Curlew

A Curlew stretches a wing on the beach.

According to Brian Vesey-Fitsgerald, they can swim. I never knew that.

On the shore they stalk about in twos and threes, investigating the ooze. I have watched them all day, walking about gravely in this manner: retreating to the shallower flats when the tide encroaches (they can by the way, swim well in deep water) until they are driven to an uncovered spot.