Inquisitor 1247

[Ripper]

Hello
Please can someone explain the wordplay to:
1 across: Spot this bird to spot another (4) TER_
I'm assuming the answer is tern
and
27 across: Reeling drunkard leaves another stain (4)SP_T I'm assuming the answer is spot
Now I'm having trouble of what to highlight in the 2nd & 12th rows.
In the 12th row I have a 'convenient' answer starting at 34. The trouble is although the word is the dispute in the book it means that the down answers created by it aren't words - so I must have the wrong end of the stick!
Also in the 2nd row I'm completely stuck
Contiguous means touching and as the answers are confined to two separate rows I'm assuming they must be consecutive letters?
Any help very much appreciated!
Thanks in advance

[bibblebub]

1a) maybe - spot = bit and bittern would be another bird

27a) remove 'sot' reversed from t o s s p o t - i put spaces between the letters to avoid possible word filtering

[x_word_fan]

Saw your post as I was stuck on the same 2 wordplays!

In both cases you replace 3 consecutive letters - the two 6 letter words are in 2 blocks of 3 one above the other - I found them by seeing which down entries could not be changed into real words.

[Ripper]

Thank you both I'll have another look for the words -
x_word_fan am I correct in thinking that i.e. the word would be 3 'changed' letters on row 2 with 3 unchanged on row three? one above each other??

[x_word_fan]

3 in row 1 + the 3 changed in row 2

At the bottom is the 3 changed in 12 with 3 underneath

[copelander]

Am I right in thinking that it's a 5 letter word which needs to be overwritten in an appropriate colour?

[x_word_fan]

Yes - 3 letters coincide with the effect

[Ripper]

Got it! (finally!)
Thanks to all for your help

[copelander]

Yes,x-word-fan, that's the one I'd spotted. Thanks

[Indy-trier]

Thanks to your tip X-word-fan the word I thought I'd found in the lower block is now confirmed. The reason I hesitated is that the word I found in the upper block only requires me to change 2 letters in row 2 if CANED/UNBLOWN are right! I'm sure this item was the cause of the problem so what am I doing wrong?

[Indy-trier]

Whoops. I've now realised that 6d and 11a originally had a P in them. I'd already changed it to the appropriate letter yesterday! Sorry folks. All sorted.

[RupeW]

Is 1ac just spot = small amount = bit... and Bittern is another bird?

[RupeW]

Lol. Ignore me. I thought it was saying there'd been no replies...