Well the aforementioned bird did stick till Friday but wasn’t seen in the afternoon by yours truly because it wasnt’ there when I was but reappeared at about 3 o’clock but I had left by 2 o’clock so ya you guessed I was there Saturday morning on Sands Lane, Mirfield at 7 o’clock looking again. At about 8 o’clock it was refound one Ring Billed Gull, a 4* bird for me, last 4* bird was Waxwing back in 1989 (4* being Life, British, Yorkshire and Patch List Bird). I watched for about an hour comparing it along side the Common Gulls in attendance seeing plainly the lighter grey mantle and distintive black ring mark on the bill broader neck when viewed from behind, clear head marking but the paler eye was harder to see. It has been aged as a Third winter bird. I did manage some video but I had forgotten my glasses the rain/snow had started by the time the camera came out View Here.
Later in the day I ended up at Blacktoft Sands for the raptor roost 3pm onwards ice free ponds we saw some wildfowl Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck, Moorhen and Coot. More gulls here has they passed thru Herring, Lesser Black Backed, Common and Black Headed, the raptors Marsh Harrier in good number we had up to eight birds all ‘creamed crowned’ [juv and ♀] one Barn Owl hunting mainly at the back of the reserve near the river and one Merlin ♂
Huddsbirder 