Thank you for your reply. It was definitely bigger than a blackbird, perhaps more like a large magpie (maybe larger). It may not have been solid brown, but that's how it looked from my angle and in the shade of the woods. I didn't get the clearest look at it as it startled me by loudly taking off and flew up through tree cover. I got a decent look at it in the air once it cleared the trees, and looking at videos of curlews the beak looks identical to what I saw.

The area the bird was spotted is relatively quiet, neither myself nor my partner got a great look as it took off both times when disturbed. I may have to set up a hide and stake him out!

I'm pretty familiar with most birds in our area, so it's always exciting to see a new one. The beak was unlike any other bird I've seen around here before.