Week Commencing Monday 2nd October 2023

Records from the archives – On This Day

For week commencing Monday 2^nd October 2023

2^nd October

A Great White Egret remained overnight on Rockcliffe Marsh in 2013 it was the 23^rd Cumbrian record, perhaps the majority of these records were generated by no more than a dozen mobile individuals, an adult American Golden Plover at Bowness-on-Solway in 1997 was the first Cumbrian record, an American Golden Plover at Anthorn until 3^rd October in 2015 was the eighth Cumbrian record and the seventh individual bird, a juvenile Grey Phalarope at Eaglesfield (NY02Z) was the 34^th Cumbrian record and the 36^th individual bird, an immature Sabine’s Gull at Sellafield until 5^th October in 1990  was the 11^th Cumbrian record, erroneously published at first as an immature Arctic Skua a bird found inland in a field at Burneside near Kendal was eventually re-identified as a juvenile Long-tailed Skua it remained until 5^th October in 1976 thus becoming the base-line for future records, an adult Long-tailed Skua at Bowness-on-Solway in 1994 was the 15^th Cumbrian record since 1976 and the 20^th individual bird, a Turtle Dove at Sizergh Castle in 1993 was the third Cumbrian record that year, the Yellow-browed Warbler found at Westfield Point on 29^th September was last seen on this day in 2003 and the Rustic Bunting found at South Walney on 27^th September 2008 was last seen on this day, it is still the sole Cumbrian record.

3^rd October

A Great White Egret at Campfield Marsh was also seen on 10^th and 12^th November and 4^th December in 2016, birds were also present on the Kent estuary in 2016 now becoming a regular sight in the south of the county, an Avocet seen on the Kent estuary remained until 5^th October in 1970 it was the eighth Cumbrian record, a juvenile Turtle Dove at Sizergh Castle in 1991 was the fifth Cumbrian record that year, Hobbies were seen at Arnside in 1989 and at Kents Bank in 2016 and a first-winter Barred Warbler that remained on Walney Island until 12^th October in 2005 was the 26^th Cumbrian record.

4^th October

An immature drake Red-crested Pochard found on Killington reservoir was still present the next day in 1995, always difficult to assess but a  good date, it was the sixth autumn record since 1970, a Glossy Ibis kindly dropped in at Rockcliffe Marsh in 2009 it was the fifth Cumbrian record and the tenth individual bird, a Bittern on Whinfell Tarn remained until 24^th October in 1977, it was the eighth Cumbrian record of the 70’s, the first-summer American Golden Plover first seen at Anthorn on 14^th August 2005 was last noted on this date, a Hoopoe remained at Grune Point until 6^th October in 2000 it was the eighth Cumbrian record since 1992, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen on the outskirts of Kendal in 1992 it was the fourth Cumbrian record that year, Hobbies were to be found on Walney Island until 7^th October in 1984 and in the Tindale – Hallbankgate area in 2006,  Yellow-browed Warblers were represented with two in Vickerstown Park, Walney until 6^th October in 2013 one remaining until 13^th October and one in Cockermouth in 2013, these were the 36^th and 37^th Cumbrian records and the 38^th to 40^th individual birds.

5th October

An adult Ross’s Goose [BBRC Cat D] frequented Burgh and Rockcliffe Marshes in 2010 remaining until 3^rd April 2011 this was the second Cumbrian record, a Great White Egret at Killington Reservoir flew off east over Lily Mere in 2016, a Spotted Crake on North Walney in 1981 was the second Cumbrian record of 1981, a Common Crane on South Walney in 1984 was the fourth Cumbrian record, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Walney Island in 1975  was the second Cumbrian record, a Red-necked Phalarope at South Walney in 1980 was the 24^th Cumbrian record and the 25^th individual bird, Yellow-browed Warblers were found at South Walney in 1968, the second Cumbrian record; at South Walney in 1981 the fourth Cumbrian record; at Black’s Pond, Sandscale (SD27) remaining until 6^th October in 1992 the 11^th Cumbrian record and the 12^th individual bird and at South Walney in 2009  the 27^th Cumbrian record and the 29^th individual bird and Lapland Buntings were at South Walney in 1968, the sixth Cumbrian record with one on the beach at Sellafield remaining until 8^th October in 2008  this was the 35^th Cumbrian record and the 39^th individual bird.

