Curlews have to be among my favourite birds. Not only do I love their strange, long-nosed profiles, there is no more beautiful sound than their fluting, bubbling calls echoing around the moors in spring. If there are any other readers of Harry Potter out there, I’ve always been convinced that the call of Fawkes the Phoenix would have sounded like a curlew’s cry
The other day, as we were driving back from Inverness, we came across a small group of curlews in a field of stubble near Fort George, and they became next in the series of Scottish Birds in Scottish Places. Their long, graceful necks make them a natural subject for the kind of “nested” composition I’ve been playing with recently
Two curlews in a field at Fort George
These are lovely!
Posted by: Linda Hudson | 05/17/2015 at 07:04 AM
Mia, great job. Your curlews look like a bird called a sandpiper here in the US. I looked up to find out more about them. I learned they are water birds, which I pretty much guessed looking at their beaks. They range many different shades of browns/grays and are located in many states in the US. I also found out there is a small town located in the NE corner of Washington State near the Canadian border approximate population 1,600. Thank you for sparking my curiosity. I learned something new today!
Posted by: Deena | 05/17/2015 at 07:35 AM
Love your background hand painted fabric for the beautfiful curlews. Thanks for the information on curlews. I had never heard about this type of bird before.
Posted by: Gail Beam | 05/17/2015 at 07:39 AM
The colors are so soothing. Love the golden look.
Also love the texture of the stitches on the wings.
Posted by: Lisa Cox | 05/17/2015 at 08:22 AM
Beautiful birds. I also had never heard of those birds before. Love their beaks. Did you do this for a wall hanging or is it going to be a pillow. Would look great either way.
Posted by: ram bou | 05/17/2015 at 03:36 PM
Mia,
I love your composition. The background is exactly as I would picture it. We have curlews in the US but they are mostly in the northern plains in Montana westward.
Great work!
Jane in Kansas
Posted by: Jane | 05/18/2015 at 12:47 AM
So attractive would love to have them
Posted by: Michelle | 06/12/2015 at 01:45 PM
I hope my creations are as beautiful as yours
Posted by: Cathy | 07/10/2015 at 03:45 PM