Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 3rd October 2022
3rd October
A Great White Egret at Campfield Marsh was also seen on 10th and 12th November and 4th December in 2016, birds were also present on the Kent estuary in 2016 now becoming a regular sight in the south of the county, an Avocet seen on the Kent estuary remained until 5th October in 1970 it was the eighth Cumbrian record, a juvenile Turtle Dove at Sizergh Castle in 1991 was the fifth Cumbrian record that year, Hobbies were seen at Arnside in 1989 and at Kents Bank in 2016 and a first-winter Barred Warbler that remained on Walney Island until 12th October in 2005 was the 26th Cumbrian record.
4th October
An immature drake Red-crested Pochard found on Killington reservoir was still present the next day in 1995, always difficult to assess but a good date, it was the sixth autumn record since 1970, a Glossy Ibis kindly dropped in at Rockcliffe Marsh in 2009 it was the fifth Cumbrian record and the tenth individual bird, a Bittern on Whinfell Tarn remained until 24th October in 1977, it was the eighth Cumbrian record of the 70’s, the first-summer American Golden Plover first seen at Anthorn on 14th August 2005 was last noted on this date, a Hoopoe remained at Grune Point until 6th October in 2000 it was the eighth Cumbrian record since 1992, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen on the outskirts of Kendal in 1992 it was the fourth Cumbrian record that year, Hobbies were to be found on Walney Island until 7th October in 1984 and in the Tindale – Hallbankgate area in 2006, Yellow-browed Warblers were represented with two in Vickerstown Park, Walney until 6th October in 2013 one remaining until 13th October and one in Cockermouth in 2013, these were the 36th and 37th Cumbrian records and the 38th to 40th individual birds.
5th October
An adult Ross’s Goose [BBRC Cat D] frequented Burgh and Rockcliffe Marshes in 2010 remaining until 3rd April 2011 this was the second Cumbrian record, a Great White Egret at Killington Reservoir flew off east over Lily Mere in 2016, a Spotted Crake on North Walney in 1981 was the second Cumbrian record of 1981, a Common Crane on South Walney in 1984 was the fourth Cumbrian record, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Walney Island in 1975 was the second Cumbrian record, a Red-necked Phalarope at South Walney in 1980 was the 24th Cumbrian record and the 25th individual bird, Yellow-browed Warblers were found at South Walney in 1968, the second Cumbrian record; at South Walney in 1981 the fourth Cumbrian record; at Black’s Pond, Sandscale (SD27) remaining until 6th October in 1992 the 11th Cumbrian record and the 12th individual bird and at South Walney in 2009 the 27th Cumbrian record and the 29th individual bird and Lapland Buntings were seen at South Walney in 1968 the sixth Cumbrian record, with one on the beach at Sellafield that remained until 8th October in 2008, this was the 35th Cumbrian record and the 39th individual bird.
6th October
A Pectoral Sandpiper lingered at Anthorn until 8th October 2020 it was the 36th Cumbrian record, a Grey Phalarope at South Walney in 1990 was the 17th Cumbrian record since 1974, an adult Yellow-legged Gull with a damaged foot was at Newbiggin viaduct (SD09X) it was seen again on 21st October in 2012, a Wryneck at Appleby in 1973 was a notable record, a Yellow-browed Warbler at South Walney in 2010 was the 29th Cumbrian record and the 31st individual bird, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Grange-over-Sands in 2019 was the 71st Cumbrian record and the 69th individual bird, Note: 2016 was a particularly good year Yellow-browed Warblers, 26 individuals were recorded between 2nd and 30th October as follows; Levens: One on 2nd, Kents Bank: One on 3rd, two on 8th & 9th and one on 10th, St Bees Head: Singles on 3rd, 5th – 7th and 10th and 11th, Saltom Bay, Whitehaven: One on 3rd and 4th, Sedgwick: One on 4th, South Walney: Singles on 4th, 10th, 15th and 20th, Humphrey Head: One on 5th, Flookburgh: One on 5th, possibly same as above, Westfield Point, Barrow-in-Furness: Three on 6th, two from 7th to 12th , singles on 13th and 19th, Waterside: One on 7th, Arnside Knott: One on 9th, Grange-over-Sands: One on 9th, Vickerstown, Walney: One on 11th and 12th, Foulshaw Moss: One on 12th, Ennerdale Bridge: One on 14th with a tit flock, Carlisle Airport: One on 20th & 21st, Weddicar Hall Park: One on 20th, Whitehaven: One on 20th, Beckermet: One on 21st and 22nd, Cockermouth: One on 21st and Watchtree NR, Great Orton: One on 30th, a Richard’s Pipit remained at South Walney until 7th October in 1995 it was the 19th Cumbrian record.
