The Whimbrel

For all those ornithologists out there....

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

This is more than just a rant, it is more like a cormorant...

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Well, you are certainly well acquainted with the aquatic birds, aren't you? Very informative write indeed. I had no idea the difference between all these birds. I think the change in font size was a bit distracting, but I did read through till the end. Lydi**

[Neville]

Lydi** I really cant thank you enough for this particular visit, as you may have noticed, 'The Whimbrel' has been posted here since 2012....I am not at all sure why the font size keeps changing, it was not intentional & even when I delete and resubmit it, the font size refuses to conform. Thanks again for persevering.........Neville

[William Michael Reeves]

I love it!! Unique and I learned something. Or will as soon as I search these sub-species. I'll be back to this with my new knowledge.

[Neville]

Thank you kindly & true for indulging me today Bill .. tis muchly appreciated .............. Neville

[Eilis]

I wonder if you were the cheeky kid at the back of the classroom making everyone laugh. I bet the teacher had the turn towards the blackboard to hide her (or his) own laughter. I don’t know why that was the first thing that came into my head after reading this. But, you do make me laugh, often, with your poetry and author’s notes.

Of course, the silliness belies a deep understanding of (what I’m guessing are) birds near by you that you’ve gotten to know. Weird way of saying that, I know, but my brain is only getting warmed up yet.

Can’t decide what my favorite part of this is: the laughs or the learning about birds I’ve never heard of. I think there’s a balance that makes it hard for me to choose.

We’ve started seeing seagulls and other long-legged water birds near my home. I am at least five hours from the ocean, so can’t figure out what they’re doing so far from water. But, perhaps, like the lively birds in your poem, they just want to be part of the action. Ha.

I love this poem, Neville.

[Neville]

I thank you Eilis on what might have otherwise been a grand day for bird watching. x

[Eilis]

So sorry for your loss, Neville x

[Patricia Wedel]

WC likes to bring up older poems... which gives us a
birds eye view of a poet's versatility. We have moved to a
very large house built in 1988. It has so many windows,
such as a large kitchen window over the kitchen sink..
where we use the Railing on the Deck to sprinkle bird seed,
including sunflower seeds and so forth. It attracts gorgeous Red Cardinals as
well as Mourning Doves. I love the "up close and personal" view.
I adore Sandpipers and the song, "The Shadow of your smile" will color
all my days and all my nights" from the Movie "Sandpiper" starring
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. A Priest should have free choice
when choosing a mate. At any rate, your poem was entertaining as a Summer Day.
truly, Pat

[Neville]

Bless you dear Pat and all your feathered friends too... Neville @:)

[Chris Shaw]

This write is full of descriptive information about some aquatic birds I have very little knowledge of. Mine more with garden birds or those that frequent our part of the Thames. I haven't even heard of the Whimbrel before, so I thank you for increasing my knowledge and for the humour you have included here. We have a pair of seagulls as neighbours this week with their two young chicks. The nest is between two chimney pots very close to our balcony. Sadly this afternoon one chick slipped from the chimney stack on to a ledge three feet below. The parents have been trying to encourage it to find its way back to the nest, but I am not sure it will have the strength to do that. Sad to watch it calling out, but the parents are still feeding it, so fingers crossed.

Chris

[Neville]

Thank you for chicken these old words out.

Neville

[R J Askew]

Arf, arf a lovely read. The whimbrel - lovely name - sounds like a few commuters I can think of, seeking out a bit of calm on the platorm, surrounded by hoards of sand pipers. Meanwhile, the odd knot stands all alone on the opposite platform. I wonder if there is a collective noun for knot? Great wit, esp like 'Any self respecting Shag' and 'not the Knott'.

[Neville]

You are far too generous Ron, but thank you. Just gotta have a larf every now & wren don't you think....Will keep my eyes open for that collective noun.........All Good Things, Neville

[emmajoy]

Forgive me, i know my birds but never known them to be quite so amusing... they must laugh all the way to the sluice gates! Nonetheless you show an interest in birdlife that is rarely seen over the womter! ( was I sober when i spelled WINTER like that?!) Wondrous fun, informative and more. Gone, dinner's ready, tweet, tweet!

[Neville]

Us hornythologists gotta stick together, many thank you's winging their way t'ward ya.......AGT's, Neville

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Neville Pettitt,
"The whimbrell"
Scolpicidae. What a lovely bird! I found one that was actually a rust color: Maybe a male. Whereas the usual color is grey and white. At first it reminds somewhat of a seagull in structure.
I like how you drew in other bird species which are cmpatible and interesting in regard to your story and environment; ocean- cormorant, knott and shag. Fun play on words. A little subtle but daring!
Blessings,
Kathy

[Neville]

Hey Kathy, I am delighted that you not only found this ancient scribble of mine, but that you were also able to identify each of the species mentioned and also appreciate some of the more subtle & risque references contained within the story line. I am currently out of the country UK until Wednesday and so fully intend to return the favour. Until then, All Good Things, Neville

[Lyn Anderson]

Here in Canada we have this nature series that reads like a dry English narrator - that immediately came to mind with this piece. Cleverly written, but it seems odd as poetry, and perhaps would work better as prose?

[Neville]

Prose is good, prose is fine, prose it is then... Ta very much, N