Bill Aspin 🇺🇦
@billaspin.bsky.social
470 followers 240 following 410 posts
Birder based in east Lancashire.
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billaspin.bsky.social
Hard read, that. Whitby Abbey would have been a truly awesome location to have relocated it.
billaspin.bsky.social
Good to bump into a few folk at today’s White-throated Needletail twitch.
Great to bump into Mark Reeder, my old nemesis from Patchwork Challenge 2014-2016 and the all consuming rivalry for supremacy of the Inland North during this period… hard to believe I once had a photo of his face as a target on my Dartboard such was the intensity of battle! He’s an Ok Guy! Two Greater Manchester birders: Old friend Phil Rhodes, and Moorland Moocher supreme, Andy Makin.
billaspin.bsky.social
And all was well with the world. #UKBirding
Juv White-throated Needletail: Scarborough Castle, N. Yorks. 10th Oct 2025.
billaspin.bsky.social
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
Drake Lesser Scaup: Gouthwaite Res, North Yorks. 9th Oct 2025. Drake Ring-necked Duck: Hellifield Flash, North Yorks. 9th Oct 2025.
billaspin.bsky.social
Well, I’m heading back! If it was anything other than a Needletail I probably wouldn’t be bothering.
billaspin.bsky.social
And I’m at Stocks Res! 🤬
billaspin.bsky.social
It was seen attempting to perch at dusk apparently.
billaspin.bsky.social
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
billaspin.bsky.social
Is it thought to be roosting on the cliffs, James?
billaspin.bsky.social
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
Juv male Hen Harrier: Langness, Isle of Man. 8th Oct 2025. Juv Curlew Sandpiper: Langness, Isle of Man. 8th Oct 2025.
billaspin.bsky.social
1CY Yellow-legged Gull again at Queens Park, Blackburn, 6th Oct. #LancsBirding
1CY Yellow-legged Gull: Queens Park, Blackburn, Lancs. 6th Oct 2025.
billaspin.bsky.social
The last post of mine to appear on the LancsBirding feed was 18 days ago, five more recent posts not appearing. So I wonder if it’s more than just lag?
billaspin.bsky.social
Seems posts with hashtag #LancsBirding aren’t appearing on the feed… Who do I report this to? Thanks in advance.
billaspin.bsky.social
Got this as a 1CY Yellow-legged Gull: Queens Park, Blackburn, 3rd Oct. #LancsBirding
billaspin.bsky.social
You’d better sit down for this… Adam Hutt had a total of 96 east at Preesall today, including a kettle of 71 !!! 🤯
billaspin.bsky.social
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
Some of the 15 skeins totalling 610 Pink-footed Geese migrating SE over Fishmoor Reservoir, Blackburn, Lancs, 07:05-07:45, 21st Sept 2025. One of two Osprey recorded at Parsonage Reservoir, Lancs during the morning of 21st Sept 2025. Long-staying Great Egret: Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT, Lancs. 21st Sept 2025. Showing very well from the Visitor Village.
billaspin.bsky.social
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
billaspin.bsky.social
The Parsonage Res, Blackburn Grey Phalarope present for the fifth day and typically showing well. #LancsBirding
billaspin.bsky.social
A check of Parsonage Reservoir, Blackburn late morning was rewarded with a fine 1CY Grey Phalarope. #LancsBirding
1CY Grey Phalarope: Parsonage Reservoir, Lancs. 16th Sept 2025.
billaspin.bsky.social
A check of a few local sites in brutal weather conditions was rewarded with a juv Curlew Sandpiper on Rishton Reservoir. #LancsBirding
Juv Curlew Sandpiper: Rishton Reservoir, Lancs. 15th Sept 2025.