Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 24th July 2023
24th July
A Balearic Shearwater seen off St Bees Head in 1993 was only the fifth Cumbrian record, a first-summer Spoonbill at South Walney previously seen on 12th and 14th July was last noted on this day in 2010, it was the 55th Cumbrian record, a second year Iceland Gull was seen at Brampton in 1985 it was the 19th Cumbrian record and a Hobby was seen in Geltsdale in 2011.
25th July
A Black-necked Grebe was found at Fisher Tarn in 2013, a Honey-buzzard flew west at Southwaite (NY44M) in 2009, three Avocets were seen at Newbiggin (SD26U) in 2015, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was found at Anthorn in 2004, Hobbies were represented with two at Kirkby Thore in 2010 and an adult at Foulshaw Moss in 2011 and the Common Rosefinch present at Waterside (NY24) from 15th June until this date in 1996, was the fourth Cumbrian record.
26th July
A Cattle Egret was found at South Walney in 1964 it was only the second Cumbrian record, a juvenile Stone Curlew was discovered on the Irt estuary at Ravenglass in 2003 it was the eighth Cumbrian record and an Alpine Swift at Thwaite Flats, Barrow-in-Furness in 1970 was only the third Cumbrian record.
27th July
Two Egyptian Geese frequented the River Bela at Dallam and nearby Bela Marsh staying until 8th August 2015 this was the 18th Cumbrian record since 1988, a Cory’s Shearwater off North Walney in 1986 was the ninth Cumbrian record and the eleventh individual bird, a Great Shearwater off St Bees Head in 1974 was the second Cumbrian record, an adult male Honey-buzzard was seen over South Walney in 2008, an adult Pectoral Sandpiper that remained at Port Carlisle until 30th July in 2008 was the 23rd Cumbrian record and Hobbies were seen near Askham, Penrith in 1979 and at Midgeholme (NY65) in 2002.
28th July
Three Spoonbills seen on the Kent estuary in 1953 constituted the seventh Cumbrian record, a Balearic Shearwater seen off Walney Island in 2018 was the most recent record of this species, it was 12th Cumbrian record and the 14th individual bird, two Honey-buzzards were seen high over Ulpha Meadows in 2014, an adult Semipalmated Sandpiper at Port Carlisle remained until 5th August in 2010 it was the first and remains the only Cumbrian record, an adult Mediterranean Gull on Arnside Marsh in 1976 was the first record of this now regular gull in Cumbria, Yellow-legged Gulls were represented with an adult at Arnside that remained through until the 9th November in 1998 and third-summer birds at Sandside in 1999 and at Anthorn in 2004, these were the sixth, ninth and 17th Cumbrian records.
29th July
A Great White Egret seen on the Esk estuary at Ravenglass in 2007 was the fifth Cumbrian record, an adult White-rumped Sandpiper at Anthorn in 2007 was the third county record, a Terek Sandpiper at Grune Point in 2002 was the first and is to dateonly Cumbrian record, an adult Yellow-legged Gull present in Whitehaven harbour from 21st June in 2016 was last noted on this date, a Hobby frequented Foulshaw Moss and Ulpha Meadows with another at Glasson Moss (NY26F) all in 2012.
30th July
A Storm Petrel was seen off Silecroft beach in 2022, Hobbies were noted on Roudsea Moss remaining until 11th August in 1991, at Glasson Moss in 2013 and a first-summer bird was seen on Wedholme Flow in 2016.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
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