Records from the archives – On This Day
For week commencing Monday 6th July 2020
6th July
A sad little female Ruddy Duck was found at Hodbarrow it remained until 14th July in 2013, following the infamous cull if one turned up now it would be classed as a vagrant, an adult and a juvenile Spoonbill looked quite at home at Newbiggin Viaduct (SD09X) in 2008, a Common Crane that appeared in Borrowdale in 2004 was considered to be the same bird that temporarily resided mainly at North Plain Farm and a male Golden Oriole was seen at Aldingham (SD26) in 1993.
7th July
An adult Spoonbill remained at South Walney until 30th July in 1993, a Corncrake near Brampton in 1981 was earlier heard there on 26th May, an adult Roseate Tern was seen at Hodbarrow in 1991, an unseasonal Long-tailed Skua turned up at South Walney in 1995, a Turtle Dove feeding with Collared Doves in a town garden in Kendal in 2008 was only the tenth record this century, a Hobby was seen near Askham, Penrith in 1979, Red-backed Shrikes were found at St Bees Head in 1974 and at Howtown, Martindale (NY41P) in 1979.
8th July
Bizarrely, a Nightjar roosted underneath the wardens caravan on Foulney Island in 1991, Hobbies were seen at Haweswater in 2003 and Carlisle in 2014 and a pair of Golden Orioles took up residence at Wet Sleddale until 14th August in 1965.
9th July
Great Shearwaters were seen from St Bees Head in 1974, the first Cumbrian record and 1990, the eighth and last Cumbrian record, a Stone Curlew at Ravenglass in 1988 was the seventh Cumbrian record and the ninth individual bird, an adult Roseate Tern visited Hodbarrow in 2005, a Long-tailed Skua was offshore at Silloth in 2003 and a Hobby was seen around Tindale in 2013.
10th July
A Spoonbill on Soddy Gap Pools (NY03R) stayed overnight and was seen again on 11th July in 2012 and a Nightjar was heard ‘churring’ near Egremont in 1990.
11th July
A good day for White-winged Black Terns with an adult located at Burgh-by-Sands (NY35E) staying until 13th July in 1987, this was the second Cumbrian record, and a second-summer bird at Port Carlisle until 22nd July in 2001 was the sixth Cumbrian record and the seventh individual bird, Hobbies were seen at Foulshaw Moss in 2011 and at Thacka Beck in 2011 and a male Dartford Warbler found at Hillock Whins, Walney Island in 1994 was the first Cumbrian record.
12th July
A Red-crested Pochard duck that lingered at Arnside until 15th July in 2005 was considered an escape from the nearby duck pond at Grange-over-Sands on the other side of the estuary, a Cory’s Shearwater seen offshore at Biggar Bank, Walney in 2001 was the 13th Cumbrian record and the 15th individual bird, an adult Corncrake with three juveniles seen near Abbeytown in 1990 was strongly suggestive of successful breeding, a lucky individual had a flyover Bee-eater over Arnside Knott (SD47) in 1996, the fourth Cumbrian record and the seventh individual birdand a Hobby hunted over Caldbeck Common in 2014.
© Ronnie Irving
Secretary CBC Records Panel