Week Commencing Monday 30th October 2023

Records from the archives – On This Day

For week commencing Monday 30^th  October 2023

30^th October

Two Red-crested Pochards at Silverholme, Windermere in 2013 were considered to be escapes, a Bittern returned to Siddick Pond for its sixth winter in 2010, four Bearded Tits frequented Elterwater in 1978 this was the first Cumbrian record of the 20^th century and an inappropriately named Common (Mealy) Redpoll was caught and ringed at South Walney in 2017.

31^st October

A Shore Lark at South Walney in 1998 was the 20^th Cumbrian record and the 25^th individual bird, a Pallas’s Warbler at South Walney in 1994 was the second Cumbrian record and the third individual bird, a Yellow-browed Warbler on Rakes Lane, Walney  in 2015 was the 49^th Cumbrian record and the 55^th individual bird, a Common (Mealy) Redpoll was caught and ringed at South Walney in 2010, a Little Bunting at South Walney in 2005 was the third Cumbrian record and a female  Lapland Bunting was seen at Dalston in 1987 it was the 16^th Cumbrian record.

1^st November

A drake Green-winged Teal returned to  Hodbarrow for its second winter period in 2012, it was seen sporadically until 8^th February in 2013 and it was the 22^nd Cumbrian record, a Great White Egret on Campfield Marsh remained until 17 December 2011, a Great Grey Shrike was seen at Shap  in 1997, it was the first Cumbrian record since 1994 and another was at Swindale (NY51) remaining until 5^th November 2003 this was the seventh Cumbrian record since 1994, a first-winter Barred Warbler was caught and ringed at Eskmeals in 1998 it was the 23^rd Cumbrian record, a Firecrest was seen in Rakes Lane, Walney in 2015, a Richard’s Pipit at Hilpsford Point in 2016 was the 27^th Cumbrian record and the most recent bird and a male Lapland Bunting at South Walney in 1970 was the ninth Cumbrian record.

2^nd November

A female Ring-necked Duck  returned to Bassenthwaite Lake for its second winter remaining until 9^th December 2008 it was the 34^th Cumbrian record, an adult Black-throated Diver lingered off Nethertown until 6^th November in 2013, a  first-winter Great Grey Shrike was found at Low Knipe, Shap (NY51E) in 2007, it was the 16^th Cumbrian record since 1994, a first-winter Steppe Grey Shrike was found at South Walney in 1994 , it was accepted by the BBRC and for a long time considered a separate species, the current taxonomic view is that it is unfortunately just a race of Great Grey Shrike

However it remains the first and only Cumbrian record of this race, two Lapland Buntings were seen at South Walney in 1987, one of which was first seen on 23^rd October, this constitutes the 18^th Cumbrian record and the 19^th individual bird.

3^rd November

A Rough-legged Buzzard at Burnbanks (NY51) in 1985 was the tenth Cumbrian record since 1974, an adult Spotted Sandpiper was found at Cavendish Dock, Barrow-in-Furness in 1989, it wintered and was last seen on 1^st May 1990 it was the second Cumbrian record, a female Tengmalm’s Owl was shot at Newton Manor, Gosforth in 1876, it remains the the only Cumbrian record, a Wryneck was seen at Dallam Towers in 1981 it was the tenth Cumbrian record since 1973 and a late juvenile Hobby was seen at Salta Moss (NY04) in 2002.

4^th November

A drake Green-winged Teal remained at Hodbarrow until 14^th November in 2013 it was the 23^rd Cumbrian record, a drake Red-crested Pochard on Windermere in 1996 was considered an escape, a Bittern on Siddick Pond in 1992 wintered until 14^th February 1993, three Cattle Egrets were seen appropriately, with cattle at Far Arnside in 2017 constituting part of the ninth Cumbrian record, a juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher at Bowness-on-Solway remained until the 9^th November in 1998 it was the fourth Cumbrian record, a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Helbeck Fell (NY81E) in 2014 it was the 28^th Cumbrian record, an unseasonal Bee-eater turned up at Papcastle (NY13) in 1995 it was the third Cumbrian record and the sixth individual bird, single Great Grey Shrikes were found at Brackenber (NY7219) Warcop MOD in 2004, the tenth Cumbrian record since 1994, and at Waterhead Common, Spadeadam Forest (NY66E) in 2013 the 28^th Cumbrian record since 1994, a first-winter Red-eyed Vireo was caught and ringed at South Walney in 2014 this welcome addition to the Cumbrian avifauna was the first Cumbrian record, a Woodlark was at Cavendish Dock, Barrow-in-Furness in 1996, it was the third Cumbrian record, single Yellow-browed Warblers were found at South Walney in 2011, at South Walney and Westfield Point in 2014,  and at Waverton in 2015, these were the 33^rd, 44^th, 45^th, and 50^th Cumbrian records and the 35^th, 49^th, 50^th and 55^th individual birds.

5^th November

A Sooty Shearwater flew past Sellafield in 1997 it was the 28^th Cumbrian record and the 46^th individual bird, a Bittern returned to  Siddick Pond in 2012 for its eighth winter, a Great Grey Shrike settled at Soddy Gap, Little Broughton (NY03R) in 2016 lingering on into 2017,  it was the 35^th Cumbrian record since 1994, a Firecrest was seen at Ainstable in 2019, Lapland Buntings were found at South Walney in 1984 and Sandscale Haws in 1986 these were the 13^th and 14^th Cumbrian records and a flock of fifteen Bearded Tits at Siddick Pond in 1981 staying on until 7^th November was only the second 20^th century record.

Ronnie Irving

Secretary CBC Records Panel

Copyright © 2023