Week Commencing Monday 1st January 2024

Records from the archives – On This Day

For week commencing Monday 1^st January 2024

1^st January

A Tundra Bean Goose was found in a mixed flock of ‘grey’ geese at Aglionby Grange (NY4N) it remained until 6th January 1995 it was the third Cumbrian record of the 90’s, a drake Green-winged Teal was found at Lindal-in-Furness (SD27M) in 2014, it was the 24^th Cumbrian record, a drake Ring-necked Duck was found on Grasmere it remained there until 28^th January 2007 and it was the 32^nd Cumbrian record, Bitterns were found on the River Caldewbetween Dalston and Carlisle remaining until 8th February 1982 and another first seen on Grasmere on 31^st August 1983 was seen again on this day in 1984, a Turtle Dove wintered in a vicarage garden in Millom until 4^th May 1992 and a Shore Lark was found at White Stones (NY31J), Stybarrow Dodd in Patterdale in 2019 it was the 27^th Cumbrian record.

2^nd January

The flock of 23 Tundra Bean Geese at Cargo dispersed after this date in 2012, the very popular drake Ring-necked Duck that toured the Kendal area took up intermittent residence at Killington until 3^rd May 1993, a Great White Egret was seen at Kents Bank in 2010, a Water Pipit was seen at Rampside in 2014, a Ring-necked Parakeet was at Vickerstown, Walney until 13^th January 2014 it was the 17^th Cumbrian record.

3^rd January

A drake Green-winged Teal seen at Newbiggin viaduct (SD09X) in 2010 was the sixth Cumbrian record, , two female Ring-necked Ducks first found on Longtown Ponds on  27^th December 2021 remained until this day in 2022, a drake Ruddy Duck was found at Hodbarrow it remained until 24^th January 2010, two Black-necked Grebes were found on Bassenthwaite Lake in 2003, a Bittern was seen on Bassenthwaite Lake in 1997, a Red Kite that frequented the Lorton valley from 27^th December 1990 was seen again on this date it pre-dated the Grizedale releases, the Rough-legged Buzzard foundat Santon on 5^th December 2013, although suppressed, was last seen on this date in 2014, a first-winter Iceland Gull frequented the harbour at Whitehaven until 7^th April 1998 it was approximately the 47^th Cumbrian record, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was found at Grange-over-Sands in 2003 and a Water Pipit was seen at Rampside in 2010.

4^th January

The blue morph Snow Goose first seen at Abbeytown on 30^th December 2011 was still there on this day until 6th January 2012, drake Green-winged Teals were seen at Hodbarrow  and Campfield Marsh on the same day in 2012, these were the 22^nd and 23^rd Cumbrian records, a Long-billed Dowitcher first seen at Port Carlisle on 13^th November 2009 was last seen there on this date in 2010 it was the sixth Cumbrian record and the seventh individual bird, a first-winter Iceland Gull was found at Sellafield it remained until 8^th January 2000 and was approximately the 53^rd Cumbrian record and a Water Pipit was found on North End Marsh, Walney in 2010.

5^th January

The Todd’s Canada Goose first found at Cardurnock on 27^th October 2012 returned for its second winter on 10^th November 2013 remaining in the Cardurnock area until this day in 2014, this was the second Cumbrian record, a first-winter Caspian Gull was found on Ullswater in 2021, long overdue it was the first Cumbrian record, Great Grey Shrikes were seen on Dalton Crags in 2015, and on Blawith Common, Coniston in 2017,  a Yellow-browed Warbler was photographed in a Brampton garden in 2007 it was the 25^th Cumbrian record and the 27^th individual bird and a Water Pipit was at South Walney in 1981 was the fifth Cumbrian record.

6^th January

A Bittern remained at Siddick Pond until 16th February 2005 , a Great White Egret was seen at Sellafield in 2008 it was the seventh Cumbrian record, a Crane first seen on Flookburgh Marsh on 30^th September 1979 was last seen on this date in 1980, Water Pipits wereseen on the flooded fields at Biggar Bank, Walney until 22^nd March in 2011 with up to three seen in the Bardsea area until 21^st March 2011 and an Arctic Redpoll frequented a car parking area at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle until 2^nd March 1996 it was the second Cumbrian record.

7^th January

A drake Ring-necked Duck on Coniston Water until 8^th April 1988 was the fourth Cumbrian record, a Black-throated Diver was seen offshore at Workington in 2011 it was the sixth Cumbrian record of this century, a Spotted Crake was seen at South Walney until 11^th January in 1986 was the seventh Cumbrian record since 1981, a Great Grey Shrike was found at Chamot Hill, Kershope (NY47) it remained until 9^th January in 1999,  it was the fourth Cumbrian record since 1997.

Ronnie Irving

Secretary CBC Records Panel

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