7th October
A drake Green-winged Teal at Siddick Pond returned on this day in 2009 for its third visit since 2007 remaining until 23rd October these are very mobile birds and are not easy to assess but it is thought to be the 15th Cumbrian record and possibly the same bird that was recorded at Campfield from 2007 to 2009, a Spoonbill at Grune Point until 13th October in 1989 was the 18th Cumbrian record and the 27th individual bird, a male Montagu’s Harrier at Maulds Meaburn Edge (NY61I) in 1961 was the first of three records since 1923 when a pair attempted to breed in North Cumbria, it was last recorded in Cumbria at South Walney on 20th April 1981, a Spotted Crake at Carr Beds, Rockcliffe in 1992 was the ninth record since 1981, an adult American Golden Plover at Anthorn until 9th October in 1999 was the second Cumbrian record, five Grey Phalaropes were recorded at South Walney in 1990 with one staying from 8th to 11th October this was the 18th Cumbrian record since 1974 and the 18th to 22nd individual birds, a Grey Phalarope on the River Kent downstream from Halforth remained until 9th October in 2003 it was the 23rd Cumbrian record and the 27th individual bird since 1974, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull seen at Workington in 2011 was the 30th Cumbrian record and the 26th individual bird, an adult Hobby was seen at Raughton Head in 1999 , a Ring-necked Parakeet was found at Maryport in 2012, a Cetti’s Warbler found in the central marsh at South Walney remained until 24th October in 2014 it was the third Cumbrian record , a Yellow-browed Warbler at New Mills, Brampton in 2017 was the 74th Cumbrian record and the 72nd individual bird, an Ortolan Bunting at South Walney in 1963 was the first Cumbrian record, later it was found dead at the lighthouse and a first-winter Lapland Bunting on Walney Island remained until 9th October in 2002 it was the 31st Cumbrian record and the 34th individual bird.
8th October
A drake American Wigeon lingered at North Plain Farm until 30th November in 2002 it was the eighth Cumbrian record and the sixth individual bird, a Sooty Shearwater offshore at South Walney in 1998 was the 18th Cumbrian record and the 29th individual bird, a Great Shearwater off South Walney in 1988 was the sixth Cumbrian record, three Spoonbills off Arnside remained until the next day in 2018 this was the 63rd Cumbrian record and approximatey the 84th to 86th individuals, Grey Phalaropes were well represented on this day with singles off South Walney in 1988 this was the 11th Cumbria record, a first-winter at Arnside Marsh and Halforth in 1991 these were the 19th and 20th Cumbrian records, two together on Walney Island in 2001 constituted the 24th Cumbrian record, one on Walney Island in 2003 was the 25th Cumbrian record all since 1974, two adult Long-tailed Skuas at South Walney in 1988 constituted the sixth Cumbrian record since 1976 and the sixth and seventh individual birds, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Barrow-in-Furness until 10th October in 1986 was the eighth Cumbrian record and the ninth individual bird, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Askam-in-Furness in 1994 was the 18th Cumbrian record, a Firecrest was seen on St Bees Head in 2008, a Richard’s Pipit was found near the caravan site at South Walney it was still there the next day in 2007 and it was the 25th Cumbrian record.
9th October
A Black-throated Diver offshore at Workington in 2011 was the third record of five claims in 2011 of this scarce diver, unfortunately only one was submitted and accepted by the CBC Records Panel this wasn’t it!, a Wilson’s Petrel at South Walney in 1990 was the fifth Cumbrian record and was the first live bird, two Spoonbills on the Irt estuary in 1987 constituted the 16th Cumbrian record and the 23rd and 24th individual birds, in 2016 Great White Egret records came from the southern estuaries with three on the Leven and two on the Kent, a Common Crane was seen flying out to sea off South Walney in 1992 it was the 9th Cumbrian record, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Anthorn, was still there the next day in 1987 it was the second Cumbrian record, single Grey Phalaropes were recorded at Grune Point in 1988 and at Knipe Fold (SD3499) in 2004 these were the 12th and 25th Cumbrian records since 1974 and a Barred Warbler at South Walney in 1988 was the 14th Cumbrian record.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
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