Bill Aspin 🇺🇦

@billaspin.bsky.social

603 Followers 285 Following

Birder based in east Lancashire.

Purple Hairstreak taking off: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 13th Aug 2026. Slo-mo taken with iPhone.
Clouded Yellow: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 13th Aug 2026. A total of seven for me today. No doubt present in double figures on the reserve.
2x2CY Hobby: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. Upper 4: 8th Aug 2026. Lower 2: 9th Aug 2026.
Juv Black-necked Grebe: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 6th Aug 2026.
3 Glossy Ibis: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 4th Aug 2026.
Grass Snake: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 3rd Aug 2026.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth: Feniscowles, Blackburn, Lancs. 3rd Aug 2026.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth: Blackburn, Lancs. 2nd Aug 2026.
Male Common Hawker: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 2nd Aug 2026. The third record for the reserve, last recorded in 2014.
Hornets on Wych Elm sap: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 1st Aug 2026.
Willow Tit: Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire. 30th July 2026.
Eclipse drake Garganey with northbound Common Scoter: Ravenscar, North Yorkshire. 30th July 2026.
Recently fledged Cetti’s Warbler: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 26th July 2026. One of a brood of 3. Although it is assumed Cetti’s at least attempt to breed on the reserve every year since the first proven breeding record in 2019, this is only the second time successful breeding by the very small population (2 singing males in 2026) has been proven. First record of the species on the reserve was Feb 2012.
White-letter Hairstreak: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 23rd July 2026. A tatty individual.
1CY Willow Tit: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 21st July 2026.
2CY drake Common Scoter: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 22nd July 2026.
European Hornet: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 20th July 2026.
Red Admiral and Hornet attracted to the sap of a Wych Elm, Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 20th July 2026.
Black-necked Grebe: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 20th July 2026.
Juv Black-necked Grebe: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 17th July 2026. The 9th record totalling 12 individuals Aug 1998-17th July 2026… five of the individual total occurring this year!
Juv Black-necked Grebe: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 17th July 2026.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 15th July 2026.
Spoonbill: Imm flew NE late morning, 15th July 2026. - The 6th record totalling 10 individuals Aug 1998-15th July 2026. With only one record of the same bird (29th Nov-4th Dec & 8th Dec 2004 and again on 21st April 2005 having wintered on the Ribble Est) in the period 1998-2020, there has been 4 records totalling 9 individuals 2021-July 2026, with 2026 being the year with sightings in both spring and autumn.
Top left: Male Broad-bodied Chaser. Top middle: White-letter Hairstreak. Top right: Purple Hairstreak. Bottom left: One of 3 male Lesser Emperor seen on 11th July. Bottom right: Ruff. Brockholes LWT, Lancs.
2x1CY Peregrine: Feniscowles, Lancs. 9th July 2026.
Eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 9th July 2026. The sixth record totalling ten individuals 1998-2026.
2CY Hobby: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. July 2026.
Top: 2CY Common Scoter. Middle: Osprey, White-letter Hairstreak. Bottom: Mediterranean Gulls; Adult and 1CYs (from elsewhere). Brockholes LWT, Lancs. Late June/early July 2026.
Bittern: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 6th July 2026.
Black-necked Grebe: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 2nd July 2026. The 8th record totalling 11 individuals 1998-2026 and second record, totalling 4 individuals, of 2026!
Singing Common Quail.
Redshank: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 19th June 2026.
Male Lesser Emperor: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 16th June 2026.
Barn Owl
Lesser Emperor: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 14th June 2026.
2CY Caspian Gull: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 5th June 2026.
Terrapin sp.
Redshank with young: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 30th May 2026.
1 of 3 Red-veined Darter: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 30th May 2026.
Red-eyed Damselfly: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 30th May 2026. New for the reserve.
Striped Hawk-moth: Wilpshire, Blackburn, Lancs. 29th May 2026.
Osprey heading south over Feniscowles, Blackburn, Lancs. 29th May 2026.
Pair of Grey Partridge. 28th May 2026.
Adult & 3CY White-winged Black Terns: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 21st May 2026. Photo: Len Poxon.
3CY Little Gull: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 20th May 2026.
Kittiwake: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 17th May 2026. Very brief, almost sneaked through unrecorded.
Temminck’s Stint: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 17th May 2026.
Displaying Ruff: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 14th May 2026.
Temminck’s Stint: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 13th May 2026.
Temminck’s Stint: Brockholes LWT, Lancs. 12th May 2026.