Curlews are Ireland’s largest wading bird and are found each winter in large numbers on coastal and midland wetlands. Their distinctive, plaintive, rolling call is almost the sound of an Irish wetland. Our wintering birds nest in Scotland and northern Europe and arrive in to Ireland from early September onwards. Their long bills allow them to probe deep into soft coastal mudflats and wet grasslands in search of worms and other invertebrates. Sadly, our breeding populations have declined drastically due to habitat losses and changes. This bird was photographed in Co. Down in January 2010.