Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 18th March 2024
18th March
The drake Ruddy Duck first found on Ormsgill Reservoir on 10th February 2011 was last seen on this day, a second-winter Iceland Gull was found at South Walney in 1990 it was the 23rd Cumbrian record, two Great Grey Shrikes were at Dalton Crags (SD57N) and were seen on a further ten dates up to 6th April 2015, this was the 13th Cumbrian record of the decade.
19th March
The drake Ferruginous Duck returned to Brothers Water for its second winter period on 21st October 1989 remaining until this date in 1990, the now regular drake Ring-necked Duck wintering in the Kendal area returned to Killington Reservoir on this day remaining until 2nd April 1995, a drake Ring-necked Duck that frequented Rydal Water until 23rd March 2007 was also seen nearby on Grasmere in January, it was approximately the 32nd Cumbrian record, a first-winter Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Byers Pike (NY65I) in 2015 it was the fifth Cumbrian record of the decade, an adult Yellow-legged Gull frequented Whitehaven harbour until 12th April 2011 a Great Grey Shrike first seen on Dalton Crags (SD57N) on 8th January 2006 was last seen on this day in 2006!
20th March
The drake Ring-necked Duck wintering in the Kendal area, see above, was seen at Cunswick Tarn on 1st January 1994 and was seen there again on this day in 1994 constituting the 15th Cumbrian record, a Kentish Plover was seen intermittently on Sandscale Haws until 2nd April 1994 it was the third Cumbrian record, it also visited nearby North Walney in this time, Iceland Gulls were represented with a 3CY bird that frequented Whitehaven harbour until 17th April 1984, it was the 13th Cumbrian record and a first-winter bird that was seen on Campfield Marsh in 2011, this was the 66th Cumbrian record, solitary Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were seen at Old Park Wood (SD37) in 1997 and with a tit flock on Angerton Moss (SD28) in 1999, two Crested Tits were seen at Flakebridge (NY72) in 1991 the second and most recent Cumbrian record of this usually sedentary bird.
21st March
The Red-breasted Goose seen at Easton (NY25U) in February was seen there again on this day, it was the eighth Cumbrian record, an adult White Stork was seen flying over Red Bank, Grasmere in 2022 it was the 9th Cumbrian record this century of what was possibly a wild bird, a Spoonbill was found at South Walney in 2013 it was the seventh Cumbrian record of the decade, a Red Kite was seen on Helton Fell (NY42) in 2003, pre-dating the Grizedale releases, a first-winter Iceland Gull frequented Tarns Dub from 1992 until this date in 1993, three Water Pipits were found on the salt-marsh pools at Campfield in 2003 and up to three were to be found on the strand line at Bardsea (SD37C) from 6th January to this date in 2011 and unusually a Hawfinch was seen on feeders at Lazonby in 2017.
22nd March
A first-winter Red-breasted Goose was found on Rockcliffe Marsh in 1992 it remained until 19th April it was the second Cumbrian record and the first since 1918, a first-winter Iceland Gull was found at Maryport remaining until 31st March 1983, it was the tenth Cumbrian record, a Water Pipit was seen in Roosecote Bay in 1985 and a wintering bird was to be found in the favoured field at Biggar, it was last seen on this day in 2011.
23rd March
A drake Green-winged Teal at Campfield Marsh on this day in 2015 was possibly the bird from 2013 on its last wintering date, it was approximately the 28th Cumbrian record, an adult drake Ring-necked Duck that frequented Sunbiggin Tarn in February was also seen on this day in 2006, it was approximately the 28th Cumbrian record, the wintering Bittern which was located on Lantern Moss, Braystones (NY00) on 26th January was last seen on this day in 2003, a Bittern was seen on Arthuret Ponds, Longtown remaining until 24th March 2012 and the expansion of the Cetti’s Warbler continues with a bird found at Thacka Beck NR in 2022 it remained into May 2022.
24th March
A Red Kite was seen over Kendal in 2002 pre-dating the Grizedale releases, two first-winter Iceland Gulls were present at Tarns Dub in 1991, this was approximately the 28th Cumbrian record, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was located at Talkin Tarn in 2015, a Great Grey Shrike was found at Penton (NY45) in 2000 it was the first Cumbrian record of the new century, a Great Grey Shrike frequented the western flank of Binsey (NY23H) until 26th March 2015, it was the 13th Cumbrian record of the decade and a Corn Bunting was seen near Waverton (NY24) in 2000, now on the cusp of extinction with only three records since this date.
Ronnie Irving
Ex-Secretary CBC Records Panel (2015- 2024)
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