Curlew– bigger with a noticeably longer beak.

Whimbrel, browner, with a shorter beak and noticeably different "patterned" head.

On Exminster Marsh at the moment there has been a flock of several hundred Whimbrel – Numenius phaeopus , an attractive large wader which is very similar to Curlew.  They are on passage at the moment, back to their breeding grounds much further north. They have been quite a spectacle and very pleasant to see. I thought it would be good to post pictures of both species next to each other for comparison.