The Whimbrel
The Whimbrel
Until its first flock
Tends to be a sad and generally retiring
Sub-species
Of the more gregarious Sand Piper
Frequently mistaken from a distance
Or a painting
Or a distant painting for the latter
In general terms
Its longer legs and distinctively curved bill
Have specifically evolved to help
While standing in the watter
Sand Pipers
With shorter legs and distinctly
Straight bills though similar in plumage
Find by their sheer numbers
Insufficient roomage to stand and be compared
To their most distant cousin
The Whimbrel
Cannot be mistaken for the Knott
A buff coloured shoreline bird
Nor a shag
A tiny black relation of the Cormorant
With the propensity to try and mate with
Anything that dares to move
Hence it\'s name
From behind though and with knees bent
The Whimbrel is quite indistinguishable
From the Sand Piper
Any self respecting Shag
Will testify to that
But not the Knott
Which tends to lead
A far more solitary existence
The Knott’s
Plaintive and unmistakable call
Wish I wasa, wish I wasa, wish I wasa Shag
Can of course be offensive to
Shoreline artists and young virgins
The Whimbrel
Being largely mute
Is oft considered far more appealing
From both a photogenic and acoustic point of view