From the archives – On This Day
Week commencing Monday 16th September 2024
16th September
An offshore Cory’s Shearwater at South Walney in 1985 was the eighth Cumbrian record and the tenth individual bird, a Bittern found at Park End Moss, Brigsteer in 2015 was a nice find at this recently created reserve, a Corncrake was seen at South Walney in 1993, two Cranes were found at Anthorn in 2002, these constituted the 16th Cumbrian record and were the 13th and 14th individual birds, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull in a field at Heversham Moss then on the Kent estuary at Halforth in 2007 was the 23rd Cumbrian record, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua seen at Bowness-on-Solway in 1997 was the 21st Cumbrian record and the 27th individual bird and a first-winter Barred Warbler at South Walney in 1982 was the tenth Cumbrian record.
17th September
A Sooty Shearwater seen offshore at South Walney in 1983 was the 15th Cumbrian record and the 20th individual bird, juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers were found at South Walney remaining overnight in 2009 and at Kents Bank, Grange-over-Sands in 2012 these were the 24th and 28th Cumbrian records and the 23rd and 28th individual birds, a Grey Phalarope seen offshore at Sellafield in 1987 was the ninth Cumbrian record since 1974, a Richard’s Pipit at South Walney until 21st September in 1989 was the 15th Cumbrian record and a Lapland Bunting at South Walney in 2005 was the 31st Cumbrian record and the 37th individual bird.
18th September
A flock of six Sooty Shearwaters at South Walney in 1983 must have been an exciting find for the observer, this constituted the 16th Cumbrian record and the 21st to 26th individual birds, an Avocet was found at Bowness-on-Solway in 2002, an adult American Golden Plover at Port Carlisle stayed overnight in 2012 and was the fourth Cumbrian record, a Pectoral Sandpiper at Whitrigg in 1989 relocated nearby to Anthorn from 26th to 28th September 1989, these are the 11th and 12th Cumbrian records and the 12th individual bird, a Turtle Dove at Steel Green, Haverigg in 2007 was the eighth record this century and a juvenile Nightingale caught and ringed at Eskmeals in 1993 was only the third Cumbrian record.
19th September
A Great Shearwater offshore at South Walney in 1983 was the fourth Cumbrian record, a Cattle Egret was found at Scarside (NY60J) near Orton in 2018 it was the tenth Cumbrian record and the 12th individual bird, a juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard at Sunbiggin Tarn in 2015 was the 11th Cumbrian record this century, a juvenile Pacific Golden Plover at Campfield Marsh in 1998 was the first Cumbrian record, a juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Selker (SD08U) in 2012 relocated the same day to Biggar Bank, Walney before relocating to Snab Point, Walney on 21st September 2012 these were the 7th to 9th Cumbrian records involving the eighth individual bird, a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper in flooded fields at College Green (SD48W) stayed in the area until 21st September 2019 it was the 35th Cumbrian record and the 33rd individual bird, a Red-necked Phalarope on the rubbish tip pools at Walney Island stayed overnight in 1975 it was the 20th Cumbrian record and the 21st individual bird, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull on Walney Island in 2010 was the 24th Cumbrian record, Hobbies were seen at Killington reservoir in 2015 and at Burton-in-Kendal in 2016 and a Greenish Warbler on Walney Island in 2002 was the fourth Cumbrian record.
20th September
A pair of Red-crested Pochards at Tindale Tarn until 26th September in 2005, were considered to be escapes, the duck remained there until 22nd March 2006 visiting nearby Talkin Tarn from 17th February to 19th March 2006, Sooty Shearwaters were seen offshore at St Bees Head in 1975 and South Walney in 1990, these constituted the third and 25th Cumbrian records and the seventh and 42nd individual birds, a Great Shearwater offshore at South Walney in 1982 was the third Cumbrian record, a Great White Egret on Flookburgh Marsh (SD37S) was the ninth Cumbrian record and eighth individual bird, a Red-necked Phalarope at Sandscale (SD17X) in 1954 was the fifth Cumbrian record and the first since 1892, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull at Workington in 2004 was present next day with an adult, constituting the 18th and 19th Cumbrian records and the 17th and 18th individual birds and another juvenile Sabine’s Gull off Walney Island in 2004 was the 20th Cumbrian record and the 19th individual bird, an adult Long-tailed Skua was a nice find at Siddick Pond in 1988 it was the fifth Cumbrian record since 1976, the year of the Burneside juvenile!, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua off Workington in 2004 was the tenth Cumbrian record this century and the 17th individual bird.
21st September
A female Red-crested Pochard on Talkin Tarn remained until 27th September in 1996 it turned up nearby at Tindale Tarn on 13th October 1996 and it was the 16th Cumbrian record and the 20th individual bird, an immature Black Stork found in the Eden valley in 1985 was taken into care by the RSPCA and released at Hallbankgate on 24th October 1985, this was the first Cumbrian record, a Spoonbill at South Walney in 1997 was the 30th Cumbrian record and the 37th individual bird, a Honey-buzzard at South Walney in 2003 was the third September record from South Walney, recorded in 1985, 2000 & 2003, a Rough-legged Buzzard in Eskdale in 1979 was the fourth Cumbrian record since one at Haweswater on 1st April 1974, a Hoopoe remained at Aldingham until 29th September in 2023, always a scarce bird a Corncrake was noted at Tindale Tarn in 1989, an adult Hobby was found on Walney Island in 2003 and a juvenile was at Kirkhead, Kents Bank (SD37X) in 2008, a Yellow-browed Warbler at South Walney in 1994 was one of five records from Furness in that year involving five birds, a Melodious Warbler was seen in the central marsh at South Walney in 2020 it was the 18th Cumbrian record and a first-winter Barred Warbler seen at South Walney in 1989 was the 18th Cumbrian record.
22nd September
The drake Ferruginous Duck re-appeared at Brothers Water for its second winter in 1991 it remained until 28th March 1992, the adult American Golden Plover first found at Port Carlisle on 18th September 2012 relocated to Drumburgh on this day, it remained until 24th September 2012 and it was the fifth Cumbrian record, a juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher at Port Carlisle stayed overnight in 2005 it was the fifth Cumbrian record and the sixth individual bird, a juvenile Stilt Sandpiper at Campfield Marsh (NY16V) remained until 1st October 2008 remains the only Cumbrian record to date, a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was a popular find at Leece Tarn (SD26P) remaining until 28th September in 2005 it was the 35th Cumbrian record, a juvenile Grey Phalarope was seen in Tarn Bay, Bootle in 1990 although not annual it was the 16th Cumbrian record since 1974, an immature Sabine’s Gull at Humphrey Head in 1990 was the tenth Cumbrian record, an immature Long-tailed Skua offshore at Bowness-on-Solway in 1991 was the eighth Cumbrian record since 1976, an adult Hobby was at Killington reservoir in 1990, two Yellow-browed Warblers were located at South Walney in 1994 these constituted the 15th Cumbrian record and the 16th and 17th individuals and a Little Bunting at South Walney in 1965 was the second Cumbrian record.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel 2015 – 2024 (Retired 2024)
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