Estuary bird, need suggestions for ID, please.

[KateW]

We live by a tidal estuary and today while watching the antics of Lapwings we saw, close enough for careful observation, some birds that we've spotted many times before but not close enough to get a good look at.

There were three of them and they were feeding on the waters edge in the mud. They were roughly the size of a mallard but quite dainty. The most stricking things about them are their black and white wings (clean line between black and white in a line down to wing tip) and the cry which is a haunting screech. They fly off along the water line if disturbed (yes, I'm afraid we did!) The beak is medium length and straight I think and not very thick.
I am hoping someone can help me. I've searched the RSPB website bird identifier and listened to a CD of bird calls we have, with no luck!!

Many thanks.

[Naturenutz]

It sounds like a redshank to me,they have a twittering sort of call,they can look black and white in flight,infact they are brown,but they are smaller than a mallard. Turnstone have prominant white in the wings too.Green sandpipers can look like giant housemartins :-)

[werdnal]

The striking black and white markings sound like an Oystercatcher to me, but I'm not good on waders. Were the legs and beak orange?

[Naturenutz]

or oystercatcher .Forget them,i agree with werdnal kate .Your better than me at waders werdnal

[KateW]

Thanks to you both for your suggestions. Definately not an Oystercatcher.....When I said 'roughly the size of a Mallard' it would appear that I was way out.....so my other half informs me!! I searched further last night in an old RSPB book and thought that the most likely answer was a Redshank. The picture of the stricking white edge to dark wings and description of 'the yelling warning as it flies off' It also describes the cry from these birds as 'echoing over the marshes' and that is a sound we have become used to hearing. I can not be sure about the colour of the legs and beak though as they are not usually near enough for a good look (Must start to carry binoculars!) and it was quite dusky!
Many of these waders can be quite difficult to tell apart!

[diggleken]

Certainly sounds like Redshank Kate.
Right description, albeit limited, right sound and behaviour too.
A lovely bird.
Cheers
Ken