Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 22nd May 2023
22nd May
A run of Spoonbills on Walney Island in 2002 began on this day with a first-summer bird followed by two birds on 31st May and 1st June with three immatures on 2nd and 3rd June and an adult and an immature on 8th June and finally an immature on 9th June, a Crane was found on Walney Island it remained until 31st May in 2003 and was the 18th Cumbrian record, a Red-necked Phalarope found on Rockcliffe Marsh in 1979 was the 22nd Cumbrian record, a Long-tailed Skua was seen off Biggar Bank in 2011, they do occasionally get seen away from the Solway, a Turtle Dove was found at Hawcoat, Barrow-in-Furness in 1994 and a male Golden Oriole remained at Armathwaite until 18th June in 1990 it was the 28th Cumbrian record.
23rd May
An adult Spoonbill was seen on Glasson Moss (NY26F) in 2009, a Crane was seen at Longtown in 1989 it was the seventh Cumbrian record, a spectacular 71 Long-tailed Skuas were seen off Bowness-on-Solway in 2011 contrasting with a single in 2020 and a Hoopoe stayed at Dendron (SD27K) until 25th May in 2008 it was the tenth Cumbrian record this century.
24th May
A Black-necked Grebe was seen on the River Kent in Kendal in 1999, an adult Spoonbill was at Burgh Marsh (NY25Z) in 2009, presumed the same as the Glasson Moss bird on 23rd, a first summer/adult Sabine’s Gull at Bowness-on-Solway was also seen the next day in 2005, a good date for Long-tailed Skuas with five at Bowness-on-Solway in 2006, one off Walney Island in 2007and nine off Bowness-on-Solway in 2011, a Turtle Dove found at Whitbeck (SD18) was the third of seven records in 1990, a male Golden Oriole was seen at Long Sleddale in 1984 it was the 23rd Cumbrian record, a Red-spotted Bluethroat at Workington in 1982 was the second Cumbrian record and the first example of this race recorded in the county and a singing male Ortolan Bunting was seen and heard at Drigg (SD09P) in 2008 it was the fourth Cumbrian record.
25th May
A Sooty Shearwater off South Walney in 1985 was the 21st Cumbrian record and the 36th individual bird, two Black-necked Grebes were found at Killington Reservoir in 1997, a White Stork found at Tarnhouse Tarn in 1976 was the seventh Cumbrian record, Spoonbills were represented with an adult at Bassenthwaite Lake that remained until 31st May in 1992, one at North Plain Farm (NY26A) until 26th May in 2009 and one on Rockcliffe Marsh in 2011 these were the 21st, 51st and 55th Cumbrian records, a Corncrake was callingat St Bees Head until 26th May in 1976, a Stone Curlew was seen on Rockcliffe Marsh in 2008, it was the ninth Cumbrian record, a summer plumaged White-winged Black Tern was seen off Biggar Bank in 2014 it was the seventh Cumbrian record, single Turtle Doves were on Walney Island until 1st June in 1997 and in 2005, a Wryneck was present in Ennerdale in 1988, a pair of Red-backed Shrikes were seen at Crummock Water in 1977, this was the fourth Cumbrian record since 1969 and the sixth Cumbrian record of a Red-backed Shrike was seen on North Walney in 1983, Golden Orioles were represented with an adult male at Lower Gelt that remained until 27th May in 1987 and a first-summer male that remained on North Walney until 4th June in 1997, these were the 24th and 32nd Cumbrian records and a Red-spotted Bluethroat at South Walney in 1987 was the sixth Cumbrian record of Bluethroat and the fourth record of this race. and a male Blue-headed Wagtail and a male ‘Channel’ Wagtail that remained in the local population of Yellow Wagtails near Langwathby in 2020 was a continuation of the third Cumbrian record of this hybrid.
26th May
A drake Ring-necked Duck was found on Mockerkin Tarn in 2002, it was the 26th Cumbrian record, a Corncrake was heard calling near Brampton in 1981, Long-tailed Skuas were represented with one flying north off South Walney in 1985 and two off Bowness-on-Solway in 2019 and a Turtle Dove was seen at Humphrey Head in 2000.
27th May
Spoonbills were seen at South Walney remaining until 29th May in 1993 and at Bowness-on-Solway in 2002, these were the 22nd and 26th Cumbrian records, a 3CY male Pallid Harrier in the Cumbrian part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park from 27th April in 2017 was last seen on this day, it was the first Cumbrian record, three male Corncrakes were heard calling on a southern moss in 1979, a Spotted Crake was seen at Beckfoot in 1987 it was the eighth Cumbrian record since 1981, a first-summer Laughing Gull at Halforth was the first Cumbrian Record and a Turtle Dove was seen at South Walney in 1991.
28th May
A drake Ring-necked Duck at Mockerkin Tarn in 1999 was the 25th Cumbrian record, a first-summer Night-heron was located at Watercrook, Kendal in 2004 it was the 18th Cumbrian record, a Honey Buzzard was seen at South Walney in 1992, a female Black-winged Stilt at Hodbarrow in 2012 remains the only Cumbrian record, a Roseate Tern was seen on Foulney in 1993, a Hoopoe at Scales Hall, Calthwaite (NY44F) in 2017 was the 17th Cumbrian record this century and a singing male Red-spotted Bluethroat at South Walney in 2008 was the eighth Cumbrian record and the sixth example of this particular race.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
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