Bill Aspin 🇺🇦

Drake Common Scoter at Fishmoor Res, Blackburn late afternoon. Settled on a total of 32 Sand Martin at Brockholes earlier, an unprecedented number for 6th March. Only one other double figure count before second half of month 1998-2026 and that was as recent as last year, 17 on 10/3/25. #LancsBirding

Increase to 30+ early afternoon.

Min 25 Sand Martin Brockholes late morning. #LancsBirding

I’ve recorded Coot over my Blackburn garden last night and again tonight.

Pot luck where I am in spring. Far east of east Lancs, Stocks area etc probably fare better.

I find it annually very gripping that Whooper movement through your area.

What was your previous earliest?

Little-ringed Plover at Brockholes, Lancs late afternoon, 4th March. My personal earliest anywhere. Previous Brockholes earliest, 8th March 2010. #LancsBirding

That’s the burning question… time will tell.

*fem LTD. #NumbFingers

A Red-necked Grebe at Derbyhaven, Isle of Man late afternoon. Also, gem Long-tailed Duck. #UKBirding

Good test for the Swarovski AT Balance in foul weather on Isle of Man today. Hard not to be impressed with the IS when phonescoping this Wigeon flock on 4x Optical iPhone zoom/18x scope zoom. Scope/phonescope setup handheld on half-down window of van. IS off, then on, then off in clip. #BirdingGear

A pity more UK Birders haven’t moved over to Bluesky, because on the rare occasion I do peruse X it only serves to realise how much more UK birding related stuff I’m missing out on. That said, no intention to return… I just wish Bluesky would fix the long standing issue with the Lancs Birding feed!

Sand Martin: Point of Ayre, Isle of Man. 25th Feb 2026.

I was delighted to see my earliest ever Sand Martin today at Point of Ayre, Isle of Man. Only my second February record ever following one at Brockholes, Lancs on 27th Feb 2021. #UKBirding

I hope the wing flap indicates this Puffin off Onchan, Isle of Man today is still in some stage of reasonable health given the ongoing seabird wreck around The UK & Europe🤞#UKBirding

Bean Goose: Ousefleet, East Yorkshire. 20th Feb 2026.

Bean Goose: Ousefleet, East Yorkshire. 20th Feb 2026.

Ringtail Hen Harrier: Reedness, East Yorkshire. 20th Feb 2026.

Red Kite: Reedness, East Yorkshire. 20th Feb 2026.

… Nearby, a quality duo of ringtail Hen Harrier and Red Kite over the same small area of set-aside. #UKBirding

Distant views of the two Blacktoft/Ousefleet ‘Tundra’ Bean Geese with c63 Russian White-fronts this afternoon left me feeling somewhat puzzled. It has since transpired the sub-specific ID of both individuals has been the subject of much discussion… #UKBirding

Fillingham, Lincs Great Grey Shrike showing well late morning. #UKBirding

Treated to wonderful views of this majestic male Hen Harrier in interior Lincolnshire late afternoon. #UKBirding

22 Russian White-fronted Geese loosely associating with c700 Pink-feet in the Lune Valley at Caton late afternoon. Herd of 107 Whooper Swan at Hornby. #LancsBirding

Seems the Swarovski VPA2 is NOT compatible with Pro model iPhones due to the three camera configuration… An unbelievable oversight by Swarovski! #BirdingGear

Will give the Hawke a try in the field, but I don’t think it’s the one for me long term. One thing I do like about it though is, as you say, the ability to easily rotate & lock into place between portrait & landscape. And I repeat, the £25 price point represents incredible value if it works for you.

Having to repeatedly take the iPhone out of the case is something I’ve wanted to avoid ever since I dropped my 13 Pro Max on gravel whilst snapping it into the original phoneskope case. In that regard the Phoneskope lollipop adapter works well, it’s the overall weight that’s the problem methinks…

Hi Mike, Thanks for reply. I’ve used the same adapter as you with numerous past Pro Max/Plus models, but eventually got tired of having to remove the iPhone out of its case in order to snap it in multiple times per day. It’s the Phoneskope Lollipop Adapter I use so I can keep the iPhone in its case.

Thanks for reply. I did take a punt on one of these, but found it very clunky, bulky and a struggle to quickly install the phone/attach to eyecup. That said, for £25 it’s an absolute bargain if it works for you. Do you take your phone out of its case in order to slot it into the adapter?

2/2… just for this reason! I did once own the original VPA adapter, but found it to be a clunky gen 1 device, constantly slipping out of position and didn’t like it at all, so how is the VPA2 improved over the original? I see there is at least a different eyecup clasp mechanism. - TIA #BirdingGear

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

Truly sad news. RIP JV. 😢

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

Well, no doubt there’s a number of birders my age who are still glad you did to this day.