6^th October

A Pectoral Sandpiper lingered at Anthorn until 8^th October 2020 it was the 36^th Cumbrian record, a Grey Phalarope at South Walney in 1990 was the 17^th Cumbrian record since 1974, an adult Yellow-legged Gull with a damaged foot was at Newbiggin viaduct (SD09X) it was seen again on 21^st October in 2012, a Wryneck at Appleby in 1973 was a notable record, a Yellow-browed Warbler at South Walney in 2010 was the 29^th Cumbrian record and the 31^st individual bird, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Grange-over-Sands in 2019 was the 71^st Cumbrian record and the 69^th individual bird, Note: 2016 was a particularly good year Yellow-browed Warblers, 26 individuals were recorded between 2^nd and 30^th October as follows; Levens: One on 2^nd, Kents Bank: One on 3^rd, two on 8^th & 9^th and one on 10^th, St Bees Head: Singles on 3^rd, 5^th – 7^th and 10^th and 11^th, Saltom Bay, Whitehaven: One on 3^rd and 4^th, Sedgwick: One on 4^th, South Walney: Singles on 4^th, 10^th, 15^th and 20^th, Humphrey Head: One on 5^th, Flookburgh: One on 5^th, possibly same as above, Westfield Point, Barrow-in-Furness: Three on 6^th, two from 7^th  to 12^th , singles on 13^th and 19^th, Waterside: One on 7^th,  Arnside Knott: One on 9^th, Grange-over-Sands: One on 9^th,  Vickerstown, Walney: One on 11^th and 12^th, Foulshaw Moss: One on 12^th, Ennerdale Bridge: One on 14^th with a tit flock, Carlisle Airport: One on 20^th & 21^st, Weddicar Hall Park: One on 20^th, Whitehaven: One on 20^th, Beckermet: One on 21^st and  22^nd, Cockermouth: One on 21^st and Watchtree NR, Great Orton: One on 30^th, a Richard’s Pipit at South Walney until 7^th October in 1995 was the 19^th Cumbrian record.

7^th October

A drake Green-winged Teal at Siddick Pond returned on this day in 2009 for its third visit since 2007 remaining until  23^rd October these are very mobile birds and are not easy to assess but it is thought to be the 15^th Cumbrian record and possibly the same bird that was recorded at Campfield from 2007 to 2009, a Spoonbill at Grune Point until 13^th October in 1989 was the 18^th Cumbrian record and the 27^th individual bird, a male Montagu’s Harrier at Maulds Meaburn Edge (NY61I) in 1961 was the first of three records since 1923 when a pair attempted to breed in North Cumbria, it was last recorded in Cumbria at South Walney on 20^th April 1981, a Spotted Crake at Carr Beds, Rockcliffe in 1992 was the ninth record since 1981, an adult American Golden Plover at Anthorn until 9^th October in 1999 was the second Cumbrian record, five Grey Phalaropes were recorded at South Walney in 1990 with one staying from 8^th to 11^th October this was the 18^th Cumbrian record since 1974 and the 18^th to 22^nd individual birds, a Grey Phalarope on the River Kent downstream from Halforth remained until 9^th October in 2003 it was the 23^rd Cumbrian record and the 27^th individual bird since 1974, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull seen at Workington in 2011 was the 30^th Cumbrian record and the 26^th individual bird, an adult Hobby was seen at Raughton Head in 1999 , a Ring-necked Parakeet was found at Maryport in 2012, a Cetti’s Warbler found in the central marsh at South Walney remained until 24^th October in 2014 it was the third Cumbrian record , a Yellow-browed Warbler at New Mills, Brampton in 2017 was the 74^th Cumbrian record and the 72^nd individual bird, an Ortolan Bunting at South Walney in 1963 was the first Cumbrian record, later it was found dead at the lighthouse and a first-winter Lapland Bunting on Walney Island remained until 9^th October in 2002 it was the 31^st Cumbrian record and the 34^th individual bird.

8^th October

A drake American Wigeon lingered at North Plain Farm until 30^th November in 2002 it was the eighth Cumbrian record and the sixth individual bird, a Sooty Shearwater offshore at South Walney in 1998 was the 18^th Cumbrian record and the 29^th individual bird, a Great Shearwater off South Walney in 1988 was the sixth Cumbrian record, three Spoonbills off Arnside remained until the next day in 2018 this  was the 63^rd Cumbrian record and approximatey the 84^th to 86^th individuals, Grey Phalaropes were well represented on this day with singles off South Walney in 1988 this was the 11^th Cumbria record, a first-winter at Arnside Marsh and Halforth in 1991 these were the 19^th and 20^th Cumbrian records, two together on Walney Island in 2001 constituted the 24^th Cumbrian record, one on Walney Island in 2003 was the 25^th Cumbrian record all since 1974, two adult Long-tailed Skuas at South Walney in 1988 constituted the sixth Cumbrian record since 1976 and the sixth and seventh individual birds, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Barrow-in-Furness until 10^th October in 1986 was the eighth Cumbrian record and the ninth individual bird, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Askam-in-Furness in 1994 was the 18^th Cumbrian record, a Firecrest was seen on St Bees Head in 2008, a Richard’s Pipit was found near the caravan site at South Walney it was still there the next day in 2007 and it was the 25^th Cumbrian record.

Ronnie Irving

Secretary CBC Records Panel

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