Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 17th April 2023
17th April
A Night-heron was seen at Ireleth in 1957 it remained until the 20th April, it was the seventh Cumbrian record, a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen at Whinlatter in 1999 it was the 19th Cumbrian record since 1974, an American Coot was found on the Gate Pool at South Walney in 1999 it was the first Cumbrian record, a flock of four Avocets seen on Wedholme Flow NNR in 2008 constituted the 34th Cumbrian record, Iceland Gulls were represented with a 3CY at Whitehaven harbour until this date in 1984 and a first-winter bird at South Walney in 1984 these are 13th and 14th Cumbrian records and an adult Yellow-legged Gull frequented Whitehaven harbour from 19th March until this date in 2011 it was the 26th Cumbrian record.
18th April
The Brothers Water Ferruginous Duck was last seen on this date in 1994 its penultimate winter stay, the first Cumbrian record of Sooty Shearwaters was of two seen off Walney in 1965, single Avocets were seen on Wedholme Flow and at Grune Point on this date in 2010, perhaps involving the same individual, these are the 38th & 39th Cumbrian records, first-winter Iceland Gulls was seen at Sellafield in 1983 and at Tarns Dub in 1992 these were the 11th & 32nd Cumbrian records.
19th April
A first-winter Red-breasted Goose first found at Rockcliffe Marsh on 22nd March 1992 was last seen on this date in 1992 it was the second Cumbrian record, an adult Ross’s Goose found on Burgh Marsh, Rockcliffe Marsh and Cardurnock first seen on the 14th December 2011 it was last seen on this date in 1992, it was the second Cumbrian record of this Category ‘D’ species, a Little Crake was seen at Ulverston in 1886 it was the second Cumbrian record, two Cranes were seen near Brigsteer in 2015 they were seen over Foulshaw the next day, this was the third Cumbrian record of the decade, an adult Spoonbill was found at South Walney on this day and it was seen again on 30th April 1996 it was approximately the 26th Cumbrian record, a first-winter Iceland Gull was found at Hodbarrow in 1980 was the ninth Cumbrian record, a Cetti’s Warbler found on Meathop Moss in 2018 was the fourth Cumbrian record and a male Serin at South Walney in 2013 was the fifth Cumbrian record.
20th April
A drake Ring-necked Duck wintering in the Kendal area appeared at Fisher Tarn on 12th March and remained until this date in 1993, a male Montagu’s Harrier was seen at South Walney in 1981 it was the fourth Cumbrian record with none since 1981 the next one is long overdue, a Yellow-legged Gull was seen at Whitehaven harbour in 2018, a Woodlark was seen at Bowness-on-Solway in 1996 it was the third Cumbrian record of the 90’s and a female Citrine Wagtail found at a sewage facility at Siddick in 2020 remained overnight and was the third Cumbrian record
21st April
The first-winter drake Lesser Scaup first seen on Talkin Tarn turned up at Longtown Ponds stayingintermittently to 30th April 2003, then 14th May intermittently to 16th June 2003, this was the fourth Cumbrian record all involving the same individual bird, a drake Green-winged Teal was at Hodbarrow until 27th April 1996 it was the third Cumbrian record, a first-summer White Stork was found at Scales near Threlkeld (NY32) it remained overnight in 1996 and it was the 17th Cumbrian record, A Turtle Dove visited a garden in Bootle (SD18E) in 2013 it was the first Cumbrian record of the decade and a female Red-breasted Flycatcher was seen on Foulney in 1988 it was the ninth Cumbrian record.
22nd April
An adult Red-breasted Goose on Rockcliffe Marsh until 27th April 1993 was presumed to be the same returning individual last recorded as a first-winter on Rockcliffe Marsh on 19th April 1992 it was the fourth Cumbrian record, a drake Green-winged Teal was at Hodbarrow until 24th April 1991 it was the second Cumbrian record, the first one was shot at Levens in 1936, a White Stork was seen at Armathwaite (NY54C) in 2008 it was the 25th Cumbrian record, a Cattle Egret was found at Hodbarrow in 2019 it was seen again on 2nd May and was the 12th Cumbrian record a Hoopoe turned up in a garden at Catlowdy, Penton (NY47D) in 2013 it was the 13th Cumbrian record this century, a Chough was seen on Walney Island in 2005 it was the third Cumbrian record for that year.
23rd April
The drake Ferruginous Duck that was found on Brothers Water on 14th March 1989 was last seen that winter on this date in 1989 it was the second Cumbrian record and in 1992 it re-appeared for its third winter period on 6th July remaining until this date in 1993, an adult Crane was found on the Duddon Mosses at Wreaks Level where it stayed overnight in 1995, it was the tenth Cumbrian record, a White Stork was seen at Westnewton (NY14) it remained in the area until 25th April 1996 it was the sixth Cumbrian record of the nineties, a 2CY Iceland Gull visited Siddick Pond in 1985, it was the 18th Cumbrian record, a Chough seen on Drigg dunes in 2005 was almost certainly the same bird seen previously on Walney, it was the fourth Cumbrian record of the year and a male ‘Channel’ Wagtail was found at Carr Beds, Rockcliffe in 2021 it was the sixth Cumbrian record of this recently discovered hybrid (Blue-headed x Yellow Wagtail) and it remained in the area where it was seen nearby on Rockcliffe Marsh on 15th May 2021.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
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