From the archives – On This Day
Week commencing Monday 9th September 2024
9th September
A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was found at Halforth in 2022, it remained until 13th September 2022 and was the 41st Cumbrian record, Wrynecks were caught and ringed at South Walney in 1988 and in 1996 these were the 19th and 23rd Cumbrian records since 1973, a first- summer Hobby frequented the Foulshaw Moss/ Ulpha Meadows area in 2015, a Firecrest was found at Burnbanks, Haweswater (NY51D) in 2016 it was the 21st Cumbrian record this century and a male Blue-headed Wagtail was found in a ‘fall’ of Yellow Wagtails on Pho Hill, Walney in 2023.
10th September
A Wilson’s Petrel located offshore from Biggar Bank, Walney in 2017 was the sixth Cumbrian record and only the second live bird, a pair of Red-crested Pochards were found on Tarn House Tarn remaining until 15th September in 1978 this constituted the fifth Cumbrian record and involved the fifth and sixth individual birds, a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was found at Savinhill Moss (SD48U) remaining until 12th September in 2016 before relocating to wet meadows at Moss Side Farm on 13th and 14th September 2016 these were the 32nd & 33rd Cumbrian records, a juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs frequented the Port Carlisle area until 14th September 2023, it was the second Cumbrian record, a storm-blown Red-necked Phalarope found on Dock Tarn (NY21S) in Borrowdale in 1994 was the 32nd Cumbrian record and the 33rd individual bird, a Wryneck at Vickerstown, Walney in 1976 fell victim to the country’s leading bird predator, the domestic cat, a Hobby was seen at Tindale Tarn in 2014 and a male Red-breasted Flycatcher found near Ambleside in 1946 was the first Cumbrian record.
11th September
Two Cory’s Shearwaters offshore at South Walney in 1983 constituted the third Cumbrian record and the fourth and fifth individual birds, three Spoonbills, two adults and a juvenile were located near Arradfoot (SD38A) on the Leven estuary in 2011, this was the 57th Cumbrian record and the 71st to 73rd individual birds, a Grey Phalarope frequented the River Derwent at Workington in 1977 was the second Cumbrian record of the 70’s, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull offshore at Sellafield in 1997 was the 14th Cumbrian record, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua off Bowness-on-Solway was also present the following day in 2004 was the 30th Cumbrian record and the 45th individual bird since 1976, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was found at Ambleside in 1992, a pair of Ring-necked Parakeets were seen at Grange-over-Sands remaing in the area until 31st December in 2003, a first-winter Paddyfield Warbler caught and ringed at South Walney remained until 13th September in 1982, it was the first and only Cumbrian record, it was also the eighth British record, a Melodious Warbler at South Walney in 1985 was the13th Cumbrian record and the 14th individual bird and a first-winter Barred Warbler at South Walney in 1981 was the eighth Cumbrian record.
12th September
A Spoonbill flying west at Port Carlisle in 2002 was the 40th Cumbrian record and the 52nd individual bird, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull flew past Biggar Bank, Walney in 2011 it was the 25th Cumbrian record and the 24th individual bird, a light morph juvenile Long-tailed Skua at South Walney in 1989 was the seventh Cumbrian record and the eighth individual bird, a Turtle Dove at South Walney in 1999 was the only record that year, reflecting a marked decrease in records from eight in 1990, five in ‘91 and ‘92, three in ‘93, four in ‘94, two in ‘95 and ‘96 and singles in ‘97-‘99, Hobbies were found at Newton Arlosh in 1985, South Walney in 1998 and Castle Carrock in 2011, a Melodious Warbler at South Walney in 1964 was the first Cumbrian record and a first-winter Barred Warbler at Grune Point in 1981 was the ninth Cumbrian record.
13th September
A female Red-crested Pochard was found on the River Derwent at Workington in 1995 was perhaps the same bird seen earlier on Siddick Pond on 2nd September 1995, it was the 15th Cumbrian record and the 18th individual bird, a juvenile Temminck’s Stint remained at South Walney until 21st September in 1993 was the 13th Cumbrian record and the 15th individual bird, a Pectoral Sandpiper seen at Anthorn in 2003 was the 20th Cumbrian record and the 19th individual bird, an adult Grey Phalarope seen off Workington in 2017 was the 19th record this century, a Sabine’s Gull at South Walney was seen again on 15th September in 1997 it was the 15th Cumbrian record, a Hoopoe at Silecroft golf-course in 2011 was the 12th record this century, a Wryneck at Cavendish Dock remained until 21st September in 2000 was the 25th Cumbrian record since 1973 and Hobbies were to be found at Allonby in 2003 and at Foulshaw Moss in 2016.
14th September
A Honey-buzzard roosted overnight near Lupton (SD58K) in 2008, we only know this because it was carrying a satellite tag fitted at Forres, Scotland, it was a juvenile female, a juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper found at South Walney stayed overnight in 1994, it was the second Cumbrian record, a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper discovered at dusk at Halforth in 1999 was the 18th Cumbrian record and the 17th individual bird, a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope at Carr Beds, Rockcliffe stayed until 16th September in 2010 it was the 37th Cumbrian record and the 38th individual bird, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was at Sandside in 2000 was the 14th Cumbrian record, juvenile Long-tailed Skuas were recorded at South Walney in 1997 and offshore at Workington in 2004 these were the 20th and 32nd Cumbrian records since 1976 and the 26th and 48th individual birds, an astonishing record of a Snowy Owl found in the Kentmere valley in 2001 was the third Cumbrian record since January 1930, a roosting Nightjar was flushed at Kirkheads, Allithwaite (SD37Y) in 2007, Hobbies were seen at Bowness-on-Solway in 2012 and at College Green in 2016 and a juvenile Woodchat Shrike at St Bees Head in 1997 was the sixth Cumbrian record.
15th September
Always difficult to establish as wild a drake Red-crested Pochard first found on the Irt estuary with another drake on 31st August 1991 was last seen on this day in 1991 it was the seventh Cumbrian record, a Sooty Shearwater seen offshore at Biggar Bank in 2010 was the 33rd Cumbrian record and the 49th individual bird, a Temminck’s Stint found on Foulney in 1962 was the seventh Cumbrian record, a juvenile Grey Phalarope provided good views in Workington harbour in 2011 it was the 17th Cumbrian record this century, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull at South Walney in 1997 was the 16th Cumbrian record, a Wryneck on Scout Scar (SD49) in 2002 was the 26th Cumbrian record since 1973, a male Hobby was located at Haweswater in 1996, a Melodious Warbler at South Walney in 2003 was the 16th Cumbrian record and the 17th individual bird, a first-winter Barred Warbler at North Scale, Walney Island in 2007 was the 27th Cumbrian record and a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling in Kendal that remained until 21st September in 2017 was the 11th Cumbrian record since 1991 and coincidentally it was found on the same street as the bird found in 2010!
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel 2015 – 2024 (Retired 2024)
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