Week Commencing Monday 8th July 2024

From the archives – On This Day

Week commencing Monday 8th July 2024

8th July

Bizarrely, a Nightjar roosted beneath the wardens caravan on Foulney Island in 1991, Hobbies were seen at Haweswater in 2003 and Carlisle in 2014 and a pair of Golden Orioles took up residence at Wet Sleddale until 14th August in 1965 constituting the 14th Cumbrian record.

9th July

Great Shearwaters were seen from St Bees Head in 1974 and 1990, these were the first, eighth and last Cumbrian records to date, a Stone Curlew at Ravenglass in 1988 was the seventh Cumbrian record and the ninth individual bird, an adult Roseate Tern visited Hodbarrow in 2005 it was the 16th Cumbrian record since 1990, a Long-tailed Skua was seen offshore at Silloth in 2003 and a Hobby was seen around Tindale in 2013.

10th July

A Spoonbill on Soddy Gap Pools (NY03R) stayed overnight in 2012  it was the 59th Cumbrian record, a Nightjar was heard ‘churring’ near Egremont in 1990 and an Alpine Swift put in a brief appearance at Port Carlisle in 2023, it was the fifth county record and the second record that year.

11th July

A good day for White-winged Black Terns with an adult located at Burgh-by-Sands (NY35E) staying until 13th July in 1987, this was the second Cumbrian record, and a second-summer bird at Port Carlisle that remained until 22nd July in 2001 was the sixth Cumbrian record and the seventh individual bird, Hobbies were seen in 2011 at Foulshaw Moss and at Thacka Beck NR and a male Dartford Warbler found at Hillock Whins, Walney Island in 1994 was the first Cumbrian record.

12th July

A Red-crested Pochard duck that lingered at Arnside until 15th July in 2005 was considered to be an escape from the nearby duck pond at Grange-over-Sands on the other side of the estuary, a Cory’s Shearwater seen offshore at Biggar Bank, Walney in 2001 was the 13th Cumbrian record and the 15th individual bird, an adult Night-heron was photographed on the River Kent near Natland in 2020, it was the 19th Cumbrian record and only the second one this century, an adult Corncrake with three juveniles seen near Abbeytown in 1990 was strongly suggestive of successful breeding, a lucky individual had a flyover Bee-eater over Arnside Knott (SD47) in 1996 it was the fourth Cumbrian record and a Hobby hunted over Caldbeck Common in 2014.

13th July

The drake Ring-necked Duck  first found on the River Kent in Kendal in 1992 visited most of the local reservoirs and tarns in that time, it was seen on Killington Reservoir from 3rd May in 1995 remaining until this date, an adult Yellow-legged Gull located at Sandside in 2001 was approximately the 14th Cumbrian record, Hobbies were seen at Foulshaw Moss in 2011, in Geltsdale until 14th July in 2014 and at Bowness-on-Solway and Ambleside in 2015, an adult Rose-coloured Starling seen by a lucky observer at Low Fell End, Whitbarrow in 2002 was the fourth Cumbrian record since 1991 and a singing male Spanish Sparrow at Waterside (NY24) in 1996, was the first Cumbrian record and only the sixth British record it caused a major national twitch that was without precedent, it was a long stayer and remained until 13th December 1998.

14th July

A Turtle Dove was located at Dubbs Moss in 1990, two Bee-eaters flying over Wetheral railway station in 2015 were probably part of the group that nested in a nearby sand quarry at Brampton this constituted the 11th Cumbrian record and an immature Hobby was seen at Cowpren Point, Flookburgh in 1991.

Ronnie Irving

Ex-Secretary CBC Records Panel (2015- 2024)

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