Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 13th March 2023
13th March
A drake Green-winged Teal that frequented the Ravenglass area from 24th February 2002 was last seen on this day it was the sixth Cumbrian record, a drake Ring-necked Duck that wintered in the Kendal area in 1995/96 was seen at Ratherheath Tarn (SD49) in 1996, it was approximately the 22nd Cumbrian record, a Sooty Shearwater seen off South Walney in 1994 was the 26th Cumbrian record and the 43rd individual bird and a Red Kite was seen at Arnside in 1996 pre-dating the Grizedale releases.
14th March
A drake Ferruginous Duck was found at Brothers Water in 1989, it remained until 23rd April 1989 and was the second Cumbrian record, it then returned to winter every year until 29th March 1995, an adult Great White Egret was found on Skinburness Marsh it remained until 22nd March 2006 and was the second Cumbrian record and a Water Pipit was seen on Biggar Bank in 2009.
15th March
The Snow Goose previously seen at Abbeytown in 2011 relocated to Raby Cote (NY15) in 2012 it was the fifth Cumbrian record, a Tundra Bean Goose found at Anthorn in 2005 was the fifth Cumbrian record this century, the drake Green-winged Teal that wintered in the Ravenglass area was last seen on this day in 2003, it was the seventh Cumbrian record, the wintering drake Ring-necked Duck in the Kendal area visited Cunswick Tarn in 1996 it was the 23rd Cumbrian record, an immature Rough-legged Buzzard was noted in the Gelt valley (NY55) in 2012 it was the second Cumbrian record of the decade, an adult Iceland Gull was seen near Flookburgh in 1993 it was the 38th Cumbrian record and a first-winter Iceland Gull at Sellafield until 19th April 2000 was the 54th Cumbrian record, a Roller was seen at Mungrisedale in 1953 it was the sixth Cumbrian record, a Great Grey Shrike was seen on Dalton Crags in 2009, it was the 17th Cumbrian record since 1994 and a Shore Lark found at Haverigg in 2002 was the 22nd Cumbrian record and the 28th individual bird.
16th March
A drake Green-winged Teal was found at Hodbarrow in 2016, it remained overnight and was approximately the 29th Cumbrian record, a first-winter Sabine’s Gull was seen at South Walney in 1995 it was the 12th Cumbrian record, a Liitle Auk was noted offshore at Sellafield in 2010, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Wet Sleddale in 1991 and a Dartford Warbler that put in a fleeting appearance at Far Arnside in 2012 was only the second Cumbrian record.
17th March
A Black-throated Diver was seen off Bowness-on-Solway in 2002, a Bittern was seen on Keekle Flashes (NY01) in 2004, a Red Kite was at Cummersdale in 1985 pre-dating the Grizedale releases, a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Shap Fell in 1985 it was the eighth Cumbrian record since 1974, a first-winter Laughing Gull was located on Standing Tarn, Dalton-in-Furness in 2012 it remained overnight and it was the third Cumbrian record, an adult Yellow-legged Gull frequented the harbour at Whitehaven in 2013 and a Great Grey Shrike first found at Dalton Crags on 5th January 2015 was last seen there on this day in 2015.
18th March
A drake Ruddy Duck first found on Ormsgill Reservoir on 10th February 2011 was last seen on this day, a second-winter Iceland Gull was found at South Walney in 1990 it was the 23rd Cumbrian record, two Great Grey Shrikes were at Dalton Crags (SD57N) and were seen on a further ten dates up to 6th April 2015, this was the 13th Cumbrian record of the decade.
19th March
The drake Ferruginous Duck returned to Brothers Water for its second winter period on 21st October 1989 remaining until this date in 1990, the now regular drake Ring-necked Duck wintering in the Kendal area returned to Killington Reservoir on this day remaining until 2nd April 1995, a drake Ring-necked Duck that frequented Rydal Water until 23rd March 2007 was also seen nearby on Grasmere in January, it was approximately the 32nd Cumbrian record, a first-winter Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Byers Pike (NY65I) in 2015 it was the fifth Cumbrian record of the decade, an adult Yellow-legged Gull frequented Whitehaven harbour until 12th April 2011 a Great Grey Shrike first seen on Dalton Crags (SD57N) on 8th January 2006 was last seen on this day 2006!
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
Copyright © 2023