Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 9th October 2023
9th October
A Black-throated Diver offshore at Workington in 2011 was the third record of five claims in 2011 of this scarce diver, unfortunately only one was submitted and accepted by the CBC Records Panel this wasn’t it!, a Wilson’s Petrel at South Walney in 1990 was the fifth Cumbrian record and was the first live bird, two Spoonbills on the Irt estuary in 1987 constituted the 16th Cumbrian record and the 23rd and 24th individual birds, Great White Egret records came from the southern estuaries in 2016 with three on the Leven and two on the Kent, a Crane was seen flying out to sea off South Walney in 1992 it was the 9th Cumbrian record, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Anthorn, was still there the next day in 1987 it was the second Cumbrian record, single Grey Phalaropes were recorded at Grune Point in 1988 and at Knipe Fold (SD3499) in 2004 these were the 12th and 25th Cumbrian records since 1974 and a Barred Warbler at South Walney in 1988 was the 14th Cumbrian record.
10th October
A Spoonbill at South Walney in 1966 remained until 20th October, it was the eighth Cumbrian record and the tenth individual bird, a Great White Egret was found at Campfield in 2012, remaining until 28th November, two Great White Egrets remained at Flookburgh until 12th October in 2016, a Wryneck was seen at Isel in 1976, ), a Cetti’s Warbler was heard intermittently from 12th April until this date in 2021, another singleton was first seen at Ulpha Meadows in 2021, remaining until 19th January 2022 these were the 14th and 15th Cumbrian records, Yellow-browed Warblers were seen at St Bees in 2010 and Humphrey Head in 2015 these were the 30th and 43rd Cumbrian records and the 31st and 47th individual birds, a Firecrest was found at Borwick Rails, Millom in 2009 and single Lapland Buntings were foundat South Walney remaining until 19th October in 1993 and at Kents Bank (SD37X) in 2010 these were the 29th and 40th Cumbrian records and the 32nd and 44th individual birds.
11th October
A Sooty Shearwater offshore at South Walney in 1984 was the 19th Cumbrian record and the 30th individual bird, an immature Spoonbill located on the River Esk at Rockcliffe in 1997 was the 31st Cumbrian record and the 38th individual bird, a female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a acarce resident was seen at Langwathby (NY53) in 2002, two Cetti’s Warblers were caught and ringed at Watchtree NR in 2020 becoming the 11th Cumbrian record and the 11th and 12th individual birds,an Icterine Warbler at Hodbarrow in 1986 was the fourth Cumbrian record, a Firecrest a scarce migrant, was seen on Walney Island in 2002 and a Lapland Bunting on Walney Island in 2010 was the 38th Cumbrian record and the 41st individual bird.
12th October
An immature drake Blue-winged Teal was shot at Ravenglass in 1972 it was the first Cumbrian record, a Black-throated Diver that flew north at Biggar Bank in 2011 was the fourth record of five claims in 2011, this was the only one to be submitted and accepted by the Records Panel, a Great White Egret took up residence in the Humphrey Head – Kents Bank area remaining until 30th November 2010, two Red Kites seen in the Holker (SD37) area in 1997 pre-date the Grizedale releases, single Hobbies were seen at Castle Head Field Centre, Grange-over-Sands in 1982, at South Walney from 12th to 27th October and what was thought to be the same bird at North Walney on 18th October in 1985 and a ringed male Bearded Tit at South Walney which was also seen on 18th and 24th October in 2014 originated from Leighton Moss where it had been ringed on 18th June 2014. It was the eighth Cumbrian record since 1978 and the 34th individual bird.
13th October
A Red-crested Pochard duck at Tindale Tarn in 1996 was the 16th Cumbrian record since 1967 and the 18th individual bird, a Great Shearwater off Biggar Bank in 1989 was the seventh Cumbrian record, an immature White-tailed Eagle flew west at Hallbankgate and Tindale in 2011 was the second Cumbrian record this century, two Cranes seen at Halforth in 2002 constituted the 17th Cumbrian record and the 13th and 14th individual birds, an adult White-rumped Sandpiper found at South Walney in 1984 was the second Cumbrian record, two Pallas’s Warblers at South Walney in 1982 constituted the first Cumbrian record and a Yellow-browed Warbler at North Scale Walney in 1992 was the 12th Cumbrian record and the 13th individual bird.
14th October
The Brothers Water Ferruginous Duck returned for its second winter period in 1990 remaining until 18th March 1991, an adult Hobby was seen at Haverigg (SD17) in 1997, a juvenile Red-backed Shrike was seen on North Walney in 1990 it was the 11th Cumbrian record since 1969, colonisation of Cetti’s Warblers continues with one caught and ringed at Watchtree N.R. in 2019 it was the sixth Cumbrian record, a Yellow-browed Warbler on the Waver estuary in 1920 was the first Cumbrian record, others on this date are singles at Walney Island in 2005 and at Kirksanton Haws in 2014, then two at Haverigg in 2014 and two at South Walney until 16th October in 2014 these were the 24th, 40th to 42nd Cumbrian records and the 26th, 43rd to 47th individual birds, a Firecrest at Grune Point in 2002, a juvenile Red-breasted Flycatcher at South Walney in 1974 was the third Cumbrian record, an immature male Red-breasted Flycatcher at South Walney in 1977 was the fourth Cumbrian record and a Richard’s Pipit at at Roudsea in 1988 was the 14th Cumbrian record.
15th October
The juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard found at Sunbiggin Tarn on 19th September 2015 was relocated on this day and again on 19th October, this was the 12th record this century, a juvenile Greater Yellowlegs moulting to first-winter was at Carr Beds, Rockcliffe remaining until 28th October in 1994 it lingered in the area and was seen here again on 12th and 13th November 1994 it was the first Cumbrian record, a Cream-coloured Courser was shot at Grune Point in 1947 it remains the first and only Cumbrian record to date, a Great Grey Shrike was at Riggindale in 2013 was the 27th Cumbrian record since 1997, a male Bearded Tit at South Walney until 29th October in 2018 was the 9th Cumbrian record since 1978, a Cetti’s Warbler was found at Westfield Point in 2021 it remained until 10th November 2021 and was the 18th Cumbrian record, Yellow-browed Warblers were located at South Walney in 2015 and at Hallgarth, Kendal in 2020, these were 47th and 76th Cumbrian records and the 53rd and 85th individual birds and a Firecrest was found on North Walney in 2013.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
Copyright © 2023