Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 4th September 2023
4th September
A Grey Phalarope was located at South Walney it remained until 22nd September in 1974, a White-tailed Eagle which visited Cumbria in 2022 was seen on the Kent estuary at Arnside on this day, it was part of the IOW reintroduction scheme, a pair of Bee-eaters nested in a sand pit near Brampton and fledged a youngster on this day in 2015, this was part of the tenth Cumbrian record, Hobbies were found at Tindale Tarn in 2014 and Low Gelt Quarry in 2015, juvenile Woodchat Shrikes on Walney Island in 2006 and at Brigsteer causeway until 6th September in 2016 were the eighth and ninth Cumbrian records, a first-winter Barred Warbler at Eskmeals in 1993 was the 21st Cumbrian record and an Ortolan Bunting on Walney Island in 2005 was the third Cumbrian record.
5th September
A Pectoral Sandpiper found at Sunbiggin Tarn in 1989 remained overnight, it was the 10th Cumbrian record and the 11th individual bird, other Pectoral Sandpipers were found at Carr Beds, Rockcliffe remaining until 7th September in 1995 and on Wedholme Flow remainng overnight in 2017, these were the 16th and 34th Cumbrian records and the 15th and 33rd individual birds and the Citrine Wagtail found at Longtown on 3rd September 2016 was last seen on this day.
6th September
Pectoral Sandpipers were recorded with two on Rockcliffe Marsh remaining until 16th September in 1988 and a singleton on Campfield Marsh until 9th September in 1994, these were the eighth and 15th Cumbrian records and the eighth, ninth and 14th individual birds, two Cory’s Shearwaters offshore at South Walney in 1983 became the second Cumbrian record and the second and third individual birds, two Sooty Shearwaters seen flying west at Bowness-on-Solway in 1994 constituted the 27th Cumbrian record and the 44th and 45th individual birds, an Avocet on the Kent estuary in 1981 was the 13th Cumbrian record and the 12th individual bird, a Temminck’s Stint found at South Walney in 1983 was the tenth Cumbrian record and the 12th individual bird, a Wryneck was seen at White Moss near Carlisle airport in 1985, a Hobby was seen at Mawbray in 1987, first-winter Barred Warblers were caught and ringed at Grune Point in 1959 and again at Grune Point in 1975, at South Walney in1986 and seen at Snab Point, Walney also the next day in 2008 these were the first, third, 13th and 28th Cumbrian records; a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling on Walney Island remained until 8th September 1991 this was the first record since 1898.
7th September
A Sooty Shearwater offshore at South Walney in 1983 was the 13th Cumbrian record and the 19th individual bird, a Corncrake was located in the Blackhall Wood area, Durdar (NY35) remaining until 8th September in 1991, a notable gathering of six Avocets on Rockcliffe Marsh stayed overnight in 1993 and constituted the 18th Cumbrian record and the 18th– 23rd individual birds, two Avocets at Campfield Marsh remained until 12th September 2002 and constituted the 27th Cumbrian record, these were the 29th and 30th individual birds, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull seen offshore at Selker in 2000 was the 17th Cumbrian record, a Great White Egret at Great Ormside in 2020 was the 47th Cumbrian record, a Hobby was seen on Foulshaw Moss in 2008, a juvenile Red-backed Shrike was at South Walney remaining on site until 19th September in 1999 it was the eighth Cumbrian record in the 1990’s and a first-winter Barred Warbler caught and ringed at South Walney in 1977 was the fifth Cumbrian record.
8th September
A Sooty Shearwater flew south offshore at Biggar Bank, Walney in 2000 it was the 29th Cumbrian record and the 46th individual bird, a Black-necked Grebe that drifted in with the tide at Far Arnside in 2001 was a great delight for the finder, a Pectoral Sandpiper remained at Longtown gravel pits until 10th September 1984 it was the sixth Cumbrian record, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Rockcliffe Marsh in 1988 was the third Cumbrian record, a Red-necked Phalarope found at Port Carlisle in 1990 was the 31st Cumbrian record and the 32nd individual bird and a bird at Port Carlisle in 2021 was thought to be a juvenile, an immature Sabine’s Gull on Ormsgill reservoir in 1988 was a great find, it was the ninth Cumbrian record, the last of the Bee-eaters that bred at Brampton in 2015 was seen on this day, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was located at Sizergh Castle in 1997, a female Red-footed Falcon at Longtown in 1988 was the fourth Cumbrian record, an adult Hobby was seen at Drumburgh in 2013 and a Firecrest located on Cunswick Scar in 1996 was a nice find.
9th September
A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was found at Halforth in 2022, it remained until 13th September 2022 and was the 41st Cumbrian record, Wrynecks were caught and ringed at South Walney in 1988 and in 1996 these were the 19th and 23rd Cumbrian records since 1973, a first- summer Hobby frequented the Foulshaw Moss/ Ulpha Meadows area in 2015 and a Firecrest was found at Burnbanks, Haweswater (NY51D) in 2016 was the 21st Cumbrian record this century.
10th September
A Wilson’s Petrel located offshore from Biggar Bank, Walney in 2017 was the sixth Cumbrian record and only the second live bird, a pair of Red-crested Pochards were found on Tarn House Tarn remaining until 15th September in 1978 this constituted the fifth Cumbrian record and involved the fifth and sixth individual birds, a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was found at Savinhill Moss (SD48U) remaining until 12th September in 2016 before relocating to wet meadows at Moss Side Farm on 13th and 14th September 2016 these were the 32nd & 33rd Cumbrian records, a storm-blown Red-necked Phalarope found on Dock Tarn (NY21S) in Borrowdale in 1994 was the 32nd Cumbrian record and the 33rd individual bird, a Wryneck at Vickerstown, Walney in 1976 fell victim to the country’s leading bird predator, the domestic cat, a Hobby was seen at Tindale Tarn in 2014 and a male Red-breasted Flycatcher found near Ambleside in 1946 was the first Cumbrian record.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
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