Sounds like you're talking about coots. They are duck-like in their habits and associations, but unrelated to ducks (they're in the group that includes cranes).
Yes! That must be it. Their beaks didn't look like duck beaks, but I would not have placed them in the same family as cranes given their size and their swimming about rather like ducks. But their swimming is not as smooth as ducks, so seeing the pictures of their feet in your photos explains that. Thank you!
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