Yesterdays Caspian Gull , a Wigeon for Raggalds Flood and back to Fly Flatts.

  The Caspian came in low over the water. Note hooked bill

 Then gained height rapidly heading SW down the valley

 Photos not the best as no time to use tripod so hand held
 in a gale force wind.

 This bird is now down on my records as a first winter
Caspian gull. Note milky white under wings, slender bill
and bullet hole eye.

 Several e mails, texts and comments in agreement, none against.

A cracking bird and surprisingly a first for Calderdale even though there have been several sightings in Bradford area just over the ridge.
Many thanks to all those who took the interest to contact me on this bird.

 A pit stop at Raggalds Flood to get JLs Wigeon

 This is probably the same female that has been around Ogden
and Fly Flatts the last couple of weeks.

      A nice find John, well spotted.

 A few Mipits sheltering at Fly Flatts

            1 of 3 distant Stonechat.

A quick stop off at Raggalds Flood 1500 hrs to snap JLs Wigeon then on to Fly Flatts again
                                                        Fly Flatts was not a nice place to be today with dark black clouds and an icy cold W>6 to near gale force 7 which made it feel worse than yesterdays gale foce but warm SW >7 gusting 8.
A strange thing this birding, its taken me 50 years to get a Fly Flatts Caspian gull then I went expecting another today, in my dreams. Very little about with a pair of Tufted on the water, several Mipits blogging, 3 distant Stonechats, 1 Peregrine low over the moor and 3 Kestrels up hovering.
                                                              The last 30 minutes spent sky watching provided nothing other than Jackdaws and Carrion Crows. Hopefully tomorrows promised Easterlies will bring in the winter thrush rush.
BS