Week Commencing Monday 11th March 2024

Records from the archives – On This Day

For week commencing Monday 11th March 2024

11th March

A Richardson’s Cackling Goose was seen at Whitrigg (NY25I) it remained until 12th March 2016 and was the second Cumbrian record, a Balearic Shearwater was seen off South Walney in 1982 it was the first Cumbrian record, an Avocet was seen flying north into the Duddon estuary from North Walney in 1995, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Thwaite Head (SD39K) in 2012 it was the first Cumbrian record of the decade and a Woodlark on Cavendish Dock in 1993 was the fourth Cumbrian record since 1933.

12th March

An Egyptian Goose found at Halforth, Kent estuary remained until 23rd August 2007, it was probably the 2006 bird returning for its second summer here, also the 13th Cumbrian record, the drake Ring-necked Duck that wintered in the Kendal area in 1992/93 called in at Fisher Tarn intermittently until 20th April 1993 it was probably the 11th Cumbrian record, a White Stork of unknown origin was seen at Upperby, Carlisle in 2010, an unaged Iceland Gull was seen at Micklethwaite, Wigton (NY25V) in 2015, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was located at Ickenthwaite (SD38J) in 1995 it was the 11th Cumbrian record of the 90’s and the fourth record in the 90’s for the observer and a Chough was seen flying with Jackdaws at Holmescales Quarry (SD58N) in 2010 it was the eighth Cumbrian record since 1990.

13th March

A drake Green-winged Teal that frequented the Ravenglass area from 24th February 2002 was last seen on this day it was the sixth Cumbrian record, a drake Ring-necked Duck that wintered in the Kendal area in 1995/96 was seen at Ratherheath Tarn (SD49) in 1996, it was approximately the 22nd Cumbrian record, a Sooty Shearwater seen off South Walney in 1994 was the 26th Cumbrian record and the 43rd individual bird and a Red Kite was seen at Arnside in 1996 pre-dating the Grizedale releases.

14th March

A drake Ferruginous Duck was found at Brothers Water in 1989, it remained until 23rd April 1989 and was the second Cumbrian record, it returned to winter every year until  29th March 1995, an adult Great White Egret was found on Skinburness Marsh it remained until 22nd March 2006 and was the second Cumbrian record  and a Water Pipit was seen on Biggar Bank in 2009.

15th March

The Snow Goose previously seen at Abbeytown in 2011 relocated to Raby Cote (NY15) in 2012 it was the fifth Cumbrian record, a Tundra Bean Goose was found at Anthorn in 2005 it was the fifth Cumbrian record this century, the drake Green-winged Teal that wintered in the Ravenglass area was last seen on this day in 2003, it was the seventh Cumbrian record, the wintering drake Ring-necked Duck in the Kendal area visited Cunswick Tarn in 1996 it was the 23rd Cumbrian record, an immature Rough-legged Buzzard was noted in the Gelt valley (NY55) in 2012  it was the second Cumbrian record of the decade, an adult Iceland Gull was seen near Flookburgh n 1993 it was the 38th Cumbrian record and a first-winter bird was seen at Sellafield until 19th April 2000 it was the 54th Cumbrian record, a Roller was seen at Mungrisedale in 1953 it was the sixth Cumbrian record, a Great Grey Shrike was seen on Dalton Crags in 2009, it was the 17th Cumbrian record since 1994 and a Shore Lark found at Haverigg in 2002 was the 22nd Cumbrian record and the 28th individual bird.

16th March

A drake Green-winged Teal was found at Hodbarrow in 2016, it remained overnight and was approximately the 29th Cumbrian record, a first-winter Sabine’s Gull was seen at South Walney in 1995 it was the 12th Cumbrian record, a Liitle Auk was noted offshore at Sellafield in 2010, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Wet Sleddale in 1991 and the second Dartford Warbler for Cumbria put in a fleeting appearance at Far Arnside in 2012.

17th March

A Black-throated Diver was seen off Bowness-on-Solway in 2002, a Bittern was seen on Keekle Flashes (NY01) in 2004, a Red Kite was at Cummersdale in 1985 pre-dating the Grizedale releases, a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Shap Fell in 1985 it was the eighth Cumbrian record since 1974, a first-winter Laughing Gull was located on Standing Tarn, Dalton-in-Furness in 2012 it remained overnight and it was the third Cumbrian record, an adult Yellow-legged Gull  frequented the harbour at Whitehaven in 2013 and a Great Grey Shrike first found at Dalton Crags on 5th January 2015 was last seen there on this day in 2015.

Ronnie Irving

Ex-Secretary CBC Records Panel (2015- 2024)

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