What is this?

It is grey and white and maybe fawn in colour and has a long curved beak.
The beak is its outstanding feature as its nearly as long as the birds body and it curves into a hook.

It's been hanging around the field here all day and when you go near it, it flies off only to come back again.

I've never seen one before here.

It's unusual almost scarey looking.

boneless

Sounds like a curlew to me... have you heard a plaintive call?

Mothman

More likely a Whimbrel (though certainly could be a Curlew), very similar to curlew. I've seen a few during past week as they are passing through at moment on their way to Iceland.

Edit: Actually on reading the OP again, the beak curving into a hook would certainly make it a Curlew...

AdrianR

Is this it:

http://www.spiritstore.ie/birds/images/curlew_ss1.jpg

The Hill Billy

Does it have a crest?
It may be a Hoopoe.

Look here...
http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/hoopoe.htm

A chap I know in Connemara had one in his garden over Easter.
Unusual, but not unheard of in Ireland.

It probably was a curlew.
Very common I hear decades ago around here before silage cutting and some intensive farming scared them away.

I can honestly say I've never seen one here before,but then I only saw the first ever squirrell on the farm here last autumn (we have no woods near by)

The Hill Billy

Earthman wrote:

Very common I hear decades ago around here before silage cutting and some intensive farming scared them away.

I can honestly say I've never seen one here before,but then I only saw the first ever squirrell on the farm here last autumn (we have no woods near by)

That got me thinking - Curlews used to be common on the beaches in Skerries when I was growing up. Hardly ever see them now.