Whimbrel on the Ile d'Oleron

Alone on the shore, he seemed quite unperturbed as we approached and I hastily snapped this picture in case he took off. Needn't have worried really! Out of a dozen or so snaps, this first one was probably the clearest even though I didn't have time to check my exposure. I followed him as he went hunting for molluscs through a wide patch of algae... he was beautifully marked and well-camouflaged against his sand and stones background.