An Alan Smith Photograph
A couple of days after the article was posted Alan spotted this Curlew happily dabbling in the mud on the foreshore in front of First Terrace. Was it our Curlew? Alan was concerned the identification ring on the right leg was in a different position to the reported missing bird - which had on the right tibia (above knee) white/orange, right tarsus (below knee) red.
The Curlew in the photograph has right tibia white, right tarsus orange/red, Alan checked with the expert who is monitoring the Curlews, Richard De-Feau, who was delighted to see the photo and confirmed it was in all probability the missing Curlew and is hopeful it will recommence transmitting.