Week Commencing Monday 27th March 2023

Records from the archives – On This Day

For week commencing Monday 27th March 2023

27^th March

A Taiga Bean Goose found on Green Road Marsh (SD18) in 1993 remained until 1^st April, it was the first record of the 1990’s, a Tundra Bean Goose was found with Pink-footed Geese at Kirkbride it remained until 29^th March 2004 it was the first record of the century, a Red Kite was seen at Pooley Bridge (NY42S) in 2010, an Avocet was seen at Hodbarrow in 1996 it was the 23^rd Cumbrian record, first-winter Iceland Gulls were recorded at Tarns Dub with one staying until 6^th April 1988 and  one from 20^th January 1991 until this day in 1991 these were the 21^st and 27^th Cumbrian records and a Firecrest was found at South Walney in 1998.

28^th March

A drake Green-winged Teal was found on the Irt Estuary in 1998 it was the fifth Cumbrian record, the drake Ferruginous Duck wintering at Brothers Water was last seen on this day in 1992, two Bitterns wintered at Siddick Pond and were often seen up to this date in 2012, a second first-winter Iceland Gull joined the other first-winter bird at Tarns Dub in 1993, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen on the refuse tip at Greenside quarry in 1998, a Great Grey Shrike first found at Soddy Gap (NY03R) on 21^st January 2017 was last seen on this date, it was the 20^th Cumbrian record of the decade, a Chough was seen with a Jackdaw flock north of Allonby in 1990 it was the first record of the 1990’s.

29^th March

The wintering drake Green-winged Teal first seen at Campfield Marsh in November 2008 was last seen on this date in 2009 it was approximately the 14^th Cumbrian record, the drake Ferruginous Duck first seen on 14^th March 1989 at Brothers Water wintered every year up to 1995 was last recorded on this date, the drake Ring-necked Duck that was wintering in the Kendal area frequented Whinfell Tarn up to 25^th April 1994, a Bittern was seen at Parsonby (NY13) in 1988 and two Great Grey Shrikes were seen at Dalton Crags in 2009, the 17^th Cumbrian record since 1994.

30^th March

The adult drake Ring-necked Duck first found on Grasmere on 24^th January was last seen on this date in 2006 it was the 27^th Cumbrian record, a White Stork was seen at Penton (NY47) and nearby at Roadhead the next day in 1998 these are the 20^th and 21^st Cumbrian records, a Bittern was seen at Bassenthwaite Marsh in 2002, a Red Kite was seen over Kendal in 1996, the Rough-legged Buzzard first seen on Ashfell (NY70) on 27^th January 1980 was last seen on this day, it was the sixth Cumbrian record since 1974, a Common Crane was seen flying from South Walney and east across Morecambe Bay in 2014 it was the 29^th Cumbrian record, the Chough first seen at St Bees Head on 23^rd January 2005 was last seen on this date it was the second record this century and a Firecrest was at South Walney in 2011.

31^st March

The Black Brant returned to winter in the Walney area on 10^th November 2018 where it remained until this day in 2019, a second-winter Iceland Gull was found at Wet Sleddale Reservoir in 1996 it was approximately the 43^rd Cumbrian record, a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was found in Levens Park in 1992, a Great Grey Shrike was found at Waterhead Common, Spadeadam (NY66E) in 2016 it was the 16^th record of the decade and at least two Water Pipits were seen at Bassenthwaite Lake in 1990 and one was seen on the Irt Estuary in 1991.

1^st April

The adult Black Brant returned to Snab Point, Walney on 15^th December 2017 it remained until this date in 2018, the Taiga Bean Goose found on Green Road Marsh, Millom on 27^th March 1993 was last seen on this date it was the first Cumbrian Record of the 90’s, an Egyptian Goose first found on Haverbrack Pond (SD48V) on 23^rd February 2009 was last seen on this date it was the 17^th Cumbrian record, a drake Smew was located on Derwent Water on 13^th January 2018 it remained until this date,  an adult Rough-legged Buzzard was seen at Haweswater in 1974 it was the first modern day record, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Powter Howe, Bassenthwaite NNR in 1996, a Water Pipit was seen at Loughrigg Fell in 1979 and four Water Pipits at Biggar Bank were joined by a fifth individual on this date in 2010.

2^nd April

The wintering drake Ring-necked Duck was seen intermittently on the River Kent, Kendal from 1^st January 1993 until this date, it appeared at Killington Reservoir on 19^th March remaining until this date in 1995, a Red Kite was seen at Ennerdale (NY11) in 1996 it remained overnight and was the eighth Cumbrian record of the 90’s pre-dating the Grizedale releases, a Spotted Crake was found near Silverdale Moss but just inside Cumbria in 2019, it was the third Cumbrian record this century, the Kentish Plover seen on North Walney appeared at Sandscale Haws on 20^th March remaining until this date in 1994 it was the third Cumbrian record, a Hoopoe was found on Walney Island in 2005 it was the fifth Cumbrian record of the century and a Water Pipit was seen at Riggindale, Haweswater in 1980.

Ronnie Irving

Secretary CBC Records Panel

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