Whimbrels; sea-surfaces

Walking along the beach this evening I saw what I think were whimbrels:

I really ought to buy batteries for my camera. I also finally understand what Eliot meant re

Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.

The waves really looked like that. The sea was abnormally fine-textured and matte this evening; although it was sunny, there wasn't the cheap plasticky gloss one associates with the water on nice days.