Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 31st July 2023
31st July
An adult Pectoral Sandpiper remained at South Walney until 3rd August in 1982 it was the fourth Cumbrian record and a Great Grey Shrike was seen at Alston Moor (NY74F) remaining until 3rd August in 2009.
1st August
An Egyptian Goose first seen at Halforth on 27th April in 2006 was last noted on this date, it was the 11th Cumbrian record since 1988, two Balearic Shearwaters were seen off South Walney in 1992 this constituted the fourth Cumbrian record and the fourth and fifth individual birds, a Great White Egret on Bassenthwaite Lake remained overnight in 2003 it was the first Cumbrian record, a Honey- buzzard was notedat Hutton-in-the-Forest in 2004, an adult Spotted Crake unearthed at South Walney in 2011 was only the second Cumbrian record this century, an adult White-rumped Sandpiper remained overnight at Hodbarrow in 1984 it was the first Cumbrian record, a moribund first-summer Sabine’s Gull seen on Rockcliffe Marsh was later found dead on 8th August 1999 it was the 17th Cumbrian record and an adult Hobby was seen on Rockcliffe Marsh in 1999.
2nd August
A Great Shearwater off North Walney in 1985 was the fifth Cumbrian record, a Corncrake was an unusual record for Ormsgill Reservoir in 1998, an adult Yellow-legged Gull at Sandside in 2003 was the 16th Cumbrian record since 1987, a Bee-eater at Millwood, Barrow-in-Furness in 1970 was the first Cumbrian record, two Hobbies frequented Foulshaw Moss in 2010 with one at Portinscale in 2015.
3rd August
A White Stork found on Rockcliffe Marsh on 23rd June in 1981 remained until this date it was the tenth Cumbrian record, a Glossy Ibis on the River Bela at Milnthorpe from 17th June in 2014 was the 11th Cumbrian record and the 29th individual bird, an adult Pacific Golden Plover at Selker in 2002 was the third Cumbrian record, Hobbies were found at Rockcliffe in 1991 and at Geltsdale and Bowness-on-Solway in 2015.
4th August
A Bittern flew down the River Kent at Arnside in 1984, a Great White Egret on the Kent estuary in 2014, an Avocet found at Plumpton Bight (SD37E) in 2008 was the 11th Cumbrian record this century, an immature Red-necked Phalarope remained at Sunbiggin Tarn until 6th August in 1982, it was the 27th Cumbrian record and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was found at Halforth in 2008 it was the 24th Cumbrian record.
5th August
An adult Pacific Golden Plover remained at Grune Point until 9th August in 2000 it was the second Cumbrian record, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen on Haverigg beach (SD17U) in 2014 it was the 19th Cumbrian record this century and Hobbies were seen in the Tindale – Hallbankgate area in 2006 and in Geltsdale in 2016.
6th August
A Cory’s Shearwater off South Walney in 1972 was the first Cumbrian record, a Great White Egret was seen at Hodbarrow in 2014 it was the 26th Cumbrian record, a Spoonbill that frequented the Kent estuary until 19th August in 1976 was the 13th Cumbrian record, a Corncrake was ‘rasping’ at Houghton, Carlisle (NY46) in 1981, this was a good date for Hobbies with birds at Wetheral in 2003, in the Tindal Tarn area in 2005 in Geltsdale in 2015 and at Haverthwaite in 2016.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
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