The Story of Britain's Curlews - Winter

Narration and original music by David Gray, this short film looks at the plight of Britain's curlews as they fight to survive during the winter months.
Produced - Mary Colwell
Editor - Ben Cherry
Camera - Ben Cherry, John Water, Sam Oakes, Sam Stafford/WWT
Music and Narration - David Gray
Recorded and Produced - Ben De Vries, David Gray
Sound Recording - Chris Watson, Geoff Sample

[@TK42138]

Superb film.

[@laurenhadfield5117]

Beautifully put together film. If only more people knew about the plight of our precious waders, including the beautiful curlew

[@Ma-Kies]

Amazing.....the birds happines at the winter...

[@Valera_Scotland]

Saw my first Curlew on the Lothian coast just off Dunbar today... gorgeous birds. I couldn't believe what I was looking at

[@portcullis5622]

One of the most beautiful sights and sounds of the British countryside. I saw a flock of nearly 40 curlew over a lake near Ripon, North Yorkshire the other day. At one point, they flew towards me in unison over the lake. An awesome sight.

[@michaelhurst1161]

Very nice film

[@moritzn.g.7205]

Beautiful footage!

[@grahamhorder-wildlifecamer7527]

I feel very mellow after watching that. The important message and call for help comes across very well. Nice film.

[@tango6nf477]

This film is a work of art well done sir. I share your concern for the curlew a once fairly common bird on boggy and wet inland areas too but these habitats have disappeared at an ever increasing rate.

[@michaelashworth7294]

Curlews make my heart sing. Beautiful birds and I'm so lucky to live on the west pennine moors in Lancashire where I see them on a daily basis next to my house between March to the end of June.❤

[@lksf9820]

You will have heard about the huge windfarm proposals up there then?

[@michaelashworth7294]

@@lksf9820 won't be on the west pennine moors its a designated SSSI

[@karicreates7668]

I would like to make a painting inspired by these wonderful images and donate the proceeds to the cause of helping save the Curlew. Is that OK?

[@zackjones800]

Beautiful birds

[@joshscrivener5202]

I liked the calls. I was told of Eastern curlews who had a juvenile in the carport of a hospital and I never heard it's night time call. It's stayed while it's habitat developed, till today it nests under demountable.

[@rolandcherry7405]

I should add that David is a natural narrator! More like this please!

[@sophiegreen]

Saw my first curlew on the river Mersey today and had to know more about these charming birds. An absolutely beautiful film.

[@lindsayoakes3182]

Excellent work by all (but I am biased) - such a measured thoughtful film - and such an iconic bird at this time of year. So blessed that this is still the soundtrack to Spring in Yorkshire.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

This is simply " magnifique "..! I'm not French but it's the most fitting word. Stunning in every department . And only 11,000 views. ( Confirms there is very little hope left for the planet ..Oh well...it was nice while it lasted .)

[@lloydbuck1340]

Absolutely lovely film, beautiful, such iconic special birds

[@rolandcherry7405]

Delightful film with David’s haunting soundtrack mixed with the Curlew calls. Special nod to my son Ben who did the editing Lucky to still have breeding Curlews in this part of Warwickshire, but it’s a constant battle against habitat loss. Keep up the good work Mary.

[@capturingnaturewithsandip]

Nice and beautiful video. Thanks for sharing. Big Like 263

[@ukwild3756]

What a beautifully put together film. Lovely footage, well edited, great narration and music to boot! Hopefully the world is beginning to change as people realise the seriousness of the situation we are all in and more habitat for our birds and wildlife can be saved or created. Great work!

[@brycenew]

A gorgeous documentary Mary, David and team. Thank you so much. May this help bring about some of the change that's urgently required.

[@portcullis5622]

In the lowland river valleys, the sad fact is that ground nesting waders such as curlew and lapwing have trouble finding nesting spots that won't be disturbed by early spring agricultural operations, such as harvesting of grass for silage and ploughing in very early spring.

[@devrim-oguz]

The song is beautiful. I want to find it but I can't 😢

[@sambathnak6440]

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💖💖💖

[@wildchildthethird]

Nice one Dave :)

[@devrim-oguz]

What's the song at the beginning? Even Shazam couldn't find it.

[@terenceburchett6122]

Every excuse or reason in the book except FARMING PRACTICES that kill chicks. The main losses are whilst nesting!

[@richardday855]

Hi there.. great film with some lovely footage..We are putting together a film for a Essex Coastal project featuring bird watching and habitats and wondered if we could use a Curlew clip (around 2 seconds) within. Really look forward to hearing back Kind regards Richard [e-mail]

[@parallel-knight]

Can one one please help me! I’m England Peak District area around Macclesfield. My dad found a curlew chick on the road at night on its own just now! What should I do help it by keeping it on its own or putting it with the chickens we have that have just had chicks of it’s own? Or go back up the road to the spot where it was found a let it go to try and call out to its mum and dad??? From pics I’ve seen it looks very young it’s about 5cm body size 7-15cm with legs fully extended, with specials all over. Can anyone help me to figure out what to do with it???

[@terenceburchett6122]

I disagree with this opinion. Cornwall still has nearly much the same number of Curlews as i remember 70 years ago. Scare mongering like a fresh daily BBC item. Doom and bloody gloom. On Xmas day morning at 8am, I stand on Hayle Causeway and listen to a couple hundred Curlews close by the railway platform. The only time of the year there is no traffic noise for a brief period. The sound of a large flock is magical!

[@bizbizley]

You used to see them every time we went birding. In fields, anywhere with brackish water and this is around Birmingham not the coasts. Same with Kestrels and so many other birds. Shame.

[@opiatecords]

This is a beautiful film! Saw 4 curlews today. Lovely birds.