Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 11th April 2022
11th April
A Black Stork found at Blencogo in 1994 was the third Cumbrian record and a White Stork seen at Ings remained until 14th April 1961, it was only the fourth Cumbrian record.
12th April
The first-winter Black Brant that was found at Rampside (SD26N) in December 2012 was last seen on this date in 2013 it was the first Cumbrian record, a drake King Eider was at South Walney until 2nd May 1980 it was the returning bird from the previous year and the second Cumbrian record, two Velvet Scoters were found inland at Wet Sleddale in 1994, two Avocets were seen displaying on the River Eden at Rockcliffe in 2012 they remained until the next day, a Night Heron was found at Cleator remaining until 18th April 1974 it was the tenth Cumbrian record, the adult female Kentish Plover found on North Walney on 3rd March 1994 was last noted on this date in 1994 it was the second Cumbrian record, a Hoopoe was seen at Holker (SD37) in 2005, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Grange in Borrowdale (NY21T) in 1992, a male Subalpine Warbler was seen at Milnthorpe Sewage Works in 1993 it was the second Cumbrian record and up to four Water Pipits wintered on Walney in the fields near Biggar until this date in 2016.
13th April
A drake Green-winged Teal was seen at Siddick Pond it remained until 21st April 2016 and it was approximately the 30th Cumbrian record, a White Stork flew north up the Walney Channel in 2004, a second-summer Ring-billed Gull was found at Green Hills Pond, Dalton-in-Furness it remained until 27th April 1996 it was the eighth Cumbrian record and two Water Pipits wintered at Biggar remaining until this date in 2010.
14th April
A Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Bowness Common in 2003 it was the 21st Cumbrian record since 1974, a 2CY Iceland Gull was seen on Central Walney in 1985 it was the 17th Cumbrian record and a Hoopoe was seen in a Kendal garden in 2016 it stayed overnight and was the fifth Cumbrian record of the decade.
15th April
A drake American Wigeon first seen on Green Road Marsh on 9th March 1989 was last seen on this date it was the first Cumbrian record, a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on Talkin Fell in 2011 it was the sixth Cumbrian record this century, an adult Ring-billed Gull was found at South Walney where it remained until 18th April 1984, it was the first Cumbrian record, a Hoopoe was seen in Dent (SD68Z) in 2015 it was the fourth Cumbrian record of the decade and a White Spotted Bluethroat found at Rockcliffe in 1938 was the first Cumbrian record of this race.
16th April
A drake Red-crested Pochard was seen at Greenodd in 1994 it was the fifth Cumbrian record and eighth individual bird of the 90’s, a White Stork toured south and west Cumbria in April 1961 it was found at Grange-over-Sands on 10th, Ings from 11th to 14th, Gosforth on 15th and 16th then at Maryport also on the 16th, generating the 3rd to 6th Cumbrian records, two Avocets seen at Anthorn in 2015 constituted the 13th Cumbrian record of the decade, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was found in Whitehaven harbour in 2017 it was annual from 2011, a male Golden Oriole was seen in Torver in 1974 it was the 17th Cumbrian record and a summer plumaged male Lapland Bunting found on Rockcliffe Marsh in 2021 was approximately the 45th Cumbrian record.
17th April
A Night Heron was seen at Ireleth in 1957 remaining until 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 contituted 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.
Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel
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