BIC-1949.Pdf
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Preamble ... ... The Weather of 1949. B. H. Ryves General Bird Notes Arrivals and departures of Cornish-breeding migrant; Scilly Notes The Walmisley Sanctuary. T. J. Willcocks ... Birds by Inland Waters. A. G. Parsons Some personal experiences, by various Members Further notes from my diary. A. Cuckoo ... Balance Sheet List of Members ... NINETEENTH REPORT OF The Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society 1949 Edited by B. H. RYVES and H. M. QUICK (kindly assisted by G. H. Harvey and A. G. Parsons). Just as the Report goes to press comes the tragic news of the sudden death, on April 6th, 1950, of Mr. J. Melrose Macmillan, Hon. Treasurer of the Society since 1937. He has always been a tower of strength, not only in the financial work that he handled so ably, but as a wise counsellor on all matters. The purchase and estab lishment of the Walmsley Sanctuary was his work, and its care and upkeep had his constant attention. His death is a great blow to the Society, and he will be sadly missed by all his many friends. The Society offers its deep and sincere sympathy to Mrs. Macmillan, and shares something of her sorrow in her bereavement. A cushion of beautiful spring flowers was sent on behalf of all members as a tribute to his memory and in sympathy to his widow. Until the appointment of a new Hon. Treasurer, communications should be sent c/o Miss Quick, who will pass them on to whoever takes over the work. We also deeply regret the loss by death during the year of seven members. Miss Valentine's death will be felt especially by the large number of members with whom she had personal contact during the eleven years of her Joint-Secretaryship. The Society owes much to her enthusiasm and hard work, and she will be greatly missed. Forty-three new members joined the Society during the year, bringing the total number up to 378. It must be a matter of great satisfaction to all of us that, although many societies have been forced to raise their annual subscription, we are able to keep it at five shillings, and yet are able to function efficiently and produce a first-class Report. Our thanks are again due to Mr. Stuart Martin for kindly auditing the accounts, and to Mr. Penrose and the Museum staff for the use of a room for Committee meetings. 4 The Annual General Meeting was held in the Women's Institute Hall, Truro, on April 26th, when about 50 members were present. After the routine business, a set of the Society's Reports for the first 15 years, bound in three volumes, was presented to the library of the Royal Institution of Cornwall. Canon Jennings accepted the Reports on behalf of the Royal Institution, expressing his apprecia tion of the work of the Society. At the end of the meeting, colour films of birds nesting (including the Black Redstart and the Cirl Bunting) made by Mr. C. W. Holt, of Leicester, were kindly shown by Dr. Coombs. Our sincere thanks are due to Mr. Holt. The second General Meeting was held in conjunction with the R.S.P.B. at the Women's Institute Hall, Truro, on October 22nd. Mr. P. E. Brown (Director of Wardens and Sanctuaries) and Miss Davies (Director of Education) came down from London and spoke of the work of the R.S.P.B. Mr. Brown stressed the importance of the local societies; the more active these are the stronger can be the national effort towards bird preservation. Miss Davies, speaking of the educational work of the R.S.P.B. in schools, said that as a long- term policy it was the only way to obtain effective protection. Mr. Brown showed some remarkable films of the Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler, giving close-up views of building and feeding the young. The meeting was much enjoyed by about 80 people, and it is hoped that further collaboration with the R.S.P.B. may be possible at some future date. There were two meetings of the Executive Committee during the year. The affiliation of this Society with the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society is a matter of satisfaction. Since the two counties form one geographical unit, closer relations may enable useful work to be done in collaboration, especially in regard to migration and winter movements westward. The friendly relation ship set up between the Society and the R.S.P.B. is also a matter of sincere congratulation. Following representations from some members of this Society, Bude Urban District Council has made Tamar Lake a bird sanctuary. This lake, on the borders of Cornwall and Devon, attracts many interesting visitors, which will in future be free from disturbance by shooting. Bude Council are much to be congratulated on this action. A simplified precis of the County Bird Order of 1948 has been printed by the Society in small poster form, and is available for the private use of members; it can be obtained free from the Secretaries. We owe Mr. Macmillan a debt of gratitude for his invaluable help in its compilation. It has only been found necessary to employ one watcher this year, the results being satisfactory. The Walmsley Sanctuary con tinues to be a refuge for many species. At the moment it is looking somewhat desolate, as the sea has broken over, at high tide ,on the adjoining property; but this does not in any way detract from its value to the birds, or its value as grazing land. The West Wales Field Society has sent us a report of the year's activities in Kite preservation, with an appeal for financial help towards the paying of rewards for broods reared. They have reason to believe that Kites wander further afield than has been supposed, 5 and members are asked, if they should see a Kite, immediately to notify Capt. B. H. R. Vaughan (Chairman, Kite Preservation Com mittee), Rhandirmwyn, Llandovery, Carms., or one of the Hon. Secs., who will forward the information. The Society's badge has been much in demand by members, who find it a useful means of identifying fellow members in the field, and also find that it gives them authority when strangers have to be warned off stretches of cliff where their presence might endanger the breeding of rare birds. The price is only 3/3, which includes a neat container. The badge is an attractive enamel one, depicting the Puffin in colour. Members are thanked for their many and interesting records. The Editors of the Report would like to stress the fact that, though all records cannot be published, they are compiling a body of archives that will be invaluable for future use, and which are available to anyone requiring them for study. Information about wintering Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps is still wanted for further study of the subject, and the Editors propose having in future a report on song periods and also one on the arrival and departure (or late lingering) of winter visitors. Information about large-scale movements of birds and the state of the weather both at the time and after the movement, is wanted by a member who is studying the subject and who would be grateful for any such information, which can be sent to Miss Quick in the usual way. Any freshly dead bird corpses found will be gratefully received by Mr. Parsons, who prepares them for museums, thus providing skins for study. He will refund postage and, if needed, replace packing boxes used for the purpose. It is suggested that when a rare or unknown bird is seen, the observer should at once get in touch with a fellow member, or the nearest officer of the Society, both to get confirmation of the identity and also to share the pleasure of the event! For the benefit of new members, the Editors repeat their request that those who send in complete annual reports should do so in the following manner: 1. Use one side of the paper only. 2. Follow the order in the list of species, which can be supplied to anyone asking for it. 3. Send, not later than January 15th, to Miss Quick, Clarence Cottage, Penzance. Letters are welcome at any time from those who do not care to compile annual records. The Chough situation is still very unsatisfactory: breeding may have taken place, but it seems certain that no young were reared. The reports of Peregrines are a little more encouraging, young have been brought off at three eyries. The breeding of the Little Grebe and the Coot, always suspected in the County but seldom proved, has been definitely noted this year. The greatest " rareties " of the year were a Tawny Pipit and a Red-breasted Flycatcher; other birds not often seen included a Woodchat Shrike, Bewick's Swans, Barnacle Goose, Avocet and Stone Curlew. Unusual numbers of Hawfinches, Crossbills and Wood Sandpipers were noted, and there was an autumn passage of Black Terns seen in various districts. It is believed that the heavy S.W. gales of late October and early November delayed 6 the departure of Passerines from West Cornwall, and extremely large flocks of Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Linnets and Bramblings were seen, as well as smaller numbers of Siskins and Snow Buntings. Possibly these same gales assisted the incoming Black Redstarts, which were particularly noticed around Newlyn at that time. A pair of Golden Orioles, reported from Liskeard, were, unfortunately, not seen by any of our members, but there seems no doubt of their identity.