Bill Aspin 🇺🇦
@billaspin.bsky.social
Birder based in east Lancashire.
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
1CY Yellow-legged Gull still frequenting Queens Park, Blackburn, 16th Oct. #LancsBirding
October 16, 2025 at 2:50 PM
1CY Yellow-legged Gull still frequenting Queens Park, Blackburn, 16th Oct. #LancsBirding
And all was well with the world. #UKBirding
October 10, 2025 at 1:30 PM
And all was well with the world. #UKBirding
Called in at Gouthwaite Res for the drake Lesser Scaup, followed by a check of Hellifield Flash where the drake Ring-necked Duck was present. #YorkshireBirding
October 9, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Called in at Gouthwaite Res for the drake Lesser Scaup, followed by a check of Hellifield Flash where the drake Ring-necked Duck was present. #YorkshireBirding
I estimated a 90% chance the Bempton Needletail would have roosted overnight, but last nights twitch from the Isle of Man ended in disappointment. Pod of Bottlenose Dolphin and some Pink-feet over. Always surprises me how far off fledging some of the Gannets are in the second week of Oct. #UKBirding
October 9, 2025 at 9:59 AM
I estimated a 90% chance the Bempton Needletail would have roosted overnight, but last nights twitch from the Isle of Man ended in disappointment. Pod of Bottlenose Dolphin and some Pink-feet over. Always surprises me how far off fledging some of the Gannets are in the second week of Oct. #UKBirding
Best from a morning at Langness, Isle of Man included this juv male Hen Harrier heading SW out to sea, a Sparrowhawk high SE out to sea and numbers of passerines on the move; Mipits, Alba Wags & Chaffinches mainly & 50 Swallow. A juv Curlew Sand in the high tide wader roost and 21 Chough. #UKBirding
October 8, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Best from a morning at Langness, Isle of Man included this juv male Hen Harrier heading SW out to sea, a Sparrowhawk high SE out to sea and numbers of passerines on the move; Mipits, Alba Wags & Chaffinches mainly & 50 Swallow. A juv Curlew Sand in the high tide wader roost and 21 Chough. #UKBirding
1CY Yellow-legged Gull again at Queens Park, Blackburn, 6th Oct. #LancsBirding
October 6, 2025 at 2:15 PM
1CY Yellow-legged Gull again at Queens Park, Blackburn, 6th Oct. #LancsBirding
Seems posts with hashtag #LancsBirding aren’t appearing on the feed… Who do I report this to? Thanks in advance.
October 3, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Seems posts with hashtag #LancsBirding aren’t appearing on the feed… Who do I report this to? Thanks in advance.
Got this as a 1CY Yellow-legged Gull: Queens Park, Blackburn, 3rd Oct. #LancsBirding
October 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Got this as a 1CY Yellow-legged Gull: Queens Park, Blackburn, 3rd Oct. #LancsBirding
Some nice Pink-footed Goose vismig Fishmoor Res, Blackburn this AM with 610 > SE (15 skeins) 07:05-07:45. 4 Gadwall new-in Rishton Res. No sign Grey Phal Parsonage Res, but unringed Osprey briefly then >SW, with another (ringed) Osprey seen by others 2hrs later. Great Egret Brockholes. #LancsBirding
September 21, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Some nice Pink-footed Goose vismig Fishmoor Res, Blackburn this AM with 610 > SE (15 skeins) 07:05-07:45. 4 Gadwall new-in Rishton Res. No sign Grey Phal Parsonage Res, but unringed Osprey briefly then >SW, with another (ringed) Osprey seen by others 2hrs later. Great Egret Brockholes. #LancsBirding
The poor weather produced the goods at Fishmoor Res, Blackburn with an adult Red-throated Diver and Grey Plover. Both had departed by 08:20. Lingerers included the Grey Phal Parsonage Res, 2 Curlew Sand, 5 Ringed Plover & new-in Common Tern Dean Clough Res. 7 Shoveler Rishton Res. #LancsBirding
September 20, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The poor weather produced the goods at Fishmoor Res, Blackburn with an adult Red-throated Diver and Grey Plover. Both had departed by 08:20. Lingerers included the Grey Phal Parsonage Res, 2 Curlew Sand, 5 Ringed Plover & new-in Common Tern Dean Clough Res. 7 Shoveler Rishton Res. #LancsBirding
The Parsonage Res, Blackburn Grey Phalarope present for the fifth day and typically showing well. #LancsBirding
September 20, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The Parsonage Res, Blackburn Grey Phalarope present for the fifth day and typically showing well. #LancsBirding
A check of Parsonage Reservoir, Blackburn late morning was rewarded with a fine 1CY Grey Phalarope. #LancsBirding
September 16, 2025 at 1:04 PM
A check of Parsonage Reservoir, Blackburn late morning was rewarded with a fine 1CY Grey Phalarope. #LancsBirding
A check of a few local sites in brutal weather conditions was rewarded with a juv Curlew Sandpiper on Rishton Reservoir. #LancsBirding
September 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A check of a few local sites in brutal weather conditions was rewarded with a juv Curlew Sandpiper on Rishton Reservoir. #LancsBirding