Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 21st August 2023
21st August
A Balearic Shearwater off Walney Island in 2005 was the tenth Cumbrian record and the 11th individual bird, two Black-necked Grebes were seen on Talkin Tarn in 2009, an adult Sabine’s Gull was offshore at Selker in 1988 it was the eighth Cumbrian record, a Hobby was seen at Bowston (SD59D) in 2012 and a first-winter Barred Warbler found at Siddick Pond was the fourth Cumbrian record.
22nd August
An adult Sabine’s Gull was seen off Workington in 2020 it was the 36th Cumbrian record, a Golden Eagle hunted over the Glenderaterra valley (NY22) in 1993, a Wryneck was seen on Hutton Roof (SD57U) in 2011 it was the fourth Cumbrian record this century, a Hobby was seen at Wetheral in 2012 and a juvenile/first-winter Citrine Wagtail at South Walney in 2015 was the first Cumbrian record.
23rd August
An Egyptian Goose lingered at Halforth from 12th March in 2007 until this day, it was the 13th Cumbrian record and the 15th individual , the regular drake Ferruginous Duck returned for its fifth winter at Brothers Water in 1994, it was first noted there on 14th March 1989, two Balearic Shearwaters seen 35 minutes apart from Biggar Bank, Walney in 2008 constituted the 11th Cumbrian record and they were the 12th and 13th individual birds, Hobbies were seen at Kirkoswald in 2013, Geltsdale in 2013, Kirkbride in 2013 and Duddon Bridge in 2014, a Chough at Arnside in 2008 was the fifth Cumbrian record this century, an Icterine Warbler at South Walney in 1977 was the first Cumbrian record and another at South Walney in 1984 was the third Cumbrian record.
24th August
A Broad-billed Sandpiper found at Port Carlisle in 2006 was the second Cumbrian record, adult Hobbies were seen at North Plain Farm in 2003 and on Foulshaw Moss in 2013, a juvenile Icterine Warbler was caught and ringed at South Walney in 2006 it was the sixth Cumbrian record and the most recent one to date.
25th August
A Sooty Shearwater seen offshore at Workington in 2005 was the 30th Cumbrian record and the 48th individual bird but only the sixth record this century, a Balearic Shearwater seen off Workingtons South Pier in 1996 was the sixth Cumbrian record and the seventh individual bird, a first-summer Black-winged Pratincole on the Kent estuary lingered until 28th August in 1996 it was the first Cumbrian record and it commuted to Leighton Moss during its stay, a Roseate Tern was seen at South Walney in 1990 it was the second county record that year, a juvenile White-winged Black Tern on Oakbank gravel pits, Longtown helpfully staying until 6th September in 1996 it was the fifth Cumbrian record, a Hobby was seen at Brampton in 2010, single Melodious Warblers found at South Walney in 1981 and 1991 were the seventh and 14th Cumbrian records, in fact all Melodious Warbler records are from Walney Island.
26th August
Two Spoonbills lingered on Sandgate Marsh, Flookburgh until 31st August in 1985 this constituted the 15th Cumbrian record and the 21st and 22nd individual birds, a male and two female/immature Honey-buzzards were recorded at the undisclosed breeding site from 27th May until this day in 2001 elsewhere two were seen in the Coniston area in 2001, an immature Golden Eagle was seen well near Cold Fell, Geltsdale in 2016, three Corncrakes were seen near St Bees in 1990, had they bred nearby?, a Collared/Black-winged Pratincole in the Grune Point to Skinburness Marsh area staying until 30th August in 2001, first recorded on the Solway in 1807 this was the third Cumbrian record, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen on the sands of the River Esk at the Newbiggin viaduct (SD09X) in 2012 it was the 28th Cumbrian record, a Roseate Tern was seen at South Walney in 1995 it was the second Cumbrian record that year, a Turtle Dove was found at Cavendish Dock in 1990, a Nightjar was seen sitting on the road at Southwaite (NY12) in 1991, a Wryneck was seen at Sunbiggin Tarn in 1994, Hobbies were represented with a juvenile at Drumburgh in 2013, an adult at Talkin Tarn in 2015 and an unaged one on Wedholme Flow in 2016, a Ring-necked Parakeet was at Biggar in 2010 and a first-winter Barred Warbler found at South Walney in 1983 was the 11th Cumbrian record.
27th August
A Sooty Shearwater seen offshore at Selker in 1982 was the 12th Cumbrian record and the 17th individual bird, three Spotted Crakes were locatedin a survey at Scaleby Moss (NY46) in 1981, an adult Yellow-legged Gull turned upat Anthorn in 2004 with possibly the same bird at Oulton (NY25) in the same year, a 3CY Elegant Tern was seen on Haverigg beach on this day in 2021 it was the first Cumbrian Record and the 6th British record having toured Anglesey, Lancashire & North Merseyside, a Wryneck was discovered at Kirksanton in 1984, a Hobby was seen at Talkin Tarn in 2015, two Melodious Warblers at South Walney in 1982 constituted the ninth Cumbrian record and were the the ninth and tenth individual birds, a Tawny Pipit at South Walney in 1982 was the third Cumbrian record.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
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