Bill Aspin 🇺🇦
@billaspin.bsky.social
Birder based in east Lancashire.
Anyone happy using the Swarovski VPA2 phonescope adapter with a Pro Max size (and weight) iPhone or Android equivalent? I’m an iPhone 17 Pro Max/Phoneskope adapter user, fed up of it falling off the eyecup presumably due to weight to the point I’m considering downsizing to the Pro… 1/2 #BirdingGear
February 7, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Anyone happy using the Swarovski VPA2 phonescope adapter with a Pro Max size (and weight) iPhone or Android equivalent? I’m an iPhone 17 Pro Max/Phoneskope adapter user, fed up of it falling off the eyecup presumably due to weight to the point I’m considering downsizing to the Pro… 1/2 #BirdingGear
No evidence of an early spring Med Gull influx/passage amongst the 3-4000 Black-headed Gulls at Fishmoor Res, Blackburn this afternoon, just a single adult. Suspect it’ll happen when this easterly shifts round to the SW/West… #LancsBirding
February 3, 2026 at 10:05 PM
No evidence of an early spring Med Gull influx/passage amongst the 3-4000 Black-headed Gulls at Fishmoor Res, Blackburn this afternoon, just a single adult. Suspect it’ll happen when this easterly shifts round to the SW/West… #LancsBirding
A smart female Long-tailed Duck at Derbyhaven, Isle of Man, this afternoon. #UKBirding
January 31, 2026 at 7:50 PM
A smart female Long-tailed Duck at Derbyhaven, Isle of Man, this afternoon. #UKBirding
My best view thus far of what appears to be a good drake Green-winged Teal roosting amongst rocks at Castletown Bay, Langness, Isle of Man. Viewed from the William Henry Madog memorial, 13:10. #UKBirding @birdguides.bsky.social
January 31, 2026 at 1:10 PM
My best view thus far of what appears to be a good drake Green-winged Teal roosting amongst rocks at Castletown Bay, Langness, Isle of Man. Viewed from the William Henry Madog memorial, 13:10. #UKBirding @birdguides.bsky.social
2 Tundra Bean Geese with Greylag flock at Ballamenaugh Beg, Baldrine, Isle of Man late afternoon. #UKBirding maps.app.goo.gl/aXbp3ViqADDd...
January 29, 2026 at 5:01 PM
2 Tundra Bean Geese with Greylag flock at Ballamenaugh Beg, Baldrine, Isle of Man late afternoon. #UKBirding maps.app.goo.gl/aXbp3ViqADDd...
The female Ring-necked Duck at Ballannette Nature Reserve, Baldrine, Isle of Man mid afternoon. #UKBirding
January 29, 2026 at 3:22 PM
The female Ring-necked Duck at Ballannette Nature Reserve, Baldrine, Isle of Man mid afternoon. #UKBirding
First day with Swarovski AT Balance: Two clips of a Green Woodpecker taken from drivers seat, engine off, handholding iphone/adapter with Scope resting on door, window fully down, no bean bag, 18x scope mag/4x optical zoom, dull light. 1st clip with IS enabled, 2nd clip IS disabled. #BirdingGear
January 19, 2026 at 7:02 PM
First day with Swarovski AT Balance: Two clips of a Green Woodpecker taken from drivers seat, engine off, handholding iphone/adapter with Scope resting on door, window fully down, no bean bag, 18x scope mag/4x optical zoom, dull light. 1st clip with IS enabled, 2nd clip IS disabled. #BirdingGear
A session at Queens Park, Blackburn this afternoon in the hope of a colour ringed Gull or two produced a presumed intermedius 2CY Lesser Black-backed Gull (Black JU63T) from northern Norway. #LancsBirding
January 14, 2026 at 8:51 PM
A session at Queens Park, Blackburn this afternoon in the hope of a colour ringed Gull or two produced a presumed intermedius 2CY Lesser Black-backed Gull (Black JU63T) from northern Norway. #LancsBirding
Got this as a 2CY Yellow-legged Gull… #LancsBirding
December 21, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Got this as a 2CY Yellow-legged Gull… #LancsBirding
Female Ring-necked Duck still on the south pool at Ballannette Nature Reserve, Isle of Man late afternoon. 20+ Bottlenose Dolphin off Clay Head. #UKBirding
December 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Female Ring-necked Duck still on the south pool at Ballannette Nature Reserve, Isle of Man late afternoon. 20+ Bottlenose Dolphin off Clay Head. #UKBirding
Female Ring-necked Duck still at Ballannette Nature Reserve, Isle of Man late afternoon. 20+ Bottlenose Dolphin off Clay Head.
December 16, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Female Ring-necked Duck still at Ballannette Nature Reserve, Isle of Man late afternoon. 20+ Bottlenose Dolphin off Clay Head.
Female-type Ring-necked Duck still on the Isle of Man at Ballanette NR at dusk. #UKBirding
November 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Female-type Ring-necked Duck still on the Isle of Man at Ballanette NR at dusk. #UKBirding
More #BirdingGear Wellington woes: not impressed at all with Muckboot Arctic Sport on the first outing. Only walked 4km in them and my legs below the knees were red raw caused by the front lip which curves inwards! Poor design which looks as though I’m going to have to cut a section off the front!
November 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
More #BirdingGear Wellington woes: not impressed at all with Muckboot Arctic Sport on the first outing. Only walked 4km in them and my legs below the knees were red raw caused by the front lip which curves inwards! Poor design which looks as though I’m going to have to cut a section off the front!
