Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 20th May 2024
20th May
An Egyptian Goose was found at Hodbarrow in 2007 it was the 14th Cumbrian record and the 18th individual bird, a drake American Wigeon at Hodbarrow in 1997 was the fifth Cumbrian record, a Spotted Crake was recorded at Ulverston in a ‘nocmigging’ session in 2022 it was the fourth Cumbrian record this century, Spoonbills were represented with one at South Walney which remained until 9th July, in 2007 and two adults at Campfield Marsh which stayed overnight in 2010 , these were the 43rd and 58th Cumbrian records, two adult Long-tailed Skuas were seen off Bowness-on-Solway in 2009, a Wryneck at South Walney in 1983 was the 13th Cumbrian record since 1973, an immature male Golden Oriole was located on North Walney it remained until 30th May in 1983, it was the third Cumbrian record of the 1980’s, a male Woodchat Shrike at South Walney that remained until 29th May in 1986 was the third Cumbrian record, a Red-spotted Bluethroat at South Walney in 2013 was the ninth Cumbrian record of Bluethroat and the seventh of this race and a Richard’s Pipit found at Grune Point in 1920 was the sixth Cumbrian record.
21st May
Spoonbills were represented with oneat Siddick Pond in 1970 and two on the Duddon estuary in 1988 these were the tenth and 17th Cumbrian records, a Great White Egret was seen at Hodbarrow in 2011 it was the 17th Cumbrian record, infrequently seen on passage single Honey-buzzards were seen over New Mills, Brampton in 2008 and over Sedgwick (SD58D) in 2010, an adult Temminck’s Stint was found at Hodbarrow in 2011 it was the 16th Cumbrian record and a Turtle Dove was seen at South Walney in 1992.
22nd May
A run of Spoonbills on Walney Island in 2002 began on this day with a first-summer bird followed by two birds on 31st May and 1st June with three immatures on 2nd and 3rd June and an adult and an immature on 8th June and finally an immature on 9th June, a Crane was found on Walney Island it remained until 31st May in 2003 and was the 18th Cumbrian record, a Red-necked Phalarope found on Rockcliffe Marsh in 1979 was the 22nd Cumbrian record, a Long-tailed Skua was seen off Biggar Bank in 2011, they do occasionally get seen away from the Solway, a Turtle Dove was found at Hawcoat, Barrow-in-Furness in 1994, a male Golden Oriole remained at Armathwaite until 18th June in 1990 it was the 28th Cumbrian record and a singing male Common Rosefinch held a territory in 2023 on the Crook Road, Kendal in 2023, it was last seen on 26th July and was the eighth Cumbrian record.
23rd May
An adult Spoonbill was seen on Glasson Moss (NY26F) in 2009, a Crane was seen at Longtown in 1989 it was the seventh Cumbrian record, a spectacular 71 Long-tailed Skuas were seen off Bowness-on-Solway in 2011 contrasting with a single in 2020 and a Hoopoe stayed at Dendron (SD27K) until 25th May in 2008 it was the tenth Cumbrian record this century.
24th May
A Black-necked Grebe was seen on the River Kent in Kendal in 1999, an adult Spoonbill was at Burgh Marsh (NY25Z) in 2009, was presumed to be the same individual as the Glasson Moss bird on 23rd, an adult Temminck’s Stint was found on Wedholme Flow in 2023, it remained overnight and was the 18th Cumbrian record, a first summer/adult Sabine’s Gull at Bowness-on-Solway was also seen the next day in 2005, a good date for Long-tailed Skuas with five at Bowness-on-Solway in 2006, one off Walney Island in 2007 and nine off Bowness-on-Solway in 2011, a Turtle Dove found at Whitbeck (SD18) was the third of seven records in 1990, a male Golden Oriole was seen at Long Sleddale in 1984 it was the 23rd Cumbrian record, a Red-spotted Bluethroat at Workington in 1982 was the second Cumbrian record and the first example of this race recorded in the county and a singing male Ortolan Bunting was seen and heard at Drigg (SD09P) in 2008 it was the fourth Cumbrian record.
25th May
A Sooty Shearwater off South Walney in 1985 was the 21st Cumbrian record and the 36th individual bird, two Black-necked Grebes were found at Killington Reservoir in 1997, a White Stork found at Tarnhouse Tarn in 1976 was the seventh Cumbrian record, Spoonbills were represented with an adult at Bassenthwaite Lake that remained until 31st May in 1992, one at North Plain Farm (NY26A) until 26th May in 2009 and one on Rockcliffe Marsh in 2011 these were the 21st, 51st and 55th Cumbrian records, a Corncrake was callingat St Bees Head until 26th May in 1976, a Stone Curlew was seen on Rockcliffe Marsh in 2008, it was the ninth Cumbrian record, a summer plumaged White-winged Black Tern was seen off Biggar Bank in 2014 it was the seventh Cumbrian record, single Turtle Doves were on Walney Island until 1st June in 1997 and in 2005, a Wryneck was present in Ennerdale in 1988, a pair of Red-backed Shrikes were seen at Crummock Water in 1977, this was the fourth Cumbrian record since 1969 and the sixth Cumbrian record of a Red-backed Shrike was seen on North Walney in 1983, Golden Orioles were represented with an adult male at Lower Gelt that remained until 27th May in 1987 and a first-summer male that remained on North Walney until 4th June in 1997, these were the 24th and 32nd Cumbrian records and a Red-spotted Bluethroat at South Walney in 1987 was the sixth Cumbrian record of Bluethroat and the fourth record of this race. and a male Blue-headed Wagtail and a male ‘Channel’ Wagtail remained in the local population of Yellow Wagtails near Langwathby in 2020 it was a continuation of the third Cumbrian record of this hybrid.
26th May
A drake Ring-necked Duck was found on Mockerkin Tarn in 2002, it was the 26th Cumbrian record, a Corncrake was heard calling near Brampton in 1981, Long-tailed Skuas were represented with one flying north off South Walney in 1985 and two off Bowness-on-Solway in 2019 and a Turtle Dove was seen at Humphrey Head in 2000.
Ronnie Irving
Ex-Secretary CBC Records Panel (2015- 2024)
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