Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 10th April 2023
10th April
A 3CY ‘Todds’ Canada Goose was found at Cardurnock (NY15U) on 27th October 2012 it remained until this date in 2013 and it was the first Cumbrian record, two Egyptian Geese were found at Whinfell Tarn in 2003 this was the seventh Cumbrian record, a White Stork flew over Grange-over-Sands in 1961 and was only the third Cumbrian record, a Crane lingered at North Plain Farm from 2004 until this date in 2005, two satellite ‘tagged’ Golden Eagles dropped in at RSPB Haweswater in 2022, they were part of the South of Scotland Project which began in 2021,a Hoopoe was found on Walney in 2001 it was the ninth Cumbrian record since 1992, the colonisation continues with a singing Cetti’s Warbler holding territory at Askam-in-Furness until 17th May 2020 this was the eighth Cumbrian record.
11th April
A Red-breasted Goose seen on this date on Rockcliffe Marsh remained until 23rd April 1994 it had previously been seen on Drumburgh in March 1994, it was the seventh county record and probably only the second individual bird, a Black Stork found at Blencogo in 1994 was the third Cumbrian record and a White Stork seen at Ings remained until 14th April 1961 it was only the fourth Cumbrian record.
12th April
The first-winter Black Brant that was found at Rampside (SD26N) in December 2012 was last seen on this date in 2013 it was the first Cumbrian record, a drake King Eider was at South Walney until 2nd May 1980 it was the returning bird from the previous year and the second Cumbrian record, two Velvet Scoters were found inland at Wet Sleddale in 1994, two Avocets were seen displaying on the River Eden at Rockcliffe in 2012 they remained until the next day, a Night-heron was found at Cleator remaining until 18th April 1974 it was the tenth Cumbrian record, the adult female Kentish Plover found on North Walney on 3rd March 1994 was last noted on this date in 1994 it was the second Cumbrian record, a Hoopoe was seen at Holker (SD37) in 2005, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Grange in Borrowdale (NY21T) in 1992, a Cetti’s Warbler took up residence at Mere Tarn in 2021 remaining until 10th October 2021 (D. Jewell), a male Subalpine Warbler seen at Milnthorpe Sewage Works in 1993 was the second Cumbrian record and up to four Water Pipits wintered on Walney in the fields near Biggar remaining until this date in 2016.
13th April
A drake Green-winged Teal was seen at Siddick Pond it remained until 21st April 2016 and it was approximately the 30th Cumbrian record, a White Stork flew north up the Walney Channel in 2004, a second-summer Ring-billed Gull was found at Green Hills Pond, Dalton-in-Furness it remained until 27th April 1996 it was the eighth Cumbrian record and two Water Pipits were seen at Biggar remaning until this date in 2010.
14th April
A Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Bowness Common in 2003 it was the 21st Cumbrian record since 1974, a 2CY Iceland Gull was seen on Central Walney in 1985 it was the 17th Cumbrian record and a Hoopoe was seen in a Kendal garden in 2016 it stayed overnight and was the fifth Cumbrian record of the decade.
15th April
The drake American Wigeon first seen on Green Road Marsh on 9th March 1989 was last seen on this date it was the first Cumbrian record, a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Talkin Fell in 2011 it was the sixth Cumbrian record this century, an adult Ring-billed Gull was found at South Walney where it remained until 18th April 1984, it was the first Cumbrian record, a Hoopoe was seen in Dent (SD68Z) in 2015 it was the fourth Cumbrian record of the decade and a White-spotted Bluethroat found at Rockcliffe in 1938 was the first Cumbrian record of this race.
16th April
A drake Red-crested Pochard was seen at Greenodd in 1994 it was the fifth Cumbrian record and eighth individual bird of the 90’s, a White Stork toured South and West Cumbria in April 1961 it was found at Grange-over-Sands on 10th, Ings from 11th to 14th, Gosforth on 15th and 16th then at Maryport on 16th, generating the 3rd to 6th Cumbrian records, two Avocets seen at Anthorn in 2015 constituted the 13th Cumbrian record of the decade, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was found in Whitehaven harbour in 2017 it was annual from 2011 and a male Golden Oriole was seen in Torver in 1974 it was the 17th Cumbrian record, a summer plumaged male Lapland Bunting was photographed on Rockcliffe Marsh in 2021 this was the 45th Cumbrian record and a singing male Ortolan Bunting was found in the dunes at Haverigg in 2022.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
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