German ringed 1CY Yellow-legged Gull HPH79 at Queens Park, Blackburn, this morning. Ringed as chick in the Frankfurt area on 30th May 2025, resighted in UK at Southwold, Suffolk 8th Aug and Darwen, Lancs on 30th Oct. Strangely no sign of the regular 1CY YLG that was still present yday. #LancsBirding
November 11, 2025 at 8:46 PM
German ringed 1CY Yellow-legged Gull HPH79 at Queens Park, Blackburn, this morning. Ringed as chick in the Frankfurt area on 30th May 2025, resighted in UK at Southwold, Suffolk 8th Aug and Darwen, Lancs on 30th Oct. Strangely no sign of the regular 1CY YLG that was still present yday. #LancsBirding
A 1CY Caspian Gull at Fishmoor Res, Blackburn mid-pm and the regular 1CY Yellow-legged Gull at nearby Queens Park. #LancsBirding
November 5, 2025 at 9:10 PM
A 1CY Caspian Gull at Fishmoor Res, Blackburn mid-pm and the regular 1CY Yellow-legged Gull at nearby Queens Park. #LancsBirding
In addition to the Shorelark at Point of Ayre, Isle of Man were 2juv Scaup on the pools there. And a Manx Shearwater yesterday was notable for November. #UKBirding
November 4, 2025 at 5:01 PM
In addition to the Shorelark at Point of Ayre, Isle of Man were 2juv Scaup on the pools there. And a Manx Shearwater yesterday was notable for November. #UKBirding
The Shorelark at Point of Ayre, Isle of Man giving crippling views this morning. #UKBirding
November 4, 2025 at 10:16 AM
The Shorelark at Point of Ayre, Isle of Man giving crippling views this morning. #UKBirding
The regular 1CY Yellow-legged Gull still at Queens Park, Blackburn today and a flyover 1CY Caspian Gull over nearby Fishmoor Reservoir. Cetti’s Warbler still at the latter site and now singing occasionally. #LancsBirding
October 31, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The regular 1CY Yellow-legged Gull still at Queens Park, Blackburn today and a flyover 1CY Caspian Gull over nearby Fishmoor Reservoir. Cetti’s Warbler still at the latter site and now singing occasionally. #LancsBirding
Curious to know how many colour ringed Yellow-legged Gulls have ever been recorded in Lancs. I’m aware of 2: Lancaster Tip 1999, same bird Fishmoor Res Autumn 2001 (French ringed) & a German ringed bird at Darwen late Oct 2025. Any other records from the likes of Seaforth or the Fylde? #LancsBirding
October 31, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Curious to know how many colour ringed Yellow-legged Gulls have ever been recorded in Lancs. I’m aware of 2: Lancaster Tip 1999, same bird Fishmoor Res Autumn 2001 (French ringed) & a German ringed bird at Darwen late Oct 2025. Any other records from the likes of Seaforth or the Fylde? #LancsBirding
Records-wise, Cetti’s Warbler are still very scarce in the East Lancashire Ornithologists’ Club (ELOC) recording area, but the past week has seen singles discovered at three new sites. This one a welcome first for Fishmoor Res, Blackburn y/day. Must be more out there… Today’s mission. #LancsBirding
October 25, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Records-wise, Cetti’s Warbler are still very scarce in the East Lancashire Ornithologists’ Club (ELOC) recording area, but the past week has seen singles discovered at three new sites. This one a welcome first for Fishmoor Res, Blackburn y/day. Must be more out there… Today’s mission. #LancsBirding
Brockholes first, long overdue record of Cattle Egret was found on 22nd Oct and was still present on 23rd, bringing the reserve list since 1998 to 213 species and my personal Brockholes list to 206… though the spectre of removing Green-winged Teal from both looms large… 😬 #LancsBirding
October 24, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Brockholes first, long overdue record of Cattle Egret was found on 22nd Oct and was still present on 23rd, bringing the reserve list since 1998 to 213 species and my personal Brockholes list to 206… though the spectre of removing Green-winged Teal from both looms large… 😬 #LancsBirding
Time and iOS software updates have finally caught up with the trusty ‘Bird Tick List’ app, sadly long not supported by the developer. Can anyone recommend an iOS app that you can easily maintain lists and also quickly log species during birding trips + easily export said trip sightings? #BirdingGear
October 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Time and iOS software updates have finally caught up with the trusty ‘Bird Tick List’ app, sadly long not supported by the developer. Can anyone recommend an iOS app that you can easily maintain lists and also quickly log species during birding trips + easily export said trip sightings? #BirdingGear
5hrs at the Black-faced Bunting today during my first visit to Spurn in 9yrs! Opted to watch this educational bird through scope rather than take photos when it showed well on road intermittently in morning. It become much more elusive in the afternoon, hence photos in the buckthorn only. #UKBirding
October 22, 2025 at 9:40 PM
5hrs at the Black-faced Bunting today during my first visit to Spurn in 9yrs! Opted to watch this educational bird through scope rather than take photos when it showed well on road intermittently in morning. It become much more elusive in the afternoon, hence photos in the buckthorn only. #UKBirding
Thankful I glanced to the north whilst cleaning the Van on the drive otherwise this garden tick Great Egret would have sneaked by unnoticed. #LancsBirding
October 20, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Thankful I glanced to the north whilst cleaning the Van on the drive otherwise this garden tick Great Egret would have sneaked by unnoticed. #LancsBirding
Always on the lookout for colour ringed birds wherever I go, and recent trips to the Isle of Man have proved fruitful in this regard including a Dutch ringed Ringed Plover, Curlew from the North Yorkshire Moors, Dublin-ringed Great Black-backed Gull and Norwegian ringed Black-headed Gull. #UKBirding
October 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Always on the lookout for colour ringed birds wherever I go, and recent trips to the Isle of Man have proved fruitful in this regard including a Dutch ringed Ringed Plover, Curlew from the North Yorkshire Moors, Dublin-ringed Great Black-backed Gull and Norwegian ringed Black-headed Gull. #UKBirding