Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 13th July 2020
13th July
The drake Ring-necked Duck first found on the River Kent in Kendal on 25th November 1992 was last seen on Cunswick Tarn on 15th March 1996, during its stay it visited most of the local reservoirs and tarns generating the seventh to 20th Cumbrian records, in 1995 it was first seen on Killington Reservoir on 3rd May and remained until this date, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was located at Sandside in 2001, Hobbies were seen at Foulshaw Moss in 2011, Geltsdale until 14th July in 2014, Bowness-on-Solway in 2015, and Ambleside in 2015, an adult Rose-coloured Starling was seen by a lucky observer at Low Fell End, Whitbarrow in 2002, and a singing male Spanish Sparrow at Waterside (NY24) in 1996 was the first Cumbrian record, it was only the sixth British record and it subsequently caused a major national twitch that was without precedent in Cumbria, it resided at Waterside for more than two years and was last seen on 13th December in 1998.
14th July
A Turtle Dove was located at Dubbs Moss in 1990, two Bee-eaters flying over Wetheral railway station in 2015 were probably part of the group that successfully nested nearby in a sand quarry in Brampton that year and an immature Hobby was seen at Cowpren Point, Flookburgh in 1991.
15th July
The drake Ring-necked Duck mentioned earlier in Kendal was present on Killington Reservoir from 19th April 1994 and remained here until this date in 1994, an adult Spoonbill seen earlier at South Walney was seen on Foulney Island in 1993, a first-summer Ring-billed Gull was found at Ormsgill Reservoir, it remained until 17th July in 1992, it was the sixth Cumbrian record, a family group of three juvenile Corncrakes were seen near Isel Bridge (NY13) until 19th July suggesting successful breeding in 1987, the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull returned to Arnside for its 13th autumn remaining until 6th November in 1999, Hobbies were noted with one on Talkin Fell in 2006 and two frequenting the Foulshaw Moss and Ulpha Meadows area in 2015.
16th July
An adult Common Crane on the Irt Estuary near Drigg (SD09) until 24th July in 2002 was the 15th Cumbrian record, an adult Yellow-legged Gull returned to Arnside for its 11th autumn remaining until 8th November in 1997, an adult Roseate Tern was seen at Hodbarrow in 2019, a ‘churring’ Nightjar was heard on one of the northern mosses and a Hobby appeared in Geltsdale in 2016.
17th July
Adult Spoonbills were located at South Walney in 1996 and on Rockcliffe Marsh in 2011, a Pectoral Sandpiper on the River Eden at Rockcliffe remained until 20th July in 1990, it was the 13th Cumbrian record and the 14th individual bird, a Red Kite was seen at Kirkby Lonsdale in 1985, this preceded the Grizedale releases, an adult White-winged Black Tern was located on Cavendish Dock, Barrow in 1994, this was the fourth Cumbrian record and the fifth individual bird, Hobbies were found at Midgeholme (NY65) in 2002 and at Black Dyke Moss, Arnside lingering until 20th July in 2002.
18th July
A Sooty Shearwater passed Biggar Bank in 1979, it was the sixth Cumbrian record and the tenth individual, an adult Caspian Tern remained at Siddick Pond until 20th July in 1999, it was the third Cumbrian record, a Black-necked Grebe was located offshore at Skinburness in 2001, a Hobby was found at Drumburgh in 2006 and a Corn Bunting at Wiggon Rigg (NY35B) in 2002 was the last known county record before extinction until the Walney bird seen in 2018.
19th July
A Black-throated Diver was seen offshore at Campfield in 1992, two Spoonbills remained on the Kent Estuary until 28th July in 1972, a Greater Sand Plover on Walney Island stayed until 5th August in 1988, it remains the only Cumbrian record and a Hobby appeared on Foulshaw Moss in 2013.
Copyright © 2020 Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel