BIRD-WATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Forty-Sixth Annual Report 1977

St. George Printing Works Ltd., . Tel. 712354. Officers 1978^79 President: Dr. C. J. F. Coombs, Greenwith Place, Perranwell, Chairman : Mrs. M. P. Visick, Trendain, Perranwell Station, Truro Vice-Chairman : Capt. E. G. Roper, C.B.E., D.S.O., D.S.C. Polmayne, , General Secretary: W. J. A. Woodward, Lewidden, Penrose, St. Ervan, Wadebridge Assistant General Secretary: Mrs. P. E. Davies, Poolpark, St. Tudy, Treasurer & Registrar : A. F. Reynolds, 33 Treworder Road, Truro Assistant Treasurer & Registrar: P. J. Dwyer, 27 Trenance Road, Field Meetings : S. M. Christophers, 17 Church Park, Bodmin Conservation : G. Jackson, Treweege Barton, , Truro Editor: D. J. Barker, Calidris, Four Lanes, Scientific Officer : H. P. K. Robinson, Cam View, Newbridge, Secretary for the : D. B. Hunt, Pednbrose, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly Joint Editors — Isles of Scilly Journal: H. P. K. Robinson, D. B. Hunt, Cam View, Pednbrose, St. Mary's, Newbridge, Isles of Scilly. Penzance. Officer for Youth and Education : Mrs. S. D. Johns, 25 Hillcrest Avenue, Truro Committee Members : S. M. Christophers (Bodmin), G. S. Gay (Portscatho), B. K. Mellow (Truro), R. H. Poynton (Newquay), retire 1979 ; C. C. Barnard (Penzance), S. C. Hutchings (Penryn), retire 1980 ; Mrs. S. Bottomley (St. Ives), R. Butts (Stithians), Dr. M. J. Cotton (Lanlivery), T. J. Dingle (), E. Grace (), W. K. J. Gray (Newquay), F. H. C. Kendall (Bude), S. Pilbeam (Falmouth), Miss D. M. Watkins (Truro), retire 1981 ; and the officers ex-officio. Secretary's Report for 1977 We had approximately 90 new Members in the year, which offset our natural losses and increased the total to nearly 1100, a new record. The Annual General and Autumn General Meetings were well attended and the Executive Committee met four times. At the A.G.M. on March 26th it was reported that, following discussions with N.F.U. members, a Farming & Wild-Life Advisory Group had been formed to advise on problems concerning Conservation. The Treasurer, Mr. Reynolds, presented a healthy report showing a surplus of £400, in spite of the continuing rise in expenses. He felt that we could just keep subscriptions unchanged for one more year, but increases must then be faced. (See Treasurer's Report). In view of the expansion of the Society's activities and the need for increased communications with Members, the Executive Committee proposed the creation of a new post — that of Asst. Hon. Gen. Sec. — to help the Hon. Sec. with this work. This was unanimously agreed and Mrs. P. Davies agreed to accept the position. Mr. Robinson described three surveys for which he needed more volunteers, (1) , (2) Gull Roof Nesting, (3) Breeding Waterside Birds. Reports on these surveys would be given later. Mrs. Visick described the plans for an Exhibition of Wild Life Paintings, which the Society would organise to take place during October, at the County Museum, Truro. She asked for names of any artists known to Members so that they could be invited to enter. After the A.G.M., Dr. Coombs showed the Members his latest collection of coloured slides entitled " A Bird Artist in East Africa 1975." The excellent quality of these slides and some unusual and exciting snaps again demonstrated the high artistic level of our President's work. At the Autumn General Meeting at the request of Mrs. Poynton, an appeal was made for volunteers to carry out the work of Beach Bird Surveys. The job called for an inspection of beaches about 4 times a year, and to report on the numbers and species of dead birds discovered. These records were of great value to the B.T.O. and other Societies carrying out statistical research on the causes of these deaths. Mr. Grace congratulated the Editor of our Journal on the high and improved standard of the 1976 Report. He also wanted to thank Mr. Robinson for initiating and editing the Newsletter, which he felt would keep Members in close touch with each other. The remainder of the Meeting was allotted to the Officers of the Society, who each reported on the results of their work in 1977, and outlined their ambitions for 1978. It was obvious from the keen attention of those present that these personal liaisons with the Members would assist in a mutual understanding of how much work the Officers are trying to do. At the end of this Meeting Mr. Bob Darke showed us two of his latest films entitled " The Sand Wasp" and " My Cornwall." These were both fascinating and instructive records, compiled by a Member who has a very keen sense of ecological science, which brings home to Members the relationship of the human species to wild life. 3 During the year the Society advised the S.W.W.A. of their views on Water Skiing on Reservoirs and stressed the serious disturbance caused by such activities. The Authority had accepted some of our views but were under Government pressure to allow the maximum recreations on Reservoirs. With reluctance we had agreed to a year's trial at Stithians under controlled conditions. Discussions had taken place on suggestions for improving the Burniere Hide site, or finding means to erect another hide on the Estuary, which would avoid sun glare. Two contacts had been made with local land owners, with sympathetic reactions, and these discussions would continue. The case of illegal and indiscriminate shooting of birds on Gull Rock in Veryan Bay had resulted in severe penalties being imposed on the persons concerned. This case had wide publicity in Cornish and National papers and we hope will be a deterrent to other breakers of the law against shooting birds. The Society had protested to the S.W.W.A. concerning the 1977 system of issuing permits to Bird Watchers visiting reservoirs. The limitation of three reservoirs per permit was considered very unsatisfactory. The Authority had accepted our views and promised changes for 1978. Our financial position has been under careful scrutiny for several years and we have several times postponed any decision to raise Subscriptions, but during 1977 it became obvious that increases would have to be made if we were to continue with our existing activities as well as try to meet the demands of some enthusasts for increased conservation work to be put in hand. This matter will be discussed at the next A.G.M. in Spring, 1978. Mr. Dwyer had made arrangements for a Field Day week-end meeting at Studland, Dorset, in February 1978 and already had nearly a full coach load of reservations. Towards the end of the year, we were saddened by the deaths of two of our outstanding members, namely :— The Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge, M.B.O.U., and Mr. P. Z. Mackenzie, M.B.E. Both of these Members had built up reputations of high repute in the world of Ornithology and both had contributed years of valuable work on behalf of the Society. Further details of their careers will appear in this Journal. The Field Days programme arranged by Mr. Christophers had proved very attractive to Members who had turned up in large numbers. New sites had been introduced and we were grateful to all the leaders who gave their time helping Members to discover new species. Mrs. S. Johns continued her valuable work on behalf of the Juniors and, as her Annual Report shows, has achieved considerable success with the young Members in spite of transport problems and trying to cover the wide areas of Cornwall. She would be glad of the assistance of any Members who could act as leaders in some of the more remote parts of the County. W. J. A. Woodward, Hon. Gen. Secretary.

4 Treasurer's Report for 1977 During 1977 the Society's funds increased by £589. Of this amount, £104 arose from an increase in the market value of the Society's War Loan holding, £100 came from a bequest of the late Miss D. W. Roberts of Trevone Bay, and £190 from donations in memory of Nicholas Dowding of Mawgan Porth. The other £195 was the surplus arising from the year's working, a surplus which would have been turned into a deficit of a like amount if all the projects originally planned for the year had been carried out. In fact the cost of running the Society — printing and circulating the two annual reports and maintaining only a half-yearly communication with members — exceeded subscription income by about £430, so that an increasing part of the Society's investment income is having to be used to meet day to day expenditure and keep the Society running. If the Society, which still is able to rely completely on the heavy involvement of honorary officers, is to have money available for conservation and other projects such as new hides, and to improve communications with members, an increase in subscription levels from the present £1 a year, which has been held since 1972, is inevitable, and the Executive Committee will be putting forward to the A.G.M. in May its proposals for new subscription rates to apply from 1st October next. I must not end without expressing my real thanks to Peter Dwyer for once again undertaking the tedious but rewarding task of dealing with the tax refunds arising from covenanted subscriptions, and to David Barker for auditing the accounts for the year. A. F. Reynolds, Hon. Treasurer and Registrar. CORNWALL BIRD-WATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31st December, 1977

Expenditure Income £ £ £ £ Printing, Stationery and Postages : Subscriptions : Annual reports, 1976 : Annual Membership 911 Mainland 529 Life Membership 20 Scilly 325 Tax refunds on covenanted News Letter 43 subscriptions 113 Other printing and stationery 177 1,044 Typing and duplicating 126 Donations 56 Postages 389 Rent, Walmsley Sanctuary 52 Typewriter and filing cabinet 64 Interest : 1,653 War Loan 31 Subscriptions to Societies 16 Cornwall County Council Bonds 463 Fencing, Lowermoor 59 N.S.B. Investment A/C. 7 Other Expenditure Bank Deposit Account 48 Hire of rooms for meetings 20 549 Insurance 36 Other Income : Hide keys 18 Sale of annual reports : Notices, & Walmsley 44 Scilly 272 Shooting rights, Hayle 6 Mainland 42 Books for re-sale 42 Sale of Hide Keys 46 Miscellaneous 21 Sale of Society badges and ties 11 187 Sale of books 19 Excess of Income over Expenditure 195 Exhibition, County Museum 18 Miscellaneous 1 £2,110 409 £2,110 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER, 1977

Liabilities & Fund Balances Assets £ £ £ £ Accumulated Funds : Investments : Balance at 31.12.76 4,995 £902.24 3.25% War Loan at market Add : price at 31.12.77 333 Bequest — Miss D. W. Roberts 100 Cornwall County Council Bonds : Donation — Nicholas Dowding 13% repayable 13.3.78 1,000 Memorial 190 11% repayable 31.3.79 1,000 Excess of Income over Expenditure 13% repayable 13.3.80 1,000 for the year 195 13% repayable 12.1.81 1,000 Appreciation on War Loan 104 4,333 5,584 Debtors : 258 Creditor : 6 Bank Balances : Subscriptions paid in advance 47 N.S.B. Investment Account 950 Deposit Account 18 Current Account 74 1,042 Postage stamps in hand 4

£5,637 £5,637

Report to the Members of the Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society I have examined the above Balance Sheet dated 31st December, 1977 and the Income and Expenditure Accounts for the year ended on that date with the books of the Society and certify that they are in accordance therewith. D. J. BARKER, Hon. Auditor. Obituaries

Rev. J. E. BECKERLEGGE, M.B.O.U. 1920 — 1977 It is with great regret that we record the recent death of the Rev. John Beckerlegge, a former Co-Editor then Editor of our Society's Annual Report and an Honorary Life Member. I feel that I cannot do better than reproduce a tribute to him which appeared in the Editorial in 1972 following his years of work since starting as assistant to our founder, the late Col. Ryves, in 1956. " Since that time the membership has doubled and the volume of records received increased enormously, but John has continued the time-consuming practice of acknowledgement and correspondence regarding details and descriptions with courtesy and patience beyond the norm. The C.B.W.P.S. owes him a debt of gratitude for the hundreds of hours of tedious work undertaken on our behalf over the past sixteen years. Now that ill health and extra duties in the Church have forced his retirement as Editor we wish him a rapid recovery and more time to enjoy the birds of Cornwall in the field." The recovery to full health eluded him, but his kindness and courtesy were unfailing and many friends old and new have reason to be grateful for the considerable work he did in Botanical and Ornithological Field Studies. The regard in which he was held in his Parish and Diocese was shown at the crowded Requiem Mass in his Parish Church of where The Bishop of Truro officiated and every part of the Diocese was represented. We extend our sympathy to his widow and two daughters. Mrs. M. P. Visick.

P. Z. MACKENZIE, M.B.E. 1913 — 1977 We were very sorry indeed to learn in October of the death of Peter Mackenzie who has done so much for the Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society in the Isles of Scilly, having been a member since 1955. His work in ringing and recording birds, tagging seals and generally caring for the wildlife there has been of great value and he has helped to create a much better feeling between islanders and visiting naturalists by marking the pathways which visitors to the islands should follow. Also the nature trails which he created at St. Mary's have given pleasure to many. We value his work very highly and shall miss him very much. Mrs. Margaret Hicks.

8 Editorial 250 species (including 9 sub-species) were noted on the Cornish mainland in 1977 and 129 observers contributed to this Report. The year's sightings included Ruddy Duck and Ross's Gull, which were new for Cornwall, and Laughing Gull, which was new for the mainland. January and February were very wet months and, although there were two days of snow showers in the second week of January, the first winter period was basically mild. The rarities recorded were Green-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, Black Guillemot and Hooded Crow. Spring followed the pattern of recent years — an indifferent March with some sunny days but also rainy spells, a very cold April as the wind came mainly from the north bringing rain, hail and even snow, and a mixed first two weeks of May (heavy rain plus northerly winds) with spring weather eventually arriving on the 19th. Although the wind was rarely from a southerly direction, unusual migrants still arrived — Purple Heron, 4 White Storks, Black Stork, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 White-winged Black Terns, a lot of Hoopoes, Red-rumped Swallow, Golden Oriole and Savi's Warbler. The low numbers of Terns again gave cause for concern. The exceptionally hot summer of 1976 was not repeated as that of 1977 was generally wet and windy with few spells of consecutive sunny days. June produced a Ruddy Shelduck and 2 Corncrakes, apparently after strong north-westerly winds although they propably arrived undetected with the easterlys in late May. Pochard bred for the first time, Whitethroat numbers were virtually back to normal (i.e. pre 1969 totals) and Lesser Whitethroat was proved to have bred in the county for only the third time. Regrettably, we seem to have lost Montagu's Harrier as a breeding species — there was only one sighting in 1977 and that was a very late autumn migrant. It was a wetter autumn than usual with several periods of easterly or south-easterly winds (August-October) but late August and early September was dominated by a strong westerly airstream which produced good numbers of American waders. The highlights were American Bittern, 2 White Storks, Saker, 2 Long-billed Dowitchers, 14 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 2 Wilson's Phalaropes, Nightingale, Great Reed Warbler and Serin. On the debit side, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers were very scarce indeed, Yellow Wagtails were down in numbers and few reports were received for Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. November was extremely windy and also very wet; there were very strong winds throughout the first three weeks and north-westerly gales from the 12th to the 16th. The 12th was a memorable day for those who were prepared to brave the elements at St. Ives Island as the seabird passage was quite remarkable. There were phenomenal numbers of Kittiwakes (55,000 + ) and Great Skuas (488 — easily the highest daily total for the county) and also an adult Ross's Gull, undoubtedly the least expected vagrant of 1977. Typically it delayed its entrance until very late in the day when only one lucky birdwatcher remained ! However, those of us who missed the Ross's Gull will surely long remember a day when Kittiwakes appeared like snowflakes whirling in the teeth of the gale and Great Skuas hung almost motionless way above the skyline, riding the wind with an air of defiance. In 1976 December provided a lot of Cornish birdwatchers with a new species (Crane) and in 1977 another rarity occurred in the same month and obligingly stayed long enough for most to have the opportunity of adding it to their check-lists. This time it was a visitor from North America, a Laughing Gull, making its debut on the Cornish mainland. There were also 2 Green-winged Teal and a Black Guillemot, in the county at the same time but the mildness of December seems to have affected our Hen Harrier population as there were only four sightings. All 1978 records should please be sent to the Editor by January 15th (a few people thought that this date was too early but I would point out that the compilation of this Report takes at least three monhs and obviously the earlier the start the sooner it can be with the Printer). Would contributors please note that the new sequence of species (Professor Dr. K. H. Voous' List of Recent Holarctic Bird Species 1977) will be adopted in the next Report. Copies of this list were sent to subscribers to British Birds earlier this year but would any observer not having a copy continue to submit records in the order shown in this Report. To save time and expense would anyone requiring an acknowledgement of their records please enclose a stamped addressed envelope. Descriptions are required for all species considered rare in Cornwall including Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Garganey, Scaup, Smew, all grey Geese, Little Ringed Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Pomarine Skua, Iceland Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Arctic Tern, Roseate Tern, Little Auk, Hippolais Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow- browed Warbler. No record will be rejected by the Editor without consulting at least one other observer familiar with the species in question but anyone not submitting descriptions for any of the above species can hardly complain if his observations are omitted. Thanks: To all who contributed articles and submitted records — they were all legible and of the usual high standard. To R. D. Penhallurick for allowing me the use of his draft of The Birds of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for statistical information, and also for the Chough on the front cover and the centre page map. To Messrs. P. S. D. Jones, S. C. Madge and R. B. Treleaven for providing the drawings featured in this Report. To L. P. Williams for his help in extracting from observers' notes particulars for the compilation of the section Red-legged Partridge — Robin.

Our Society suffered a considerable loss in 1977 by the deaths of two very prominent members, Peter Mackenzie and Rev. John Beckerlegge (see OBITUARIES). Mr. Mackenzie's ' habitat' was the Isles of Scilly and details of his contribution to Ornithology appear in the Scillies' Report. Rev. John Beckerlegge was a previous Editor and County Recorder and held office at a time when birdwatching increased tremendously in popularity. I met him on only a few occasions and always found him to be knowledgeable and also courteous in listening attentively to someone with a lot less knowledge and experience. Above all else, however, I relished his sense of humour, a pleasing and refreshing quality seemingly lacking in some contemporary single-minded ornithologists. 10 List of Contributors

Abbot, S. Flumm, D. S. Meek, N. R. Adams, G. R. J. Forrester, B. C. Miners, H. J. Agnew, Mrs. M. D. Frost, M. P. Morgan, C. W. Allen, Mr. & Mrs. R. Gay, G. S. Nicholls, J. C. Allinson, M. D. Gilbert, J. S. Nichols, S. C. Ansell, W. F. H. Grace, E. Norman, D. M. Barker, D. J. & D. C. Green, Dr. G. P. Pattenden, B. Barnard, C. C. Griffiths, E. Paull, J. H. Barradell, M. G. Grover, J. A. Pearce, P. Beckerlegge, Rev. J. E. Harvey, H. J. Penhallurick, R. D. Belringer, R. M. Hawker, D. M. Phillips, N. J. Blatchford, M. Hawkey, J. Phillips, Miss R. M. Bottomley, J. B. & S. Henderson, G. Pilbeam, S. Bowden, N. A. G. Henderson, Mrs. J. Pinfield, T. J. S. Bowden, P. N. Hicks, V. B. Plummer, T. K. Box, E. S. Hirst, W. R. Polglase, T. R. Butts, R. Hobson, J. A. Powell, L. S. & E. M. Callender, A. D. Hosking, A. C. Ratcliff, G. Callender, I. A. Howell, Mrs. P. E. Robinson, H. P. K. Campbell, Dr. Bruce Hutchings, S. C. Rogers, S. Carrington, Jackson, G. Roper, Capt. E. G. Mr. & Mrs. A. H. Jenkins, D. Round, P. D. Cave, B. Jones, Miss M. J. Rowe, Dr. G. P. G. Christie, P. S. Jones, P. S. D. Rutter, P. A. Christophers, S. M. Juleff, C. Sawyer, Lt. Col. E. L. Cole, S. J. Kay, Mrs. B. M. B. Sharp, R. V. G. Constantine, Dr. P. L. Kendall, F. H. C. Smaldon, R. Cooke, J. M. Kendall. I. Stratton, V. Couch, F. M. Lloyd, T. Strickland, M. J. Culwick, Miss E. Lott, Mrs. W. T. Sutton, G. P. Curber, R. M. Lukes, D. K. Treleaven, R. B. Davies, Mrs. P. E. Madge, S. C. Trewin, Mark Davis, Dr. G. W. Maker, P. A. Tucker, V. R. Dingle, T. J. Marchant, J. H. Visick, Mrs. M. P. Dustow, J. Martin, A. J. Wake, R. E. Dwyer, P. J. Maskew, R. Wicks, S. C. Elliott, T. R. Mason, J. H. N. Widgery, J. P. Ellis, P. M. May, A. H. Williams, L. P. Ellis, Mrs. S. M. Mav, G. P. (Truro) Willmott, B. Elwood, D. A. May, G. P. () Wolfenden, W. A. R. Evenden, B. G. Medhurst, H. P. & M. Wyman, G. J. H. Exelby, N. B. Some of the above are non-members

NOTE : Where initials are shown in the Classified Notes : BC = B. Cave ; EG = E. Griffiths ; GPM = G. P. May (Truro), other observers having identical initials being referred to by name. MO = Many Observers. 11 Classified Notes for 1977

The species in the following list are in the order shown in A Species List of British and Irish Bird (BTO Tring, 1972). Please note the following definitions : (a) reference to " Porthgwarra" includes the area south of a line drawn from Carn Les Boel to St. Levan. (b) " Mount's Bay" refers only to that part of the Bay between Mousehole and . (c) " " = and not the Bay of the same name at . All species noted on the Cornish mainland in 1977 are included in this Report. Where a record has been accepted by the Rarities Committee, this fact is stated.

BLACK-THROATED DIVER — Winter visitor. Passage migrant (mainly spring). As usual most records were from Gerrans and Veryan Bays where noted until June 25th (one) and from Nov. 13th (3). Monthly maxima :— Jan. 18, Feb. 20, Mar. 41, Apr. 54, May 20, June 1, Nov. 29, Dec.17. In Mount's Bay only in the first winter period and spring. 7 was the winter max. (Jan. 8th) but there were 10 March 29th - April 2nd. Porthgwarra monthly totals (8 west, 2 east) : Jan. 1, Mar. 3, Apr. 2, May 2, Oct. 1, Dec. 1. Off St. Ives Island in autumn there were 2 in October, 91 in November and 21 in December, all moving west. The max. was 67 Nov. 15th. Other reports (singles unless stated otherwise) : In the first winter period at Loe Bar, Falmouth Bay (3), Carrick Roads (2), Whitsand Bay, Pentire/Lundy Bay (6), /Camel Estuary (3), Carnsew Pool and St. Ives Bay (3). As in 1976 there were relatively high numbers in spring on the north coast between St. Ives and Hayle where noted March 19th - May 9th with a max. of 16 April 2nd. On the south coast at Praa Sands (9), Falmouth Bay, Par and Seaton (Looe) (3). A few in autumn off Hayle and Navax Point (Godrevy) but these almost certainly rounded St. Ives Island and are no doubt included in the numbers already quoted above. In the second winter period at Carrick Roads (2), Looe (2), Siblyback, Padstow/Camel Estuary (2) and St. Ives Bay. The Siblyback bird (Dec. 26th into 1978) appears to be the first for that locality. Apart from the exceptional autumn passage off St. Ives (this involved all three species of Divers) numbers were not radically different from 1976.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. Mount's Bay : Low numbers until May 6th (one) with a max. of 8 March 5th but also a single June 11th & 25th and July 2nd & 21st when in summer plumage. One September 4th and then regularly from October 31st onwards, the max. being 6 November 28th. 12 St. Ives Bay: In the first part of the year noted until May 15th (one) with 9 February 12th and 10 March 19th but usually less than 4. Second winter period birds from November 21st (one) with good numbers in December — 15+ on 11th, 14 on 12th, 10 on 26th. West off St. Ives Island : From October 1st (2) until December 12th (5) ; 14 in October, 71 in November and 5 in December, the max. being 22 November 13th and 23 on 15th. Also 6 in January. Porthgwarra monthly totals (23 west, 1 east) : Jan. 1, Mar. 2, Apr. 11, May 8, Oct. 1, Dec. 1. Other records (singles unless stated otherwise) : In the first winter period at Loe Bar (3), , Falmouth Bay (2), Carrick Roads (4), Gerrans Bay (2), St. Austell Bay, Looe (3), Cawsand Bay (Torpoint) and Padstow/Camel Estuary. April records from Falmouth Bay, Par, and Seaton (Looe) (2). One at St. Just-in-Roseland May 30th was rather late and a summer plumaged bird between Polruan and Looe July 22nd obviously had not bothered to journey to its breeding grounds (the Mount's Bay bird ?). Autumn : 4 flew south-west off Pentire (Polzeath) November 3rd. In the second winter period at Falmouth Bay (3), Carrick Roads (4), St. Austell Bay, Looe, Cawsand Bay (3), St. John's Lake, Siblyback, Padstow/Camel Estuary (3) and Carnsew Pool. Fewer at Porthgwarra and Gerrans Bay than last year, more off St. Ives Island but otherwise a similar pattern. RED-THROATED DIVER — Uncommon winter visitor. Passage migrant. Porthgwarra monthly totals (10 west, 4 east): Jan. 1, Apr. 9, May 2, Jun. 1, Nov. 1. A minor spring passage April 2nd - May 7th and also singles January 9th, June 7th and November 20th. Off St. Ives Island : ones and twos October 1st - December 30th but 31+ November 13th (probably around 50 moved west during this period). Other sightings (singles unless stated otherwise) : January — only in Mount's Bay (2 on 3rd) and off Loe Bar (2 on 9th). February — at St. Ives Bay and Whitsand Bay on 5th, Camel Estuary on 6th, and Mount's Bay on 16th. March — at Stepper Point (Padstow) on 4th, 24th, & 29th, Loe Bar on 5th & 22nd, Gerrans Bay on 12th, Mount's Bay on 13th & 27th and St. Ives Bay on 19th. Bay on 19th. May — at Gerrans Bay on 5th, 2 at Mevagissey on 17th. October — west off Navax Point (Godrevy) on 1st and at Mount's Bay on 8th & 31st. November — at Par on 10th, Mount's Bay on 20th, Loe Bar on 25th and St. Ives Bay on 26th. December — at Carbis Bay on 11th (3), Loe Bar on 19th, Mount's Bay on 20th, Pentire (Polzeath) on 28th and into 1978, and Gerrans Bay on 31st. Godrevy deserves special mention as 7 were noted there Nov. 28th and at least 8 were feeding offshore December 3rd - 10th. This is quite a flock for Cornwall where 10 together is the largest number on record. Fewer winter records than in 1976 but obviously an exceptional passage off St. Ives on November 13th. 13 GREAT CRESTED GREBE — Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Singles unless stated otherwise. First winter period and spring : Carrick Roads : the 2 from 1976 were last seen March 27th GSG. Mount's Bay : Jan 3rd - 28th PAR. DJB. et al. : Jan 9th (2) BW. 30th VRT. and Feb. 5th BW. River : Feb. 14th SMC. Carnsew Pool : March 4th (an early spring migrant ?) ACH. Upper Tamar Reservoir : April 23rd TJD. Autumn : Loe Pool : July 29th HPKR. and Aug. 7th - 9th JSG. Stithians : an immature July 31st-Aug. 6th TJSP. TRP. et al. and Sept. 21st SCH. St. John's Lake : an immature Aug. 29th EG. Siblyback : Sept 6th & 7th RMB. REW. Mount's Bay : Sept. 17th TRP. Second winter period : River Lynher : Nov. 20th but 2 on 26th BW. SMC. Padstow/Camel Estuary : Dec. 9th - 31st REW. SMC et al. Carrick Roads : 2 Dec. 18th - 31st GSG.

RED-NECKED GREBE — Scarce winter visitor. Falmouth Bay: one Jan. 29th - 30th and March 13th - 16th PAM. JCN. RMB. TRE. Carrick Roads : one Feb. 20th SA. MPF. (probably the Falmouth bird). St. Ives Bay : one Dec. 11th - 17th MGB. MPF. et al. The lowest total since 1973.

SLAVONIAN GREBE — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. In the first winter period at Porthgwarra (one west Jan. 30th), Mount's Bay (max. 2), Helford River (3), Falmouth Bay (4), Carrick Roads (8 Jan. 23rd), Gerrans Bay (5), Looe (one), St. John's Lake (2), Padstow/ Camel Estuary (4), Carnsew Pool (3) and St. Ives Bay (6). Singles in April at Par (on 11th), Carnsew Pool and St. Ives Bay but 2 at Mount's Bay. The Par bird, partly in summer plumage, was the last record. No October records but noted in November at Mount's Bay (3), Gerrans Bay (one), Padstow/Camel Estuary (one), and Carnsew Pool (2). In December at Mount's Bay (one on 27th was the only record !), Gillan Creek, Helford (one), Falmouth Bay (2), Carrick Roads (4), St. John's Lake (2), Padstow/Camel Estuary (6 on 25th) and St. Ives Bay (6 on 11th).

BLACK-NECKED GREBE — Scarce winter visitor. Helford River : 2 Jan. 6th - Feb. 19th GWD. PAM (twice heard calling to each other GWD). Carrick Roads : one Jan 23rd, 2 Dec. 4th GSG. River Lynher : one Jan 30th VRT. Swanpool: 2 Feb. 6th EG. RS and March 1st GWD (possibly the Helford birds). 14 Gerrans Bay : one April 2nd, 2 Dec. 31st GSG. Falmouth Bay : one Dec. 12th TJSP. Rock/Camel Estuary: one Dec. 12th - 31st MPF. SMC. and probably the same bird off on 15th SME. Probably some duplication in the records from Helford, Carrick Roads, Swanpool and Gerrans Bay.

LITTLE GREBE — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor.

Proved to have bred only at Stithians where there were 2 pairs ; at least two small chicks were seen. Single pairs " summered" at 5 localities. Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary/Carnsew Pool: 18 Jan. 16th, 15 Nov. 29th. River Lynher : 11 Jan. 17th. Stithians : 16 Aug. 28th, 25 Sept. 11th, 10 Nov. 20th. Long Rock Pool (Marazion) : 10 Dec. 4th.

FULMAR — Breeds. Resident December — September. Passage migrant.

Bred at Rinsey, Mullion, Gull Rock (Gerrans Bay), Portloe, Gorran and Black Head (St. Austell Bay) on the south coast (55 pairs) and at Newquay and 12 localities between Porthcothan and Morwenstowe on the north coast (c. 140 pairs). This information is clearly incomplete and the Editor would welcome more breeding season records in future. It is perhaps worth mentioning that this species first bred in the county only as recently as 1944. Few details received of passage birds. The only large total reported was 500+ in St. Ives Bay April 1st, exceptional numbers for that time of the year. PP. VS. November records : Off St. Ives Island : 65 on 12th, 12 on 13th, one on 14th, 8 on 15th. (all flying west). Navax Point (Godrevy) : 18 west on 13th. The Rumps (Polzeath) : one west on 24th.

MANX SHEARWATER — Passage migrant. Feeding parties during summer.

No records for January, February or December but regular from March 9th (one) to November 14th (4) — the first and last sightings were off St. Ives. Highest totals : St. Ives Island : c. 24,000 in two hours April 23rd, 4,258 in two hours June 5th, 3,000+ September 7th (all west). : 3,000 west June 5th. Clodgy (St. Ives) : 3,000 were feeding offshore for three weeks in July. November records : Godrevy : 2 west on 7th. St. Ives Island : 3 on 12th, 2 on 13th, 4 on 14th (all west). 15 BALEARIC SHEARWATER (Mauretanicus) — Uncommon passage migrant. A sub-species breeding in the western Mediterranean. St. Ives Island monthly totals (all west) : July 11, Aug. 28, Sept. 3, Oct. 21, Nov. 10, Dec. 2. (July 17th (8) until Dec. 15th (one); max. 15 Oct. 1st). Porthgwarra monthly totals (all west) : July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 2, Nov. 1, Dec. 1. (First and last dates — July 17th (one) and Dec. 11th (one) ; max. 4 July 24th). Gwithian : 5 feeding Aug. 8th. Hor Point (St. Ives) : one west Aug. 9th. Navax Point (Godrevy) : one west Aug 21st (probably also seen off St. Ives). Godrevy : 2 west Dec. 10th.

SOOTY SHEARWATER — Uncommon passage migrant. St. Ives Island monthly totals (all west) : Aug. 8, Sept. 59, Nov. 2, Dec. 1. First and last dates : singles Aug. 6th PP. VS. and Dec. 24th EC. LPW. The max. was an incredible 56 Sept. 6th PP. VS. LPW. — by far the largest number counted during a single watch in the county. The two in November were both on the 12th EG. DJB. PAR. Porthgwarra monthly totals (all west apart from one east Aug. 20th) : July 13, Aug. 11, Sept. 10. From July 9th (2) until Sept. 30th (one) with a max. of 6 Aug. 5th. : 2 Aug. 13th LPW. Porthkidney : 2 Aug. 15th JH. Newquay : one west Aug. 21st SMC. From : 2 Aug. 27th SP. 45 on 30th SR. 7 Sept. 2nd PSC. 3 on 3rd JD. SR. REW. Godrevy : 2 west Sept. 5th PAR. one west Sept. 29th (off Navax Point) TRP.

STORM PETREL — Passage migrant. May breed in very low numbers. Near Wolf Rock Lighthouse : 6 June 8th, 12+ Sept. 10th. Off St. Ives Island : 2 feeding June 25th, 20 July 24th, 70+ west Aug. 25th, 2 Nov. 13th and 7 on 15th. Porthcurno : 4 July 30th, one Aug. 13th. Land's End : 3 Aug. 7th and 3 on 14th. Clodgy (St. Ives) : one Aug. 14th. From Scillonian : 4 Aug. 27th, 2 on 30th ; 4 Sept. 2nd, 3 on 3rd. Porthgwarra (all west) : June — 2 on 5th, 11 on 6th, 13 on 8th, 12 on 11th. July — 2 on 10th, one on 17th. August — 14 on 4th, 37 on 5th, one on 20th. LEACH'S PETREL — Uncommon autumn passage migrant. Off St. Ives Island (all west) : at least 2 Oct. 6th HPM. EC ; one Nov. 12th PP. VS. c. 30 on 13th VRT. LPW. WRH. et al. 3 on 15th EG. one on 16th JH. Navax Point (Godrevy): 9 west Nov. 13th in three hours TRP. (presumably also noted at St. Ives). 16 PETREL sp. Off St. Ives Island : one west Aug. 20th PDR.

GANNET — Passage migrant. Winter and summer visitor. Largest totals : Porthgwarra : in January 3,600 + on 16th, 1,000 on 22nd, 2,000 on 23rd. Off St. Ives Island: 2,000+ in 2 hours Oct. 30th; 5,000+ Nov. 12th (mostly adults). Few records received. See Notes.

CORMORANT — Breeds. Resident. Several inland sightings, mostly from the Bodmin Moor and St. Austell Claypit areas. As usual the species visited Stithians, Porth, Crowdy and Siblyback Reservoirs regularly and one was even at Crowan Sept. 18th. Somewhat out of the ordinary was one flying north-west at Trewey (Zennor) Jan. 28th. The only flocks in excess of 20 were : Camel Estuary : 25 April 13th, 29 Nov. 21st. : 25 Aug. 7th. One at Marazion March 20th was seen to swallow a quantity of seaweed. E. Grace. Singles showing features of the Continental race (sinensis) were at Nare Head March 5th GSG. and Tresillian Nov. 13th PSC. This is apparently the only race which is truly migratory.

SHAG — Breeds. Resident. Highest numbers : Looe : 116 Feb. 16th. Off St. Ives Island : 146 west Nov. 15th. Falmouth Bay : 250+ Nov. 29th, 300-400 Dec. 5th. Gerrans Bay : 300 Dec. 26th. Unusual records : Again noted near the Amble Dam (Camel Estuary) — one or two Jan. 1st - Feb. 22nd and one Dec. 2nd. Ringing recovery : One ringed as a pullus on Mullion Island 9th June 1968 was found dead at Kynance Cove (Lizard) 6th July 1977. per NBE.

GREY HERON — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant in low numbers. Reports of occupied nests : Marazion : (2 nests in reedbed, none in pines because of tree-felling) ; Gillan Creek, Helford (3) ; Malpas (4) ; Feock (2) ; Ruan River (c.20) ; Percuil River, St. Mawes (11 — 2 sites) ; St. Winnow, Fowey (10) ; Otterham, Nr. Davidstowe (one — eggs taken by a Buzzard) ; Trenant Woods, Looe (6) ; Sladesbridge (2) ; Pinkson Creek, Camel Estuary (9). Highest numbers : : 22 March 3rd. Marazion : 23 resting on Hogus Rocks March 5th ; 21 at the Marsh Aug. 29th. Camel Estuary : 18 Sept. 14th. 17 PURPLE HERON — Vagrant. St. Ives : one flew east close to the shore March 9th EC. Full details received.

BITTERN — Rare winter visitor. : one Jan 9th SCH. SP. TJSP. RB. Swanpool: one Feb. 12th - 15th SP. Crowdy : one Dec. 3rd SMC. PED. The last time there were as many as 3 in a year was 1962.

AMERICAN BITTERN — Very rare vagrant. Marazion Marsh : a particularly elusive bird Sept. 7th, 8th, 19th & 25th BP. GWD. BC. TRP. MPF. — it also visited the St. Erth valley where it was equally difficult to observe. The first since 1953 and only the 7th Cornish record.

WHITE STORK — Very rare vagrant. Stibb (nr. Kilkhampton) : one March 16th and at Upper Tamar Reservoir on 18th TJD. Nanjizal : one March 22nd - 27th WRH. JH. LPW. et al. — there were apparently 2 on the 20th and one was found dead on the 29th. : one May 20th Rev. J. B. D. Cotter. Predannick Airfield : one Aug. 27th - 28th RB. PAM. Gadles Farm, Ponsanooth : an immature Sept. 5th E. Grace. DJB. CCB. Six in one year is phenomenal; the last record (excluding Scillies) was in 1971 (2) and before 1977 only 5 had been noted on the mainland.

BLACK STORK — Very rare vagrant. Trobus Farm, Ladock : one flying over May 23rd JD. Full details received ; the 4th record for Cornwall and the first since May 1890.

STORK sp. Nanquidno : distant views of a single bird in flight May 21st PAM.

MALLARD — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Breeding reported from 17 localities. Maximum numbers : Marazion Marsh : 65 Aug 22nd, 70 Sept. 25th and Oct. 19th. Loe Pool: 90+ Aug. 14th, 219 Oct. 16th, 200 Dec. 24th. Ruan Lanihorne : 206 Aug. 24th. Gerrans Bay : 81 Ian. 3rd, 150 Nov. 26th (all on the sea). Par Beach Pool: 120 Jan. 6th, 137 Aug. 13th, 77 Dec. 24th. Siblyback : 100+ Jan. 8th & 30th. Tamar Lake : 130 Nov. 13th, 150 Dec. 19th. Upper Tamar Reservoir : c.200 Oct. 14th. Crowdy : 84 July 25th, 240 Oct. 22nd. Porth Reservoir : 110 Nov. 27th. 18 TEAL — Winter visitor. Recorded in every month of the year but no evidence of breeding. Noted displaying at three localities on Bodmin Moor. Maximum numbers : Loe Pool: 120 Nov. 28th, 450 Dec. 24th. Stithians : 214 Jan. 2nd, 160 Nov. 30th. Ruan Lanihorne : 150 Oct. 30th. River Lynher : 124 Jan. 16th, 198 Dec. 28th. Crowdy : 180 Dec. 3rd. Camel Estuary/Sanctuary : 130 Feb. 11th, 180 Nov. 5th. Hayle Estuary : 300 4- Jan. 3rd & 16th, 180 Dec. 12th. First and last records : Marazion Marsh : a drake May 7th, a pair June 14th and 4 females July 10th. Upper Tamar Reservoir : 2 July 8th. Unusual reports : Porthgwarra : 5 east Jan. 1st, 12 Nov. 26th. Swanpool: a drake April 29th. Off St. Ives Island : 500 + west Sept. 28th — " the largest number I have seen on passage here " VS.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL — Vagrant. Hayle Estuary : a drake Jan. 16th - March 4th DJB. LPW. DCB et al. and possibly the same bird from Nov. 5th into 1978 GWD. PAR et al. Siblyback : a drake Nov. 26th - Dec. 4th PAM. SR. et al. The North American race (carolinensis) of the Teal, after an eight year absence on the Cornish mainland, has now been recorded in consecutive years.

GARGANEY — Uncommon passage migrant. Spring records : Marazion Marsh : a drake April 14th - 15th BP. CCB. Tamar Lake : a pair April 21st - 29th FHCK. IK. TJD. et al. Hayle Kimbro Pool: a female May 1st - 8th, a drake May 15th - June 4th PAM. et al. a female June 20th E. Grace. Stithians : a drake June 3rd, 20th & 21st, 2 drakes on 4th, 3 (2 drakes) on 11th TJSP. PAM. et al. Autumn : Stithians : from Aug. 14th (one) TRP. until Sept. 13th (3). Probably at least 6 birds involved MO. Marazion Marsh : at least 2 females Aug. 26th - 30th DSF. et al.

GADWALL — Uncommon winter visitor. Passage migrant in low numbers. In the first winter period at Drift (max. 2), Marazion Marsh (6), Stithians (3), Siblyback (10), Tamar Lake (19 Jan. 17th), Upper Tamar Reservoir (10), Dozmary Pool (5), and Hayle Estuary (6). The Drift, Stithians and Dozmary birds were only single day sightings. In spring only at Marazion Marsh where there was a pair April 5th - May 1st. In autumn and the second winter period at Drift (max. 13), Marazion Marsh (11), Loe Pool (5), Stithians (5), Par Beach Pool (6), Siblyback (11), Tamar Lake (22 Dec. 28th), Upper Tamar Reservoir (6), Crowdy 19 (3), Camel Estuary (2) and Hayle Estuary (6). The first for the autumn were 2 at Camel Estuary Aug. 26th. About twice as many in the second winter period this year than in 1976. WIGEON — Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Stithians : 135 Jan. 28th, 154 Nov. 30th. Ruan Lanihorne : 430 Jan. 15th, 246 Dec. 4th. River Lynher/St. John's Lake : 2000 Jan. 16th, 3000 Dec. 27th. Camel Estuary/Sanctuary : 770 Jan. 17th, 310 Dec. 12th. Hayle Estuary : 1000+ Feb. 5th, 750 Dec. 12th. First and last records : Camel Estuary/Sanctuary : a pair May 5th. Stithians : 8 Aug. 22nd. Unusual reports : Gerrans Bay : a pair Jan. 3rd. Forth Reservoir : a female Sept. 13th. Marazion Marsh : a pair June 28th - July 6th (an odd time of the year to see this species in Cornwall). PINTAIL — Uncommon winter visitor. Passage migrant in low numbers. Camel Estuary/Sanctuary monthly maxima : Jan. 19, Feb. 3, Mar. 3, Sept. 1, Oct. 2, Nov. 2, Dec. 4. The March record, 3 on 2nd, was the latest sighting in the county. Noted in the River Lynher/St. John's Lake area until Feb. 26th (12) with a max. of 17 Jan. 29th and then from Oct. 23rd (3) to the end of the year with a max. of 8 Dec. 4th. Other records : Drift: 2 Jan. 1st. Hayle Estuary : a female Feb. 13th. Stithians: 2 females July 31st-Aug 17th and also Sept. 28th - Oct. 4th (presumably different birds). Loe Pool: 2 Sept. 12th, one Dec. 27th — all drakes. Gwithian : 5 (one drake) flew out to sea Oct. 3rd. Very low numbers away from the two main wintering areas but two extremely early birds at Stithians. SHOVELER — Winter visitor. Passage migrant in low numbers. Maximum numbers : Marazion Marsh : 35 Jan. 2nd, 48 Dec. 30th. Loe Pool: 54 Jan. 4th, 70+ Dec. 1st & 4th. Par Beach Pool: 19 Jan. 30th. Tamar Lake : 33 Feb. 27th. Also lower numbers during the year at Drift (max. 10), Hayle Kimbro Pool (10), Stithians (11), Siblyback (2), St. John's Lake (11), Bude (7), Dozmary Pool (one — Dec. 27th), Crowdy (3) and Camel Estuary/ Sanctuary (11). First and last records : Stithians : a drake until April 27th, one July 30th. Hayle Estuary : a female July 31st. Marazion Marsh : 7 Aug. 3rd. Unusual reports : Ruan Lanihorne : 2 drakes June 15th - 25th. Off St. Ives Island : 3 (one drake) west Dec. 24th.

SCAUP — Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. First winter period and spring : Camel Estuary : a female Jan 1st - April 14th. Looe Estuary : a pair Jan. 4th. Stithians : a female Jan. 30th and March 2nd. Loe Pool: a drake Feb. 1st, 3 (2 drakes) June 2nd. From Scillonian : a drake west May 28th (off Porthgwarra). Autumn and second winter period : Stithians : in October, one on 8th & 23rd, 3 on 22nd — all females. Hayle Kimbro Pool: a female Oct. 12th. Upper Tamar Reservoir : a female Oct. 28th - Nov. 6th. Drift: a drake Oct. 29th and Nov. 28th. Par Beach Pool: a female Oct. 31st - Nov. 20th. Camel Estuary : a female Nov. 1st, a drake Nov. 17th. Tamar Lake : a female Nov. 12th. Off St. Ives Island : an immature drake west Nov. 13th, one Nov. 20th. Porth Reservoir : a female Nov. 13th, Dec. 11th & 30th. St. John's Lake : one Nov. 27th, 4 Dec. 10th — all females. Loe Pool: an immature drake Dec. 24th.

TUFTED DUCK — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. A few " summer." Maximum numbers : Loe Pool: 37 March 28th, 62 Aug. 20th, c.100 Dec. 24th. Argal Reservoir : 40 Jan. 29th. Stithians : 24 Feb. 5th, 83 Nov. 26th. Tamar Lake : 42 Feb. 6th, 24 Oct. 28th. Porth Reservoir : 37 Feb. 13th, 30 Dec. 30th. Also lower numbers at Drift (max. 25), Marazion Marsh (7), Crowan (12), Hayle Kimbro Pool (2), Swanpool (27), Par (6), Siblyback (c.10), Upper Tamar Reservoir (30), Crowdy (12) and Dozmary Pool (8). Unusual reports : Carnsew Pool: 5 drakes Jan. 16th, 3 (2 drakes) Dec. 4th and a female on 17th. Gweek : 6 drakes Jan. 29th. Porthgwarra : 2 March 20th, one May 8th, one Nov. 20th — all west 21 Hawkstor Clay Pit : (Bodmin Moor) : a drake July 12th. Recorded at Loe Pool in every month of the year and at Stithians and Tamar Lake in all months but August. The only other localities with July sightings were Marazion Marsh (a pair on 6th), Upper Tamar Reservoir (one on 8th) and Hawkstor Clay Pit (see above).

POCHARD — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. Maximum numbers : Drift: 130 Jan. 8th, 240 Dec. 10th. Loe Pool: 88 Jan. 15th, 80 Dec. 24th. Stithians : 25 Jan. 23rd, 41 Nov. 26th. Siblyback : 38 Jan 23rd, 32 Nov. 28th & Dec. 1st. Tamar Lake : 46 Jan. 23rd, 72 Dec. 28th. Upper Tamar Reservoir : 45 Jan. 17th, 43 Oct. 28th. Also lower numbers at Long Rock Pool (max. 5), Crowan (3), Helston Park Lake (14), Hayle Kimbro Pool (8), Argal Reservoir (10), Par (29), Crowdy (21), Dozmary Pool (26) and Porth Reservoir (24). First and last records : Stithians : 3 (one drake) May 22nd, 4 Aug. 1st. Loe Pool: a drake June 11th. Marazion Marsh : a female July 10th. Hayle Kimbro Pool: 3 drakes July 15th & 16th. Unusual reports : Gweek : a drake Jan. 29th. Porthgwarra : 3 west March 20th (the first record for this locality). Off St. Ives Island : singles west Nov. 14th & 20th. Camel Estuary : a drake Nov. 17th. Blacktor Pool: 4 Dec. 4th. Bodmin Moor. Hawkstor Clay Pit : 12 Dec. 4th. On July 27th 3 drakes (in eclipse plumage), a female and 9 ducklings were observed at a Cornish reservoir. The young were thought to be 10 to 14 days old and could not have flown. This species has never been proved to have bred in the county but over the last 35 years it has been slowly extending its range in .

GOLDENEYE — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. Carrick Roads monthly maxima : Jan. 30 + , Feb. 45, Mar. 21, Apr. 4, Nov. 9, Dec. 25. Up to April 2nd (4) and then from Nov. 26th (9). In the first winter period at Loe Pool (max. 4), Stithians (8), Argal Reservoir (one), Tresillian (2), Siblyback (one), Morval Pool, Looe (one), St. John's Lake (4), Tamar Lake (8), Upper Tamar Reservoir (11), Crowdy (one), Dozmary Pool (2), Padstow/Camel Estuary (18 Jan. 21st), Porth Reservoir (3), Hayle Estuary/Carnsew Pool (14) and Bussow Reservoir, St. Ives (one). In the second winter period at Drift (max. 4), Long Rock Pool (4), Loe Pool (9), Stithians (10), Helford Passage (one), Par Beach Pool (one), Siblyback (2), St. John's Lake (3), Tamar Lake (10), Upper Tamar Reservoir (7), Crowdy (one), Padstow/Camel Estuary (13 Nov. 29th), Porth Reservoir (one) and Hayle Estuary/Carnsew Pool (6). First and last records : Stithians : one April 12th. Par Beach Pool: one Oct. 19th. 22 Unusual reports : Godrevy : a brownhead resting on the beach Nov. 26th. Helston Park Lake : a brownhead Nov. 28th. Off St. Ives Island : 3 east Dec. 3rd. Almost a 50% increase on last year for both winter periods.

LONG-TAILED DUCK — Uncommon winter visitor. Stithians : the 1976 drake was last seen April 23rd MO. Loe Pool: the 1976 female remained until March 20th but there were 2 females March 11th E. Grace; also 2 off Loe Bar April 2nd - 9th PAR. JSG. Carrick Roads : one Feb. 19th - March 19th PAM. one April 9th - 16th GSG. (the same bird ?). Pentire (Polzeath) : 3 drakes flying south with Common Scoter Oct. 19th MPF. Off St. Ives Island : a female west Nov. 13th LPW. Marazion : one Nov. 25th - 26th CCB. JBB. SB. one Dec. 27th PDR. Perhaps only 10 individuals in 1977, half the unusually high numbers of 1976.

VELVET SCOTER — Scarce winter visitor. Swanpool: a first year drake Feb. 9th CCB. Off St. Ives Island : a female west with Common Scoter Nov. 13th MO. Loe Bar : a drake Nov. 19th MJS.

COMMON SCOTER — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. A few " summer." Porthgwarra monthly totals (94 west, 10 east) : Jan. 1, May 3, July 19, Aug. 22, Sept. 18, Oct. 36, Dec. 5. The main passage was from July 10th to Oct. 31st, the max. being 36 Oct. 31st. St. Ives Island monthly totals (all west) : Feb. 9, Mar. 6, Aug. 59, Sept. 3, Oct. 130, Nov. 279, Dec. 6. Most from Aug. 6th - Nov. 20th with a max. of 87 Nov. 14th. In the first winter period at Mount's Bay (max. 35), Loe Bar (c.200 Jan. 8th), Gerrans Bay (2), St. Austell Bay (10), and Whitsand Bay (15) ; also single day sightings at Newquay (2 west Feb. 11th) and Clodgy, St. Ives (one Feb. 26th). Few April records, these being almost entirely extended stays of wintering birds. The only obvious passage bird was a drake at St. John's Lake April 9th — an unusual locality for this species. Apart from the Porthgwarra record referred to above, noted in May and June only at Loe Bar where odd birds were present until August when there were 5. The first for the autumn were 7 west off Bass Point (Lizard) July 6th but away from St. Ives and Porthgwarra there was a very light passage with records from 8 localities, involving less than 100 birds. December records from Loe Bar (max. 16), Gerrans Bay (2), The Mouls, Pentire (one), Godrevy (8), and Sennen Cove (2) — much less than last year. 23 EIDER — Uncommon winter visitor. In the first winter period singles at , Helford Passage, Whitsand Bay and St. Ives but up to 8 at Carrick Roads and 2 at Padstow/Camel Estuary. Spring : St. John's Lake : a female March 6th - 19th. Marazion : an immature male April 20th. Daymer Bay : a female May 5th. Only one September sighting — one west off St. Ives Island on 28th — and none in October. In the second winter period singles at Loe Bar, St. Austell Bay, Whitsand Bay and Harlyn Bay, 2 at Gerrans Bay and St. John's Lake, but higher numbers at Carrick Roads (max. 4), Padstow/Camel Estuary (11), Godrevy (12 Dec. 3rd onwards) and St. Ives (10). Particularly out of the ordinary was one at Stithians Reservoir Dec. 10th CCB.

RUDDY DUCK — Very rare vagrant. Stithians : a female Jan. 16th - 29th SCH. GRJA et al. The first Cornish record (including Scillies) since this introduced species was admitted to the British list in 1971. However, Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge saw 2 (both immatures or females) before that date — one on Tory Pond (between Stithians and Ponsanooth) and the other at Loe Pool. The nearest breeding area to Cornwall is Chew Valley Lake (Avon) and it is more than likely that the Stithians bird originated from there or from one of the populations in the West Midlands. However, as it was first seen on the same day as the Green-winged Teal at Hayle, it is tempting to speculate that it could be a genuine vagrant from North America, both birds perhaps having crossed the Atlantic together.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER — Uncommon winter visitor (apart from Carrick Roads). Carrick Roads monthly maxima : Jan. 52, Feb. 60 + , Mar. 40, Apr. 42, Nov. 24, Dec. 55. Until April 16th (2) and from Nov. 18th (13). Very few in the first winter period : singles at St. John's Lake (Jan. 2nd & 30th), Carnsew Pool (Jan. 16th), Gweek (a drake Feb. 14th - 22nd) and Porthilly, Camel Estuary (March 4th) but at Wacker (River Lynher) in February there were 4 (1 drake) on 5th and 4 brownheads on 26th. April records : Camel Estuary : a pair 4th - 8th, 3 (2 drakes) on 10th, one brownhead on 14th. Par Spit: a drake on 8th. Hayle Estuary/Carnsew Pool: a brownhead 15th - 16th. Autumn and second winter period : Padstow/Camel Estuary: from Oct. 13th (one) until the end of the year with a max. of 20+ Nov. 26th — this was exceptional, the norm being 3 or 4. Off St. Ives Island : 2 Oct. 16th ; 6 Nov. 13th, singles on 15th & 16th ; one Dec. 18th (all west). Hayle Estuary/Carnsew Pool: 2 Oct. 21st - 30th, one Nov. 3rd - 6th 24 and then up to 4 from Nov. 25th to the end of the year. Mount's Bay : singles Oct. 31st (a drake), Nov. 26th and Dec. 17th. Long Rock Pool: one Nov. 16th. Porthleven : one flew north Nov. 19th. Tamar Lake : one Nov. 25th. Godrevy : 11 Nov. 28th. St. John's Lake : 3 Dec. 24th and probably one of these birds on River Lynher on 27th. Durgan (Helford) : one Dec. 27th. The above were brownheads unless shown otherwise.

GOOSANDER — Uncommon winter visitor. Gentle Jane (Camel Estuary) : 4 (3 drakes) Jan. 6th REW. Siblyback : from Jan. 8th (a drake) until March 11th (a drake), the max. being 8 Feb. 5th PSDJ. TRE. JCN et al; a brownhead Dec. 27th SCM. Dozmary Pool: 4 (3 drakes) Jan. 29th - 30th EG. PAM. Crowdy : up to 3 (one drake) Feb. 6th - 24th PAM. LPW. et al. but 4 (2 drakes) April 16th - 17th SMC. MB. Hayle Estuary/Carnsew Pool: a pair Nov. 19th WRH. LPW; 2 brownheads flew south-west over the Estuary Dec. 26th SCM. LPW. Loe Pool: 2 brownheads Dec. 3rd JSG. It is possible that the same group of 4 occured at the first three localities above.

SMEW — Rare winter visitor. Siblyback : a brownhead Jan. 23rd - Feb. 16th PSDJ. EG. RS.; 3 brownheads Nov. 30th into 1978 REW. MPF. et al. Porth Reservoir : a brownhead Dec. 11th into 1978 PJD. et al. Records now for four consecutive years following a seven year gap. Siblyback is proving to be a regular wintering area.

SHELDUCK — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Breeding records : Hayle Estuary : at least two broods of 6 and 7 young originally but reduced to 5 young by July 24th. Ruan Lanihorne : 40 4- young reared. Percuil River (Carrick Roads): 12 young reared. Gerrans Bay : 16 young reared. Truro—Tresillian : a pair with 10 young June 26th - July 10th. River Fowey : 15 young July 17th. River Tamar : 13 young Aug. 7th. Camel Estuary : a max. of 41 young June 28th (7 - 10 pairs bred). Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 345 May 6th, 395 (inc. 40 young) June 21st. Truro—Tresillian : 120 March 29th, 100 May 11th, 76 Nov. 27th. River Lynher : 251 Jan. 8th, 276 Mar. 5th, 134 Dec. 28th. Camel Estuary: 141 Feb. 22nd, 108 Dec. 5th. (lower numbers at River Fowey, Percuil River and St. John's Lake). Unusual reports : Porthgwarra : 3 west April 24th. Loe Pool: a drake May 14th, an immature Oct. 8th. Off St. Ives Island : 5 east Nov. 19th. Hawkstor Clay Pit (Bodmin Moor) : 2 Dec. 24th. 25 RUDDY SHELDUCK — Very rare vagrant. Ruan Lanihorne : an adult male June 11th GSG. Full details received — the first since July 1972. Although there is unfortunately always the problem of escapes with this species, the Ruan bird occurred at the right time of the year as most genuine vagrants in the last century (before wildfowl collections became popular) were recorded in mid summer.

GREYLAG GOOSE — Scarce passage migrant. Escape from feral stock ?

Siblyback : one Sept. 21st RMB. An early record, perhaps an " escape." See also Barnacle Goose.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE — Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor.

Maer Lake (Bude) : an immature Jan. 2nd - 7th GPS. FHCK. IK. Upper Tamar Reservoir : 3 flew over Jan. 3rd and landed in a field on the Devon side RDP. Siblyback : 5 (4 adults) Jan. 30th PSDJ. No second winter period records and none at Walmsley Sanctuary during the year.

BRENT GOOSE — Scarce winter visitor. Passage migrant in low numbers.

Copperhouse Creek (Hayle) : 7 (6 adults) Jan. 1st MO. Marazion Beach : 3 Jan. 3rd - 23rd ACH. et al.; 3 Sept. 10th - 11th but one on 17th & 18th DJB et al. Hayle Estuary : 2 Jan. 29th PAR. LPW. and presumbly the same birds at Feb. 2nd LPW. St. John's Lake: 12 of the pale-bellied race Jan. 30th-Feb. 13th BW.; one Nov. 20th RS. and one of the pale-bellied race Dec. 25th - 27th SCM. Padstow : 6 Nov. 16th REW. and at Porthilly the same day MGB. Rock/Camel Estuary : one Dec. 18th EGR. REW. Off St. Ives Island : 2 west Dec. 30th PP. VS. Apart from two sightings, all records were of birds of the dark-bellied race.

BARNACLE GOOSE — Rare winter visitor.

Ruan Lanihorne : one Sept. 22nd GSG. Very early and consequently tempting to suggest that it may have been an escape. However, the species has been noted in Cornwall in September before (1952 and "probables" in 1938) and the Ruan sighting was only a day later than the Siblyback Greylag — see above. Food for thought ? 26 CANADA GOOSE — Scarce visitor but possibility of escapes. River Lynher : 3 Feb. 26th Dr. Bruce Campbell; 2 Nov. 6th MT. Hayle Kimbro Pool: 2 April 14th E. Grace. Upper Tamar Reservoir : in April one on 24th but 2 on 29th. TJD. Hayle Estuary : 8 Aug. 18th - 24th JBB, SB. et al. There were also 2 at Hayle Kimbro Pool in April 1976 ; past records suggest that there may be a minor passage in the spring.

GOOSE sp. 23 flew over (Bodmin Moor) Dec. 12th SMC.

MUTE SWAN — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Attempted to breed at the following localities ; where success is known, the number of cygnets hatched is shown in parenthesis : Drift, Marazion Marsh (3 but only one reared), Loe Pool, Helston Park Lake (5 reared — the first for about nine years JSC), Gweek (7 but only 2 later) Swanpool (3 but only one reared), Stithians (4 pairs nested, 3 successfully rearing 8, 6 and 4), Truro (8), St. Just-in-Roseland, Percuil River, Par Beach Pool (5 reared), St. Andrew's Pool, Par (2 reared), Fowey (2 pairs hatched 12 and reared 11), Looe Estuary (4), Tamar Lake (6 hatched, 4 reared), Bude Canal, Amble Dam (3 reared), Egloshayle (2 reared), Newquay and Tehidy. The largest herds by far were at St. John's Lake where there were 65 Sept. 18th and 37 Oct. 15th.

WHOOPER SWAN — Scarce winter visitor. Occasionally on passage. Hayle Kimbro Pool: 5 (3 adults) Dec. 11th JSG. Walmsley Sanctuary : an adult Dec. 21st SMC.

BEWICK'S SWAN — Scarce winter visitor. Occasionally on passage. Walmsley Sanctuary : the 2 adults from 1976 remained until Jan. 3rd. IAC. ADC. et al. Nine Maidens (nr. St. Columb Major) : 2 Jan. 2nd CJ. (possibly the Walmsley birds on a day trip). Dozmary Pool: an adult Nov. 20th SMC. Crowdy : one Nov. 21st MPF. Camel Estuary : an adult Nov. 21st SMC. MB. and Dec. 21st SMC. GJHW ; 6 (2 adults) Nov. 29th REW. Siblyback : 7 (3 adults) Nov. 30th REW. Upper Tamar Reservoir : 2 Dec. 16th TJD. Obviously there is some duplication with the November records ; the Dozmary, Crowdy and Camel Estuary singles could well be the same bird and probably the 6 on the Camel moved on to Siblyback, there meeting up with the other adult.

BUZZARD — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Another good breeding season with no decreases reported. Still increasing in the Roseland district. At Relubbus (nr. Marazion) 2 young were hatched but one was thrown out of the nest. It was reared by hand and later released. 27 There were four reports of 8 soaring together but the max. was 10 at Caerhays Castle April 2nd. Hovering was noted at St. Erme (for 25 seconds' duration) and at Siblyback, serving as a reminder that this behaviour is not reserved for Rough-legged Buzzards ! On June 3rd one flew down Gover Valley, St. Austell carrying a snake in its talons. SJC. Unusual reports : Trewornan Bridge (Wadebridge) : one March 29th with an unbarred cinnamon tail PJD. Trevail (nr. St. Ives) ; a mellanistic bird flew up the valley Oct. 29th (a certain migrant). VS.

SPARROWHAWK — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. It is encouraging to be able to report that this species appears to be increasing as a breeding bird throughout the Country. " Kills" — Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, and 3 Starlings. Some evidence of migration Aug. - Oct. at Porthgwarra (up to 4) and the Camel Estuary.

GOSHAWK — Scarce passage migrant. Marazion Marsh : a male Sept. 18th E. Grace. TL. (full details received). Hayle : one found dead on the tide-line Nov. 26th, by measurements a female (wing 360mm, tail 216mm, tarsus 80mm) LPW.

MARSH HARRIER — Rare passage migrant. Stithians : a female March 12th - 19th TJSP. SCH. SP. PAM. RB. and May 5th (at Treweege) GJ. Marazion Marsh : a female/second year bird May 23rd - 24th BP. E. Grace, WRH. et al. Porthgwarra : a splendid male Sept. 17th DJB. LPW. WRH. Predannack (Lizard) : 2 flying east Sept. 17th (one female/immature and one all dark immature) EG. RS. : an immature female flew in off the sea Sept. 17th E. Grace. An exceptional number, the most for the county in any year. Note the Sept. 17th arrivals.

HEN HARRIER — Scarce winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant. Very few in the first winter period (taken as Jan. - March). Singles at Skewjack (Land's End — 2 sightings of a male), Newmill (nr. Zennor), Trewey Common and five areas of Bodmin Moor (7 sightings). There were 2 at Redhill Marsh (Bodmin Moor) March 5th. To sum up, there were only 12 sightings which involved no more than 9 birds and only one male. In April there were singles at Skewjack (a male), Hellesveor Moors (nr. St. Ives — a male), Towednack (St. Ives), The Lizard and on Bodmin Moor at Hustyn, Hawkstor and Crowdy. The latest record was a ringtail at Towednack on 23rd. Autumn : singles at Trewey Common (5 sightings), Cape Cornwall, Towednack and three areas of Bodmin Moor (including a male at Redhill Marsh) ; there were, however, 2 at Crowdy Oct. 26th - 29th 23 with 8 sightings at this locality. There could have been as few as 8 individuals involved in the autumn observations. December records : Crowdy : singles on 2nd, 3rd & 20th. Towednack : one on 4th. Siblyback : one on 15th & 18th. Tamar Lake : a male on 19th. A very poor year, particularly from the point of view of the moors of the Land's End peninsula which has been something of a winter stronghold for this species in recent years. Somewhat surprisingly, there were none at Porthgwarra in 1977.

MONTAGU'S HARRIER — Rare passage migrant. Only one record — a ringtail at Eagle's Nest VS. and Trevalgan Hill PP. November 26th and presumably the same bird at Trewey Common the following day CCB. (all three localities are on the moors between St. Ives and Land's End). We came so close to not having a single sighting in 1977, the above being a very late record indeed. This species has declined in recent years both in the county and in the country and unless there is an " about turn" in its fortunes its status will soon be " very rare vagrant." Quite a reversal in a short space of time as four pairs bred in Cornwall in 1972 !

OSPREY — Rare passage migrant but annual at the Camel Estuary. Pentargon (nr. Boscastle) : one flying south May 28th — " the fourth time I have recorded this species on passage during the summer months in the Boscastle area " RBT. Tamar Estuary : one fishing Aug. 7th - 12th EG. Camel Estuary: one (possibly 2) Aug. 19th - Sept. 11th MB. MGB. SMC et al. Hayle Estuary : one Sept. 17th circled the Estuary and flew off south­ east JCN.

HOBBY — Scarce passage migrant. Singles unless stated otherwise : Hellesveor (St. Ives) : April 3rd JBB. SB. Marazion Marsh : one flew in from the sea May 22nd BP. Sithians : May 24th & 25th and June 17th E. Grace. GWD. Goonhilly Downs : May 27th - 28th RB. From Scillonian : May 28th, heading towards Porthgwarra PAM. LPW. Pemboa (nr. Helston) : June 14th E. Grace. Soapy Cove (Lizard): June 20th E. Grace. Hayle Kimbro Pool: July 16th PAM. Loe Pool: Sept. 3rd JHM. Crowdy : an immature Sept. 4th DJB. GWD. SCH. et al. Marazion Beach : a female or immature Sept. 21st, pursuing a Turnstone JH. Debigna (nr. Helston) : 2 Sept. 28th (soaring with 2 Buzzards and 2 Sparrowhawks) E. Grace. At Porthgwarra on May 21st WRH. PAM. TJSP. Sept. 17th TJSP. and Sept. 21st (the Marazion bird ?) JH. The most records for very many years. 29 SAKER — Very rare vagrant or escapee ? Trewey Common (Zennor) : a male Sept. 17th. " This large falcon flew in off the sea with a male Peregrine and both birds continued flying over the moorland without stopping to feed, which is unusual for migrant falcons. At first glance it was obviously a large, heavy falcon which, by comparison with Peregrine, had a longer tail (faintly spotted) and much broader wings, giving the species a " heavy-shouldered" appearance in flight, instantly recognisable. The pale head was very prominant and a hair-line moustachial stripe could also be seen (bird observed at range of 40 yards). The underparts were quite pale and spotted and the underwing was more heavily marked than in Peregrine. I have seen Saker on two previous occasions in Cornwall both sightings being on the moors south-west of St. Ives. The first was a male on 4th October 1974, flying with a Merlin on passage, and the second was an immature bird on 26th October 1974 — it also flew in off the sea with a Peregrine. (On both occasions I was accompanied by P. Pearce who agreed with the identification). The latter bird hunted with the Peregrine for a while and it was interesting to compare their methods. While the Peregrine would climb high and then stoop on its prey, the Saker would fly very low and chase its prey. On each sighting my immediate impression was that I was looking at a large, Broad- winged falcon, with a much heavier, more direct flight than Peregrine, dark upperparts contrasting with a pale head." VS. This species is not yet on the British list as past records have been suspected " escapes," Sakers being frequently used in falconry. Surely the three detailed above must have been true migrants with all sightings having occured in autumn and each bird accompanying another falcon ? It would be the coincidence of all time if all three were escapes! However, it is understood that the whole issue is currently being reviewed by the Rarities Committee, following reports of this species from other parts of the country — one even turned up on a remote Scottish island, an unlikely locality for an escapee to choose. Ed. PEREGRINE — Breeds. Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Singles unless stated otherwise. In the first winter period at Hayle, Camborne, Nare Head (Gerrans), Ruan Lanihorne, St. Breward, De Lank Water Works (Bodmin Moor), Siblyback, Tamar Estuary, Crowdy, , Pentire (Polzeath) and Walmsley Sanctuary (2) — a total of 18 sightings. In March only at Towednack (St. Ives), Kynance (Lizard) and Camel Estuary ; April records from the Scillonian, Holman's Moors (St. Ives), Hell's Mouth (nr. Godrevy) and Camel Estuary ; in May only at Marazion on 1st & 16th. A few summer records, one pair raising 3 young. Apparently a good autumn passage with records from 26 localities from August to mid-November, probably involving 30-40 birds. There were sightings from Land's End to Bude but most records came from Porthgwarra, Marazion, Hayle, Stithians, Camel Estuary and Crowdy. In the second winter period at Marazion Marsh, St. Ives, Hayle Estuary, Camborne North Cliffs, Goonhilly, Four Lanes (Redruth), Portscatho, Camel Estuary (2), Pentire (Polzeath), Lundy Cove, River Tamar and on Bodmin Moor at Rough Tor and Ninestones (19 sightings). " Kills " : Marazion Marsh : an immature took a Wood Sandpiper Aug. 25th. Stithians : one took a Dunlin Sept. 9th. Ruan Lanihorne : an immature male took a Dunlin Nov. 6th.

MERLIN — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Noted in all months apart from June and August. Singles unless stated otherwise. In the first winter period (January - mid March) at Porthgwarra, Nanjizal (Land's End), Newlyn, Hayle Estuary, Stithians, Porthholland (Veryan Bay), Trebetherick, Camel Estuary (2), Crowdy, and 4 areas on Bodmin Moor (18 sightings, probably at least 15 birds involved). From mid March to April at Nanjizal, Nanquidno (nr. St. Just), Marazion Marsh, Hayle Kimbro Pool. Caerthillian (Lizard), Stithians, St. Ives and Amalveor Moors (St. Ives). At the last locality a male took a Skylark April 2nd. The only May records were at Marazion Marsh — one on 2nd & 23rd — and there was only one July sighting — an immature flew in off the sea at St. Ives and took a Linnet on 24th. The first for the autumn was at Crowdy Sept. 2nd (a male) and from then on the species was noted at 19 localities, mainly the Land's End and Lizard areas and Bodmin Moor. There were at least 2 at Crowdy and Porthgwarra (Oct. 8th - 22nd). Very few in the second winter period (mid November onwards) ; recorded at Scorrier (Redruth), Egloshayle (Wadebridge), Camel Estuary (2), Crowdy and (2). Apparently absent from the moors of the Land's End Peninsula in this period.

KESTREL — Breeds, Resident. Probably a passage migrant. Although there were numerous sightings from all parts of the county, some observers reported a decrease (as in 1976). e.g. " Numbers down this year " VS. (the St. Ives area). " Few seen in the Carrick area " PSC. 31 " A sharp decline in sightings on the estate this year " BGE. (Antony House). However SMC. says that it is " at least holding its own if not increasing in both mid and north Cornwall." In the Lizard area 9 at Bass Point and 2 at Church Cove Sept. 19th may have been on passage.

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE — Status uncertain (is there a very small resident population in the county ?). Porthgwarra : one March 24th HPKR. Tregurtha Downs () : one calling April 3rd and one seen in a small garden April 16th RMP.

PARTRIDGE — Breeds. Resident. Fairly widespread but fewer records from the east of the county. Bred at The Lizard, Trelonk (Ruan) and Bude. At High Street (St. Austell) on Oct. 31st one entered a garden and fed with poultry. SJC. The max. was 16 at Scadghill Farm (Bude) Oct. 12th.

QUAIL — Scarce passage migrant. Occasionally breeds. Near Tresillian : one June 26th E. Grace. Trevalgan Hill (St. Ives) : one Sept. 3rd PP. VS. Bass Point (Lizard): one Sept. 19th E. Grace.

PHEASANT — Breeds. Resident. Few records received but no doubt as widespread as ever.

CRANE — Very rare vagrant. The 4 recorded at Nanjizal (nr. Land's End) at the end of 1976 remained until Jan. 8th.

WATER RAIL — Breeds ? Passage migrant. Winter visitor. No breeding season records. First and last dates : Marazion Marsh : one March 27th ; at least one Aug. 19th. Very few noted on autumn passage. Unusual reports : St. Just-in-Roseland : a remarkably tame bird frequented a small pond in the Churchyard until Feb. 25th (presumably it was the same bird which was noted again from mid October onwards). LSP. EMP. St. Stephen (St. Austell) : one was caught by a cat Nov. 30th and died later.

SPOTTED CRAKE — Scarce passage migrant (mainly autumn). Marazion Marsh : singles Aug. 14th (trapped) BP. Aug 23rd (trapped) DSF. NJP. PDR. and Aug. 27th NJP. 32 CORNCRAKE — Rare passage migrant, (perhaps occasionally breeds).

Nr. St. Agnes : one seen and heard several times during the first two weeks of June RB. but at least 2 (one seen and one heard) July 3rd DJB. SCH ; one remained until Aug. 8th. The first since 1973.

MOORHEN — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor.

Breeding records received from 14 localities. Highest numbers : Marazion Marsh : 27 Jan. 29th ; 35 Feb. 10th & 11th. Sladesbridge : 28 Oct. 1st.

COOT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Bred at Drift, Marazion Marsh, Loe Pool (5 pairs), Stithians (at least 4 pairs), Par Pool, Siblyback, Tamar Lake and Upper Tamar Reservoir. Maximum numbers : Loe Pool: 90 Jan. 30th, 87 Nov. 11th, 82 Dec. 19th. Stithians : 210 Feb. 11th, 144 Sept. 28th, 235 Nov. 30th. Siblyback : 70 + Jan. 30th. Crowdy : 66 Feb. 16th, 70 Oct. 15th - 22nd.

OYSTERCATCHER — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Bred at Widemouth Bay and north of Duckpool and possibly at the Rumps (Polzeath) and Mevagissey. Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 150 June 23rd, 106 Sept. 2nd. Ruan Lanihorne : 73 May 18th, 224 Aug. 5th. Camel Estuary: 429 Jan. 17th, 452 Aug. 11th, 455 Oct. 28th, 433 Dec. 24th. Rock/Daymer Bay : 600 Sept. 25th - 30th. Inland records : Upper Tamar Reservoir : one Sept. 3rd. Culdrose : 5 Sept. 22nd. Drift: 4 Nov. 26th.

LAPWING — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

More positive breeding. records than in 1976 with at least 24 pairs on Bodmin Moor and " several pairs " near the Lizard. Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 4500 Dec. 22nd. Camel Estuary : c.4000 Jan. 25th, c.4700 Dec. 31st. De Lank Water Works (Bodmin Moor) : 4000 + Feb. 12th. : 4000+ Jan. 23rd. Very common in both winter periods. 33 RINGED PLOVER — Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 75 Jan. 28th, 250 Aug. 20th, 140 Oct. 12th. Ruan Lanihorne : 120 Aug. 26th. Inland records : Now being recorded regularly at most reservoirs in the county, the max. being 22 at Stithians Sept. 28th. Recorded in every month of the year at Camel Estuary.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER — Uncommon passage migrant.

All sightings were of singles : Copperhouse (Hayle) : April 29th - May 1st LPW. PAR. Tamar Lake : June 2nd FHCK. IK. Trevorrian (Land's End) June 2nd HPKR. Marazion Marsh : an immature Aug. 21st DSF. HPKR. Hayle Estuary : Sept. 10th PSC. Marazion Beach : an immature Sept. 20th E. Grace.

GREY PLOVER — Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 66 Jan. 8th, 114 Feb. 20th, 38 March 19th. Camel Estuary : 180 Feb. 11th - 12th, 243 March 4th. Ballast Pond (Torpoint): 83 March 5th. Once again noted at Ruan Lanihorne in every month but otherwise the first and last records were : Camel Estuary : one May 20th. Marazion Marsh : one in summer plumage but with a damaged leg stayed until May 22nd. Hayle Estuary : one June 4th - 7th. Inland records : Stithians : 2 Sept. 19th, one Oct. 4th. Siblyback : one Sept. 26th. At Porthgwarra there were singles Jan. 2nd & 3rd, June 11th (west) and Sept. 17th (west).

GOLDEN PLOVER — Breeds? Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

For the second year running 2 pairs were present on Bodmin Moor throughout the summer but there was no proof of breeding. Maximum numbers : Camel Estuary: 1750+ Jan. 7th, c.3000 Nov. 25th, 2000+ Dec. 15th. Siblyback: 3000+ Jan. 23rd, 3500 Feb. 5th, c.1100 Dec. 27th. Davidstow : 2000 Feb. 22nd, 3200 Oct. 6th, 3800 Dec. 24th. River Tamar : 3000+ Dec. 15th. Very common and widespread in both winter periods. First and last records : Davidstow : 13 in summer plumage May 17th (of the northern race ' altifrons '). Stithians : singles in summer plumage June 30th and July 31st. 34 DOTTEREL — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Tamar Lake : 2 Sept. 9th FHCK. IK. Porthgwarra : 2 Sept. 15th LPW. but 2 different birds Sept. 17th - 20th MO.

TURNSTONE — Passage migrant Winter visitor. A few "summer." Maximum numbers : Marazion Beach : c.200 April 20th, c.450 May 5th. Hannafore (Looe) : 100 Jan. 9th and March 9th. Ballast Pond (Torpoint) : 119 April 9th. Inland records : Drift : one Aug. 21st. Crowdy : singles Aug. 31st and Oct. 1st. Trewey Common (nr. Zennor): 8 Sept. 3rd.

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER — Rare vagrant. Tamar Lake : 2 Oct. 7th - 15th and one Oct. 23rd TJD. SMC. et al. (Accepted by Rarities Committee). Sightings now in four out of the last five years.

DOWITCHER sp. Stithians: one Oct. 1st - 3rd (probably Long-Billed) GWD. CCB. SP. (Accepted by Rarities Committee).

SNIPE — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Breeding season records only from Bodmin Moor where there were at least 16 pairs. Maximum numbers : Copperhouse (Hayle) : 55 Dec. 24th, 74 Dec. 26th. Walmsley Sanctuary : 75 Jan. 10th. Siblyback : 100+ Jan. 23rd, 103 Dec. 26th. Tamar Lake : 78 Feb. 6th, 226 Feb. 27th. Noted in every month at Stithians. One there Oct. 22nd had the usual dark plumage markings but the base colour was a washed out fawn/buff.

JACK SNIPE — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Drift : one Jan. 4th but 2 on 8th. Gannel Saltings (Newquay) : one Jan. 8th. Siblyback : singles Jan. 8th & 23rd and Dec. 26th. Wacker (River Lynher) : 2 Jan. 30th and singles Feb. 26th, March 13th and Nov. 6th - Dec. 11th. Walmsley Sanctuary : one Feb. 11th, 2 Oct. 25th. Stithians : singles Feb. 19th, March 2nd and Sept. 26th - Oct. 7th. Copperhouse (Hayle) : singles March 29th, Nov. 6th and Dec. 4th - 26th but 2 Nov. 29th. Marazion Marsh : one Sept. 22nd. Crowdy : one Dec. 3rd. Roscroggan (Camborne) : 3 Dec. 20th. 35 WOODCOCK — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. In the first winter period singles at Bussow Moor, (St. Ives), Scorrier Woods, Halviggan (St. Austell), , Callington, St. Breward, Downs, Crowdy and Lydcott Wood (nr. Looe), but 5 at Penrose (Helston) Jan. 1st. In autumn and the second winter period singles at Lelant, Porkellis Moor, Trelander (Truro), St. Minver, and Crowdy but there were up to 3 at Porthgwarra and good " bags " were obtained at Treloweth Woods (St. Erth). Not recorded between March 14th (Warleggan Downs) and Oct. 8th (Porthgwarra).

CURLEW — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Breeding season records from Bodmin Moor (at least 26 pairs), Redmoor () and Goonhilly Downs (3 or 4 pairs). Very common and widespread throughout the county at all times of the year. Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 700 Sept. 17th. Ruan Lanihorne : 1300 July 23rd, 800 Aug. 26th. Tresillian : 800 Aug. 26th, 470+ Sept. 2nd. Camel Estuary: 640 March 2nd, 1000+ July 23rd and Sept. 7th.

WHIMBREL — Passage migrant. A few "winter." No records received of any wintering birds in either winter period. The first were 3 at Camel Estuary April 13th and most arrived during the next two weeks. It was a very heavy spring passage, the species being noted all over the county. The max. were 85 at Gerrans Bay April 24th — a separate flock of 52 flew in off the sea at Veryan Bay the same day — and 190 at Camel Estuary May 5th. Autumn passage began with one moving west at Clodgy (St. Ives) July 10th. There were records of small numbers in autumn from most of the estuaries and reservoirs. 20 was exceeded only at Camel Estuary where the max. was 50 July 23rd. The last was a single at Camel Estuary Oct. 25th. At Porthgwarra there were at least 47 in spring (April 23rd - May 8th) but none in autumn.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 250 Jan. 30th, 200 Aug. 26th, 213 Nov. 20th. Tresillian/Truro : 100 Aug. 27th, 122 Oct. 9th, 93 Nov. 27th. River Lynher : 98 Feb. 6th, 120 Oct. 23rd, 189 Nov. 12th. Millbrook Lake : 132 Nov. 26th. St. John's Lake : 100 Feb. 5th. River Tamar : 80 Aug. 13th, most being in summer plumage. First and last dates : Stithians : one in summer plumage June 1st. Tresillian : 8 in summer plumage June 27th. Inland records : Croft Pascoe : one in summer plumage April 16th. Stithians : singles June 1st, June 27th, July 15th and one or more Aug. 18th -Sept. 6th. 36 BAR-TAILED GODWIT — Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 45 Jan. 28th. Camel Estuary : 60+ Jan. 15th, 60 March 2nd, 48 April 1st. St. John's Lake : 35 Feb. 13th, 32 April 2nd, 40 Oct. 15th. Noted at Camel Estuary in every month. Elsewhere the first and last sightings were at Ruan Lanihorne — 4 June 7th ; one Aug. 13th. Inland records : Stithians : 2 flying south-east May 24th. Crowdy : one Sept. 3rd. Is this species being under-recorded or is it genuinely decreasing both on passage and in winter ?

GREEN SANDPIPER — Passage migrant. A few "winter."

In the first winter period at Camel Estuary/Egloshayle, where there were up to 6, and a single at Stithians village Feb. 13th. Spring records : Egloshayle: 2 or 3 March 1st - April 13th. (probably the wintering birds). Ryan's Field (Hayle) : one May 15th. In autumn there were low numbers at most of the reservoirs and estuaries. The first was one at Croft Pascoe (Lizard) June 19th and the largest numbers were 6 at Stithians Aug. 1st and 6 at Crowan Aug. 13th. The total number of autumn passage birds was much lower than in 1976. Second winter period (Nov. & Dec). Camel Estuary/Egloshayle : up to 3 from Nov. 3rd into 1978. Newham (Truro): one Nov. 4th. Copperhouse (Hayle): one Nov. 19th. Loe Pool: one Nov. 25th. At Porthgwarra there was one Aug. 29th.

WOOD SANDPIPER — Uncommon passage migrant (mainly autumn).

Singles unless stated otherwise : Mitchell (nr. Truro): April 2nd - 9th. Marazion Marsh: May 10th - 13th, but a different bird on 19th ; June 1st - 2nd and 19th - 20th ; July 10th - Sept. 28th with a max. of 5 Aug. 7th & 18th. Ruan Lanihorne : June 17th and Aug. 15th. Stithians: July 15th-Sept. 30th with a max. of 11 Aug. 18th. Drift: July 31st. Crowan : Aug. 1st (2) - Sept. 7th (one) with a max. of 4 Sept. 3rd. Camel Estuary : Aug. 1st. Copperhouse : (Hayle) : Aug. 1st - 4th when found dead ; one Aug. 29th. Croft Pascoe (Lizard): June 12th, 21st and Aug. 6th. Upper Tamar Reservoir : 2 Aug. 13th - 14th. Tamar Lake : up to 4 Aug. 9th - Sept. 1st. Hayle Estuary : Sept. 9th. 37 COMMON SANDPIPER — Passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. First winter period (Jan. & Feb.): Camel Estuary : one or 2 Jan. 10th onwards. Looe Estuary : one Jan. 9th. Helford River : one Jan. 27th. The first for the spring were singles at Hayle Estuary and St. John's Lake but 5 at Dozmary Pool April 16th. A widespread but small spring passage. In autumn the first were 3 at Stithians July 8th and there were then numerous sightings until early October. Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 16 July 24th. Stithians : 27 July 31st, 30+ Aug. 18th. In the second winter period (Nov. & Dec.) there were singles at Hayle Estuary, Stithians, Maenporth, Egloshayle, East Looe, and Tamar Lake but 2 at Gillan Creek (Helford).

REDSHANK — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. One was seen displaying at Croft Pascoe (Lizard) June 11th but breeding not suspected. There were, as usual, sightings right through the year with a number of June records. Maximum numbers : Tresillian River : c.100 Sept. 2nd, 165 Nov. 20th, 120 Dec. 7th. Tresemple Pool (Tresillian): 120+ perched on the lower branches of a fallen tree at high tide Oct. 23rd. Ruan Lanihorne : 384 Oct. 2nd, 175 Nov. 13th. Camel Estuary: 250 Jan. 3rd, Aug. 15th and Sept. 27th - Oct. 25th; 182 Dec. 17th. Ringing records : Camel Estuary : one trapped Aug. 28th had been ringed at Southport May 31st 1977. Pinkson Cove (Camel Estuary) : 2 trapped Aug. 28th were of the Icelandic race " robusta." SPOTTED REDSHANK — Passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. In the first winter period (Jan. & Feb.) at Hayle Estuary (one), Tresillian (9), Camel Estuary (2), River Lynher (2), St. John's Lake (one) and Millbrook Lake (2). On spring passage noted in small numbers (mainly ones and twos) at most of the estuaries and reservoirs in the county. A heavier autumn passage, the largest numbers being at Ruan Lanihorne where there were 45 July 16th, 14 July 30th and 32 Aug. 5th. In the second winter period (Nov. & Dec.) at Hayle Estuary (one), Tresillian (9), Port Navas (one), Camel Estuary (one) and River Lynher (10). Recorded in every month of the year with some birds in summer plumage. GREENSHANK — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. There were low numbers in both winter periods at most of the estuaries and reservoirs in Cornwall and the spring and autumn passage was about normal for the species. Recorded in every month of 1977. Maximum numbers : St. John's Lake : 9 Jan. 16th, 17 Aug. 14th, 18 Oct. 23rd. Camel Estuary : 30 Aug. 12th, 25 Aug. 22nd. At Porthgwarra one flew south-west Aug. 29th. 38 KNOT — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : St. John's Lake : 380 Jan. 9th, 350 Dec. 28th. Cargreen : c.250 Feb. 26th. Elsewhere in winter only at Camel Estuary where there were 2 Feb. 24th. Spring records : Camel Estuary : 3 March 4th, 8 March 8th - April 1st. Gerrans Bay : one April 10th. Marazion Beach/Marsh : 2 May 5th, one in summer plumage June 4th. The first for the autumn was a summer plumaged bird at Camel Estuary July 14th and there followed a thin but widespread passage. The highest numbers were c.40 at Camel Estuary Sept. 6th and 20 at Hayle Estuary Aug. 30th. PURPLE SANDPIPER — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Recorded in both winter periods in low numbers (i.e. less than 20) at many localities. Highest totals : Looe : 20 Jan. 30th, 70+ Feb. 21st. Marazion Beach : 25 + May 6th. Penzance : 18 Dec. 19th. First and last dates : Porthgwarra : 16+ May 21st. St. Ives : 6 Oct. 1st. LITTLE STINT — Passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Only two records for the first winter period — a single at Camel Estuary remained until March 16th and the Stithians' bird referred to in the 1976 Report was last seen Jan. 3rd. The only spring sighting was a single at Marazion Marsh May 17th - 25th. Autumn records : Stithians : Aug. 1st (one) - Nov. 2nd (one) with a max. of 7 Sept. 19th (probably 20+ birds involved). Marazion Marsh: singles Aug. 8th - 12th, Sept. 10th, Sept. 17th - 25 th and Oct. 22nd. Hayle Estuary : singles Aug. 10th, Sept. 1st & 18th, but 2 Sept 24th. Copperhouse (Hayle) : one Aug. 29th, 2 Sept. 19th - 23rd. Siblyback : one Sept. 7th, 21st & 23rd. Crowdy : 4 Sept. 22nd. Camel Estuary : one Sept. 23rd, 2 Oct. 1st. Ruan Lanihorne : one Oct. 2nd. A rather thin autumn passage after five good years. PECTORAL SANDPIPER — Vagrant. Copperhouse (Hayle) : one Aug. 22nd — it was flushed by a dog and flew strongly south-east, possibly towards Stithians. LPW. Stithians: one Aug. 31st-Sept. 1st, 3 Sept. 2nd - 9th and 2 remaining until 13th. GWD. SCH. E. Grace, et al. Crowdy : one Sept. 3rd EG. RS. Siblyback : one Sept. 14th - 22nd RMB. EG. GSG. RS. et al. Marazion Marsh : 2 Sept. 24th PSC. SR. one Sept. 28th CCB. Ruan Lanihorne : one Oct. 2nd GSG. Porthgwarra : one Nov. 5th GSG. WRH. HPKR. Surprisingly the first in the county since 1974. 39 DUNLIN — Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 600+ Jan. 28th, c.1000 Dec. 11th. Ruan Lanihorne : c.2300 Jan. 2nd, 1800 Dec. 10th. Camel Estuary : 1500 Jan. 10th - 17th, 1400 Dec. 9th. St. John's Lake : 3000+ Feb. 13th. Ballast Pond (Torpoint) : 1800 Jan. 29th. Inland records : Noted at Stithians in every month of the year with a max. of 65 Sept. 7th. Also recorded at most of the reservoirs in Cornwall in small numbers, especially in autumn. Ringing recoveries : One ringed at Rock Aug. 15th 1976 was shot at Ria-de-Aveira, Portugal Nov. 7th 1976. One ringed at Rock Aug. 30th 1977 was controlled at Brownsea Island, Dorset Sept. 26th 1977.

CURLEW SANDPIPER — Uncommon passage migrant, (mainly autumn).

In spring only at Marazion Marsh/Beach — singles May 12th (in summer plumage), May 15th/16th (in partial s.p.), May 23rd (in s.p.) and June 3rd (in partial s.p.) but 2 June 2nd (one in s.p. and one in winter plumage). Autumn records : Hayle Estuary : July 31st (3) — Oct. 23rd (one) with a max. of 4 Sept. 1st. Marazion Marsh : Aug. 16th (6 — the max.) — Aug. 28th (4). Stithians : 2 Aug. 20th, one on 21st and 27th - 29th ; one Sept 20th ; one Oct. 8th & 17th. Copperhouse (Hayle) : one Aug. 29th. Davidstow Airfield: up to 10 Sept. 2nd-11th, one Nov. 5th - 11th. Crowdy : 8 Sept. 3rd, 12 Sept. 7th. River Fowey : one Sept. 10th. Camel Estuary: Sept. 19th (2) — Nov. 3rd (one) with a max. of 8 + Sept. 27th. Ruan Lanihorne : 3 Oct. 2nd, one on 11th ; 2 Nov. 6th.

SANDERLING — Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Maximum numbers : Marazion Beach: 30+ Feb. 8th, 80+ May 5th, c.50 Sept. 18th. Daymer Bay (nr. Rock) : 42 Aug. 30th & 31st. First and last dates : Marazion Beach : 16 in summer plumage June 7th, one June 8th. Gwithian : 4 July 28th. Inland records : Crowdy : one Sept. 8th. Yet again few records received — this species will soon acquire an inferiority complex! 40 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER — Rare vagrant.

Porthgwarra : Aug. 31st (one) — Sept 25th (one) with a max. of 4 Sept. 4th MO. (Possibly as many as 8 birds involved). Crowdy : one Sept. 3rd - 7th MPF. FHCK. IK. Predannack (Lizard): 5 Sept. 10th, 2 on 11th, 3 on 17th RMB. EG. JCN. RS. (All accepted by Rarities Committee). The first since 4 at Stithians in Sept. 1973.

RUFF — Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

First winter period : Camel Estuary : one Jan. 7th, one Feb. 11th. Landulph Marsh : 5 Feb. 26th. Spring : Hayle Kimbro Pool: one March 5th but 3 on 27th. Hayle Estuary : one March 26th - 27th, one April 2nd - 3rd. Copperhouse (Hayle) : 2 March 31st, one April 2nd - 10th. Crowdy : one (a reeve) May 1st. A well scattered autumn passage, the first being at Ruan Lanihorne July 16th. Maximum numbers : Marazion Marsh : 8 Aug. 23rd - 25th. Lizard : 12 Aug. 26th, flying east. Stithians : 17 Aug. 26th. Camel Estuary : 12 Sept. 25th. Loe Pool: 6 Oct. 1st. Ruan Lanihorne : 12 Oct. 2nd. Second winter period : Ruan Lanihorne : one Nov. 6th. Davidstow Airfield : 2 Nov. 5th - 11th, one Dec. 19th - 24th. Culdrose : one Dec. 11th. It seems to be decreasing as a winter visitor, perhaps as a result of the recent spate of mild winters.

AVOCET — Winter visitor. Rare passage migrant.

Newham (Truro) : one Jan. 30th - Feb. 1st — (probably the bird noted at Ruan in late 1976). Tamar Estuary: 61 Feb, 20th, 58 on 27th; 36 Dec. 11th, 66 on 15th, 35 on 29th.

GREY PHALAROPE — Uncommon passage migrant.

Swanpool: one Jan. 22nd EG. RS. ; one Dec. 11th - 12th SP. St. Ives Island : one Sept. 28th : one Oct. 1st, 5 on 16th ; in November 19 on 12th, 32 on 13th, 2 on 15th, 3 on 18th, 10 on 20th ; (all flying west). MO. Navax Point (Godrevy) : one west Oct. 31st TRP. Porthgwarra : 2 west Dec. 11th HPKR. 11 WILSON'S PHALAROPE — Very rare vagrant.

Hayle Estuary : one Aug. 30th VS. and one Sept. 4th RMB. JCN. Crowdy/Siblyback : one Sept. 2nd - 21st SMC. EG. RS. et al.; this bird was located at Davidstow Airfield and it remained in the vicinity of the airfield and Crowdy reservoir until Sept. 8th when it moved to Siblyback where, apart from an excursion to Crowdy on the 10th, it stayed until the 21st. The last was at Stithians in Sept. 1971.

GREAT SKUA — Passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.

St. Ives Island monthly totals (all flying west) : Jan. 1, Mar. 1, Aug. 2, Sept. 2, Oct. 15, Nov. 595, Dec. 18. Singles Jan. 15th and March 9th and then regularly Aug. 20th (one) — Dec. 30th (one). The max. was an incredible 488 Nov. 12th — a record for the county, more than doubling the previous best daily total. Other records : Porthgwarra : singles west Jan. 30th, July 10th & 24th, Sept. 24th. R.M.V. Scillonian : one June 11th; 2 Aug. 27th; 3 Sept. 3rd, 4 on 24th ; one Oct. 8th, 5 on 14th. : one Aug. 7th. Navax Point (Godrevy) : 4 Oct. 1st & 31st ; 12 Nov. 12th, 2 on 13th. (almost certainly duplication with the St. Ives' birds apart from the 4 Oct. 31st).

POMARINE SKUA — Uncommon passage migrant.

St. Ives Island : singles Aug. 20th, 25th & 27th, Sept. 6th, Oct. 1st, 2nd & 31st but 4 Nov. 12th (all flying west). Navax Point (Godrevy) : singles Aug. 21st, 27th & 31st, Nov. 12th & 13th. Porthgwarra : an immature west Sept. 4th.

ARCTIC SKUA — Passage migrant.

St. Ives Island monthly totals (all flying west): Aug. 78, Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Nov. 49. Aug. 7th (one) — Nov. 14th (3) with a max. of c. 65 Aug. 27th, a Cornish record for a single day. Other records : Porthgwarra ; 4 April 30th, singles May 7th, Aug. 24th and Oct. 11th (all west). Par : one April 22nd. Crinnis Beach (St. Austell) : an adult (pale phase) flew inland July 6th. Porthkidney (Hayle): one Aug. 21st. R.M.V. Scillonian : one Aug. 27th. Navax Point (Godrevy) : 4 Aug. 27th ; one Sept. 29th ; 2 Oct. 1st, one on 31st; 4 Nov. 12th. Cant Hill (Camel Estuary) one Sept. 2nd, flying towards the sea. 42 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. 20 pairs bred at Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) and there were also breeding records from Mousehole, Penzance, The Rumps (Pentire), The Mouls (Pentire), Long Island (Tintagel), Lye Rock (Tintagel), Grenver Rocks (nr. Padstow) and Duckpool (nr. Bude). Nested on roof tops at Mousehole and Penzance. Maximum numbers : Drift: c.1000 Jan. 13th. Mount's Bay : 775 Nov. 25th. Ruan Lanihorne : 250 Oct. 11th, 610 Oct. 30th. Par Beach 220 Jan. 6th, 450+ Sept. 29th - Oct. 13th. Camel Estuary : 572 Jan. 25th, 650 March 4th, 684 Nov. 24th. Looe Island : c.400 Feb. 10th.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. 6 pairs bred at Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) and 4 or 5 pairs at Sandymouth — Stanbury Mouth. The only other breeding record received was from Tintagel. Maximum numbers : Marazion Beach : 500-600 March 27th, 70 Nov. 18th. Hayle Estuary: 330 Feb. 6th, 375 March 11th, 80+ Dec. 18th. Ruan Lanihorne : 88 Jan. 15th, 125 Feb. 27th. Camel Estuary : 267 March 16th. Birds showing characteristics of the Scandinavian race " fuscus :" 2 at Harlyn Bay March 12th.

HERRING GULL — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Roof-nesting at Falmouth (15 pairs), Porthleven (2 young) and presumably in many other areas. Maximum numbers : Mount's Bay : 1310 Nov. 25th. Loe Bar : c.660 Oct. 14th. Camel Estuary : 1950 Feb. 24th, 600 Aug. 12th, 2000 Dec. 2nd.

COMMON GULL — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. A few " summer." Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 500 + Feb. 5th. Loe Pool: 450 Feb. 5th. Stithians : c.300 March 2nd, 170+ Nov. 20th, 700+ Dec. 18th. Ruan Lanihorne : 350 Dec. 10th. River Fowey : 1200 Feb. 14th, 3600 March 3rd, 885 Dec. 13th. Cant Cove (Camel Estuary) : 550 Feb. 24th. No records for May or June. The first autumn birds were 2 adults at Stithians July 17th.

GLAUCOUS GULL — Uncommon winter visitor. Newlyn : a 3rd/4th winter bird noted regularly Jan. 1st - April 10th ; one Jan. 8th - 9th and Feb. 5th (1st winter) ; one Jan. 22nd and Feb. 20th - March 20th (2nd) but a different 2nd winter bird April 16th ; one Feb. 26th (4th winter): 43 a 4th winter bird Dec. 29th. Marazion Beach/Marsh : one Feb. 20th - April 8th (1st winter) ; one March 26th - 27th (3rd): one Dec. 17th - 29th (1st winter). Eastern Green Beach (Penzance) : one March 26th (2nd winter) ; one Dec. 30th (1st). (There is obviously some duplication here with birds moving about in Mount's Bay, combined with the difficulty of ageing " white" gulls). Elsewhere : Pennance Point (Falmouth) : one Jan. 22nd (2nd winter). Maenporth : one Jan. 24th (1st). Swanpool: one March 12th •& April 7th (1st). Hayle Estuary: a 2nd winter bird April 10th - 11th and April 16th - 23rd. St. Ives : one March 19th (2nd), one Dec. 12th - 25th (1st). There have now been two consecutive very good years for this northern visitor.

ICELAND GULL — Scarce winter visitor.

Maenporth/Swanpool: the usual adult Jan. 14th - March 14th GWD. et al. St. Ives : a first winter bird Feb. 5th PP. VS.; a first winter bird Dec. 16th - 24th WRH. et al. PDR. commented as follows on the December bird at St. Ives : " Although it had the typical head shape and small bill of Iceland with long wings and white primaries, it had a broad but faint terminal band to the tail formed by heavy spots on the individual rectrices. This was visible at about half a mile range and immediately made me think of hybrid Glaucous/Herrings. However, all the hybrid gulls or leucistric Herring Gulls I have seen have had a fairly typical Herring Gull shape. I can only think that this bird was an aberrant plumaged Iceland. Either that, or a new line in hybrids is turning up (Herring/ Iceland perhaps ?)."

MEDITERRANEAN GULL — Uncommon visitor (mainly winter).

Marazion Beach/Marsh : single adults Jan. 8th, Feb. 5th, March 20th (summer plumage), Nov. 8th ; 2 sub-adults April 3rd. Newlyn : an adult Jan. 22nd - Feb. 27th and also a 2nd winter bird and one in partial summer plumage Feb. 26th ; 2 sub-adults March 16th ; 4 March 20th (an adult, a sub-adult, 2 2nd year birds) ; one March 21st (2nd year) ; 2 April 8th (2nd year). Penzance : 2 March 20th (2nd year) at Wherrytown ; a sub-adult April 3rd at the station. (As with the Glaucous Gull records there is bound to be some duplication with the above Mount's Bay observations). Elsewhere : Drift : single adults Jan. 15th and Nov. 26th. Hayle Estuary/Carnsew : an adult Jan. 9th - Feb. 28th ; one March 26th-April 2nd (2nd year); 2 sub-adults April 11th; an adult Nov. 6th and Dec. 26th - 29th ; a badly oiled adult Dec. 24th. Swanpool: single adults Jan. 16th, March 26th and Nov. 26th. Ruan Lanihorne : single adults Jan. 30th and Feb. 27th (in summer 44 plumage) ; an adult in partial summer plumage March 27th ; one Nov. 27th (1st year). Ventonleague (Hayle) : an adult Feb. 10th. Carrick Roads : an immature March 24th. Stithians : single adults in summer plumage July 16th and Sept. 27th. Mylor Harbour : an adult Aug. 31st. St. Ives : an adult Sept. 24th and Dec. 12th ; 2 adults flying west Nov. 13th.

LAUGHING GULL — Very rare vagrant. St. Ives : a first winter bird Dec. 10th - 25th VS. PP. and at least 100 als (it also put in an appearance at Hayle Estuary and Copperhouse and turned up again at Newlyn in Jan. 1978). " At Lambath Walk, St. Ives on the morning of December 10th Philip Pearce and I noticed a rather small dark gull sitting on the sea with Black-headed Gulls ; the most noticeable feature was the very long wings extending well beyond the tail, giving the bird a somewhat tilted effect when sitting on the sea with the tail end looking high and the front looking as though it was dipped into the water. The head and neck was a very dark grey, with forehead and eyelids whitish grey ; there was a distinctive pale grey eye ring, the crown was grey and the throat and breast a pale grey. The head and neck looked smallish but the bill was quite large for the small head and it also had an unusual shape being rounded at the end of the upper mandible with the lower mandible starting at another angle just back from the upper mandible. The neck and breast was a mottled grey-brown with a pectoral demarcation line below which was white (this is a very important distinguishing feature in flight). The mantle and upper-wings were very dark grey with dark grey brown secondaries, long black primaries ; the wing from carpal joint to tip was very long (when in flight the whole upper wing area looked very dark). The trailing edge of the wing was white and when in flight could clearly be seen. The underside of the wing was very pale grey with faint blackish smudges on the axillaries. The tail and a small part of the rump was white with a very broad black band to the tail, again a very prominent feature. The white under-parts continued through from pectoral band to the black tail band — a prominent feature when viewing from below. When at rest on the beach the long black legs were very noticeable and also the long wings projected well beyond the tail. (In flight it was a very long-winged bird with contrasting white tail and black band). In a whole week the plumage changed slightly with more white on the head, and the grey mantle and upper-wings a lighter grey. An easy bird to identify ; it usually associated with Black headed Gulls." VS. The first for the Cornish mainland and the 12th for Britain, (the first "all Cornwall" record was on the Scillies on 31st Oct. 1967).

LITTLE GULL — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. In the first winter period (Jan. & Feb.) at Newlyn (one), Marazion Marsh (one or 2), St. Ives (max. 5 Feb. 13th) and St. John's Lake (one). Spring records were all from west Cornwall — Porthgwarra, Drift, Newlyn, Marazion, Hayle Estuary, Copperhouse and St. Ives. There 45 were very low numbers (only ones and twos) and the last was an immature at Marazion Marsh May 14th. The first for the autumn was an immature at Par Beach Aug. 21st and there were about average numbers away from St. Ives with records from seven localities. The highest totals by far were at St. Ives — 22 Nov. 13th, 14 onl5th (all west). In the second winter period (mid Nov. onwards) noted at Marazion Marsh (one), Perranuthnoe (one), St. Ives (max. 12 Dec. 12th), Godrevy (2), Stithians (an adult Nov. 20th — unusual here), Maenporth (one) and Siblyback (one). At Porthgwarra there were single immatures April 3rd and Sept. 24th.

BLACK-HEADED GULL — Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 2100 Feb. 19th, 2300 July 16th, 3500 Aug. 5th. Tresillian : c.1200 Aug. 14th, 1800 Sept. 2nd. River Fowey : 3500 March 3rd. Camel Estuary : 4710 Feb. 24th, 3625 Aug. 16th, 4000 Nov. 7th, 5400 Dec. 4th. The first juvenile was at Copperhouse (Hayle) June 23rd. SABINE'S GULL — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). R.M.V. Scillonian : an immature Sept. 24th RMB. JCN. St. Ives Island : an adult Nov. 12th PP. VS. an immature Nov. 15th EG. (both flying west). Marazion Marsh : an adult Dec. 24th CCB.

ROSS'S GULL — Very rare vagrant.

St. Ives Island : an adult flew west Nov. 12th VS. " On arriving at St. Ives Island at approximately 4.05 p.m. I noticed a tiny, very white gull directly below the wall trying to battle its way around the Island but, finding the gale too strong, it just fluttered above the sea in a somewhat tern-like manner. The upper-wing and mantle was a pearly white (the mantle was perhaps just a shade darker) ; there was a white trailing edge to the wing with a dark outer primary which was just visible as a very fine line. The wing seemed long for a small-bodied bird and was fairly broad at its base, tapering quite sharply (unusual for a gull, giving it a pigeon-like flight). The small head was white with a very small stubby black bill, quite unlike any other gull that I have seen. There was a tiny portion of the neck-band left, approximately 1.5 inches to 2 inches long on either side of the neck — this was very distinctive (the neck band was directly behind the eye and consisted of a very fine line). The underparts were white and the under wing a very pale pearl grey. Apart from its whiteness and size the most prominent feature was the white wedge shaped tail (very pronounced) and rump. Its flight seemed very weak and fluttering and, when hovering to pick up food from the surface of the sea, it reminded me somewhat of a tern with wings raised in the air. This bird was obviously not in full winter plumage, with only the remnants of a neck-band." VS. 46 The first for Cornwall, including Scillies. A remarkable record as before 1977 only 20 had occured in the British Isles and all but one (at Christchurch, Hampshire in mid 1974) turned up either in Scotland or the north of England. Presumably this bird had been caught up in the gale force winds when migrating from its breeding grounds in north-east Siberia to the Arctic pack ice where the species spend the winter.

ROSS'S GULL

KITTIWAKE — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Breeding records : Huer's Hut/Tea Cavern Cove (Newquay) : A " few" Jan. 21st; 230 nests occupied June 4th, an increase of 28%. Rinsey Head : 50 birds April 6th. Gorran Haven : 230 pairs April 24th. Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) : 52 pairs. Pigeon Ogo (Lizard) : 150 nests (still increasing). Maximum numbers (passage birds moving west) : Pentire (Polzeath) : 1000 4- April 14th, 9000 Nov. 3rd. St. Ives : c.2000 Oct. 31st ; huge numbers Nov. 12th — estimates varied between 55000 and 70000 ; 16000 in 9 hours Nov. 15th, 35000 in 6 hours Dec. 12th. 47 BLACK TERN — Uncommon passage migrant. Spring record : Marazion Marsh : one in summer plumage May 15th - 16th. Autumn records : Tamar Lake : in August, 2 on 11th, 3 on 17th, 10 on 25th, 9 on 26th. Egloshayle : 2 Aug. 16th. Hayle Estuary : 3 Aug. 16th, 2 Aug. 23rd - 24th, one Sept. 20th. Marazion Marsh : noted regularly Aug. 16th (3) — Oct. 9th (one) with a max. of 10 Sept. 25th. Porthkidney : 4 Aug. 17th, 30+ on 20th, 4 on 21st. Stithians : Aug. 18th (one) — Oct. 9th (2) with a max. of 6 Sept. 28th. St. Ives : 2 Aug. 20th, 25 on 23rd, 3 on 25th. Siblyback : singles Aug. 23rd & 27th. Drift: one Aug. 24th. Ruan Lanihorne : 3 Aug. 24th, one Oct. 19th. Camel Estuary/ Padstow : 2 Aug. 25th, one Sept. 27th - 28th, 2 Oct. 7th, one Oct. 17th. Gerrans Bay : 8 Aug. 28th. River Lynher : one Aug. 29th. Crowdy : 2 Sept. 3rd, one 28th, one Oct. 2nd. Par Beach Pool: one Sept. 24th, 2 on 29th. Loe Pool: one or 2 Sept. 24th - Oct. 11th. Harlyn Bay : one Sept. 26th. Port Quin (nr. Port Isaac) : 3 Sept. 27th.

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN — Vagrant. Camel Estuary : one in summer plumage May 21st - 23rd MPF. REW. Stithians : an adult in summer plumage July 8th JH. JEB. et al. (Both accepted by Rarities Committee). This species has now been recorded in three consecutive years after a nine year gap. 48 COMMON TERN — Passage migrant. An abysmal spring passage : Marazion Marsh : 4 April 2nd, one April 27th. St. Just-in-Roseland : one April 3rd, 6th & 25th. Caerthillian (Lizard) : one April 14th. Hayle Towans/Porthkidney : 4 April 18th, 2 May 9th. Porthgwarra : one April 23rd. St. Ives : one April 23rd ; 2 June 23rd (late spring or early autumn migrant ?). A much better autumn passage (the best for 3 years) from July 9th (one at Loe Bar) until Nov. 15th (one off St. Ives). Maximum numbers : St. Ives Island : 73 Aug. 6th, 90 on 14th ; 90 Sept. 6th, 300 on 7th. Gwithian : 73 Aug. 8th. Porthkidney : 123 Aug. 17th, 120 on 20th. Apart from St. Ives bird there was only one other November record — 4 at Gwithian Nov. 4th. Somewhat unusual was one flying east at Threemilestone (nr. Truro) July 27th.

ARCTIC TERN — Uncommon passage migrant. Spring records : Hayle Estuary : one April 21st. Marazion Marsh : one May 15th. Autumn records : Gwithian : one July 28th. St. Just-in-Roseland : 6 Aug. 2nd, 4 Aug 3rd, one Sept, 14th. Porthilly (Camel Estuary): one Aug. 6th - 8th. Clodgy : (nr. St. Ives) : 2 Aug. 14th, one Oct. 23rd. St. Ives Island : 3 Aug. 20th, 4 on 21st, one on 25th ; 3 Sept. 3rd, 6 on 6th, 4 on 9th ; 30 Oct. 1st, 15 on 2nd, 8 on 14th ; one Nov. 15th. Porthkidney : in August 4 on 17th, one on 20th and 29th. River Lynher : one Aug. 29th. Tamar Lake : one Oct. 11th.

ROSEATE TERN — Scarce passage migrant.

St. Ives Island : one May 8th & 9th ; 4 June 5th ; singles Sept. 5th, 6th, 25th and Oct. 2nd. Carnsew Pool: one July 30th. The run of poor years continues.

LITTLE TERN — Uncommon passage migrant.

Hayle Estuary/Carnsew : in April, one on 16th, 3 on 20th, 4 on 21st, 5 on 22nd & 23rd ; also one Oct. 5th and 4 Oct. 8th. Padstow/Camel Estuary : one April 22nd, one May 5th, 4 May 9th, 5 Aug. 22nd. Par Beach : 7 April 22nd, 8 on 25th, one on 27th ; one Sept. 24th. Gwithian : 4 Aug. 6th. Porthkidney : singles Aug. 20th & 25th. (Newquay) : one Aug. 31st. St. Ives : 4 Oct. 2nd. Clodgy (nr. St. Ives) : one Oct. 23rd. 49

SANDWICH TERN — Passage migrant.

First and last dates : Hayle Estuary : 3 March 12th. St. Ives : 2 Oct. 12th. Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 40 Aug. 30th, 32 Sept. 1st. Porthkidney : 76 Aug. 27th. St. Ives Island : c.100 Aug. 27th ; 80 Sept. 7th, 70 on 28th ; 120 Oct. 1st, 60 on 2nd. Porthilly/Padstow : 40 Aug. 30th, 75 Aug. 31st. A light spring passage (max. 16 at St. Ives April 9th) but much better numbers in autumn, particularly at St. Ives.

RAZORBILL — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Breeding season records : The Rumps (Pentire) : 25 May 25th. Lye Rock (Tintagel) : 20 June 4th. Lundy Bay (nr. Polzeath) : 30 June 7th. Gull Rock (Mullion) : 6 June 6th. The Mouls (Pentire) : 20 pairs July 25th. Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) : 10 pairs bred. On passage the max. was c. 10000 west off Pentire (Polzeath) Nov. 3rd.

LITTLE AUK — Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant.

Marazion : one Feb. 20th — freshly dead with head and one leg missing SA. MPF. St. Ives : one west Nov. 12th GWD. VRS.; 2 Nov. 20th (one was picked up exhausted but later died) MGB. WRH. LPW.; one Dec. 27th VRS. Swanpool: one Nov. 13th SCH. SP. Porthgwarra : one west Nov. 20th HPKR.

GUILLEMOT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Breeding season records : Hell's Mouth (nr. Godrevy): 35 April 3rd. The Mouls (Pentire) : 12 pairs April 4th — July 25th. Short Island (Tintagel) : 14 April 21st, 30 June 2nd. Trevose Head : 3 June 3rd. Lye Rock (Tintagel) : c.40 June 4th. Gull Rock (Mullion) : 8 June 6th. Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) : 100 pairs bred. On passage the max. was c.1000 west off St. Ives Island Oct. 31st.

BLACK GUILLEMOT — Rare winter visitor and passage migrant.

Carrick Roads: one in partial summer plumage Jan. 29th - 31st PAM. GSG. St. Ives : one west Nov. 13th WRH.; one Dec. 30th VRS. 50 PUFFIN — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Breeding season records : The Mouls (Pentire) : 10 pairs April 4th - July 25th. Long and Short Island (Tintagel) : c.50 June 2nd. Lye Rock (Tintagel) : 14 June 4th. Passage birds : Porthgwarra monthly totals : Jan. 4, April 61, May 3, June 20, July 10. (April 10th-July 24th with a max. of 46 April 11th ; also 4 Jan. 23rd). Pentire (Polzeath) : 30 flying west Nov. 3rd.

AUK sp. St. Ives Island (flying west): c.8000 Nov. 3rd, c.12000 in 8 hours Nov. 12th, c.21000 in 9 hours Nov. 15th, c.25000 in 6 hours Dec. 12th.

STOCK DOVE — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Noted in the breeding season at Gerrans Bay (3 sites). Tamar Lake (one pair) and " widespread but not common" on Bodmin Moor. Autumn records : Porthgwarra: 180 Nov. 26th and 101 on 27th, all moving east.

WOOD PIGEON — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. As in 1976 few records were received and none for the breeding season. Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 190 Nov. 4th. Trobus Farm, Ladock : c.100 in Dec. : 100 Oct. 30th. Davidstow : c.90 Dec. 4th.

TURTLE DOVE — Passage migrant. A pair may have bred in the Portscatho area. The first for the spring was one at The Lizard April 18th and there were then small numbers throughout the county until October 15th when there were 2 at St. Ives. Maximum numbers : Sennen : 7 July 21st. St. Ives : 6 Sept. 4th & 11th. Scadghill Farm (Bude) : 12 Sept. 8th.

COLLARED DOVE — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Reported to be increasing in the Bude area. 17 at Porthgwarra April 17th were almost certainly migrants. Maximum numbers : Polgrean Farm, : c.60 April 11th. Trevescan (Sennen) : 262 May 5th. Cubert Common : 70+ Sept. 18th. 51 CUCKOO — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. More common on Bodmin Moor and in the Bude area than in recent years but a decrease in the Roseland area. First and last dates : Soapy Valley (Lizard) : one April 8th. Penbeagle (St. Ives) : one Oct. 2nd.

BARN OWL -— Breeds. Resident. Another good year with records from all over the county. The species' stronghold appears to be Bodmin Moor. " My total numbers of sightings on the new Bodmin by-pass between Sept. 21st and Dec. 31st was 38, involving not less than 10 birds H SMC.

LITTLE OWL — Breeds. Scarce resident. Breeding proved at only one locality — an adult and a juvenile at The Minions (Bodmin Moor) July 21st — but there were 4 pairs from St. Ives to Morvah in the breeding season. Other sightings (singles unless stated otherwise) : Pentire (Polzeath) : up to 2 from March 16th until the end of the year. Porthgwarra : one or 2 April 2nd — May 8th ; one Oct. 22nd. West Pentire (Newquay): April 13th. Four Lanes (Redruth) : May 24th. Borough Farm (Torpoint) : June 14th. Trevemper (Newquay): July 16th. Helman Tor (Bodmin Moor) : Aug. 3rd. Hell's Mouth (nr. Godrevy): Aug. 6th. Rame Head : Aug. 8th. Tregantle (nr. Torpoint) : Aug. 8th and Sept. 23rd. Porthilly (Camel Estuary) : 2 Sept. 3rd. Par Beach : Nov. 10th into 1978. An improvement on last year.

TAWNY OWL — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant.(?) Few records received but described as " common" in east and mid Cornwall. At least 7 were calling at Jan. 18th and 7 at Helman Tor — (Bodmin Moor) June 2nd. No obvious passage birds reported.

LONG-EARED OWL — Scarce passage migrant. Callywith Junction (Bodmin) : one Nov. 8th MB. SMC. Full details received.

SHORT-EARED OWL — Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Brockabarrow Common (Bodmin Moor) : 2 Jan. 6th, one on 23rd ; 2 March 13th. Foxhole (St. Austell) : one March 2nd. Bolventor : 3 March 29th. Trewey Common : 3 May 1st. 52 Sperris Croft (Zennor) : singles Oct. 7th and Nov. 4th. Porthgwarra : 2 Oct 15th, one on 16th ; one Nov. 6th, 3 on 27th. Kynance Cove (Lizard) : one flew in off the sea Oct. 29th. Par Beach : one Nov. 12th. Nr. Predannack (Lizard) : one Dec. 18th. Nine Maidens (St. Columb) : 3 Dec. 24th/25th. NIGHTJAR — Breeds in low numbers. Rare summer resident and passage migrant. Breeding season records from 7 or 8 sites, involving about 10 pairs. The only migrant was one at Crean (St. Levan) Sept. 22nd CCB.

SWIFT — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first were 2 at Perranporth April 24th and one at Hendra (Truro) April 27th but most seem to have arrived in the first two weeks of May. Few breeding records received but seems to be widespread. Largest flocks : Marazion Marsh : c.150 May 13th. Loe Pool: 200+ June 11th ; 300+ June 18th. Victoria Gardens (Truro): 150+ June 16th. Porthgwarra : c.600 June 19th. The last was one at Godrevy Oct. 3rd. KINGFISHER — Breeds. Scarce summer resident. Winter visitor. Bred at Sladesbridge and Par, and possibly at Ruan Lanihorne and Tamar Lake. Fairly common from July onwards at most of our estuaries and reservoirs. HOOPOE — Scarce passage migrant. With one exception all records were of singles : Manaccan : — " for a fortnight in March 99 RB. Predannack Warth (nr. Mullion) : March 6th NBE. Sheffield (nr. Mousehole) : March 18th JBB. SB. Bude Golf Course : March 22nd FHCK. IK. — stayed for about two weeks and was also reported at Stratton. St. John's Lake : March 23rd RMB. EG. JCN. RS. (present for two weeks). Ruan Minor (Lizard) : March 23rd. E. Grace, and perhaps the same bird at Carleen April 16th NBE. Porthgwarra : March 27th - 31st MO. Trelissick (Truro) : March 28th per GA. Paul (Newlyn) : April 3rd CCB. Gunwalloe/Poldhu Cove : April 8th JMC. Crean (St. Leyan) : April 17th E. Grace. Caerthillian Cove (Lizard): April 18th E. Grace. Gillan (Helford) : April 28th TJSP. Philleigh : " late April99 EMP. LSP. Minions (Bodmin Moor) : May 2nd GR. Goodern (nr. Truro) : 2 in tree tops May 5th, per Mr. & Mrs. Ledbury. Tintagel: about May 17th per MPF. St. Just-in-Roseland : June 1st EMP. LSP. High Street (St. Austell) : Nov. 9th. SJC. The best year on record, probably involving as many as 20 individuals. 53 GREEN WOODPECKER — Breeds. Resident. Common and widespread.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant(?). Fairly common and widespread. One at Porthgwarra May 1st could well have been a migrant.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER — Breeds. Scarce resident. Once again no proof of breeding in the county. The following are all singles : Tehidy (nr. Camborne) ; a male Jan. 13th. TRP. St. Clement (Truro) : from Jan. 23rd into March PSC. Kenwyn (Truro) : a female March 10th but a male on 16th SR. one drumming March 21st JD. Lelant: April 3rd BP. Antony House (Torpoint) : April 5th BGE. Pendower Beach (Gerrans Bay) : June 8th SR.

WRYNECK — Scarce passage migrant. Consols Pool (St. Ives) : one Aug. 27th PP. VS. St. Ives : 2 Aug. 29th - 30th VS. Ruan Major (Lizard) : one on main road Sept. 3rd PAR. Porthgwarra : singles Sept. 25th MPF. et al. Oct. 16th - 17th MO. and Nov. 5th GS. WRH. HPKR. Clodgy (St. Ives) : one Oct 23rd VS.

WOODLARK — Breeds(?). Scarce resident and passage migrant. Lanlivery (Bodmin) : one April 9th SMC. Lerryn : one April 21st GSG. and one displaying July 11th MPF. Boconnoc : 2 July 4th SMC. Porthgwarra : one Nov. 6th WRH. HPKR.

SKYLARK — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Very common in the breeding season. Largest flocks on passage : Porthgwarra: 50+ Oct. 15th, 66 on 29th; 133 Nov. 6th (all flying east).

Polzeath : 350+ Nov. 24th & 25th.

SWALLOW — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first was one at Man's Head (St. Ives) March 10th but the main arrival was, as usual, in mid April. Widespread in the breeding season — an albino raised young at High Hall Farm, Laneast (nr. Launceston). The highest roosting numbers were at Marazion Marsh — c.300 Aug. 9th, c.600 on 25th and 1000+ on 30th. There were a few Dec. records, the latest being one at Redruth by-pass on 18th. 54 RED-RUMPED SWALLOW — Very rare vagrant. Praa Sands/ Rinsey Head : one May 17th JAG. The last was at Marazion Marsh on 16th May, 1969. (Accepted by Rarities Committee).

HOUSE MARTIN — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first were one at Portscatho March 7th and 2 at Par on 10th but the main arrival was in early May. Widespread and common in the breeding season — 44 nests at Crinnis Beach (St. Austell) and c.124 at Hawkstor Clay Pit. See also Notes. Maximum numbers : Crafthole (nr. Torpoint) : 220 Sept. 18th. Kynance (Lizard) : c.200 Sept. 19th. The last sighting was 2 at Kenwyn (Truro) Dec. 10th.

SAND MARTIN — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Very early this year with 400 at Marazion Marsh March 1st but, although there were a number of records for that month, most arrived in April — there were peaks from 6th - 9th and 24th - 28th. Breeding season records from Perranuthnoe, Gunwalloe, Perranporth, Porthilly, Harlyn Bay and Hawkstor Clay Pit — c.124 pairs at the last locality. See also Notes. Maximum numbers : Loe Pool: c.500 April 7th & 28th. Marazion Marsh : c.1000 April 24th and 500 on 30th. The last was one at Porthgwarra Oct. 9th — the early arrival was matched by an unusually early departure.

GOLDEN ORIOLE — Scarce passage migrant. Nanquidno (nr. St. Just) : one May 14th (probably a female). PAM. Full details received.

RAVEN —- Breeds. Resident. Continues to increase as a breeding bird — bred in trees at Gweek. Maximum numbers : Porthgwarra : 18 Feb. 12th. Helman Tor (Bodmin Moor) : 14 Sept. 3rd.

CARRION CROW — Breeds. Resident. Very common and widespread. At Antony House (Torpoint) there were 92 Jan. 29th — this roost has been increasing over the past 4 years. At Tideford one hanging upside down from telephone wires Oct. 30th flew off as a car approached RS. (perhaps a migrant from the Antipodes !).

HOODED CROW — C.c.cornix. — Rare passage migrant and winter visitor. A sub-species of Carrion Crow. Stithians : one flying south Jan. 2nd DJB. SCH. LPW. 55 ROOK — Breeds. Resident. Very common and widespread. Maximum numbers : Camel Estuary : c.450 June 28th. Tamar Lake : c.1000 July 3rd. Pencarrow (nr. Bodmin) : c.320 Dec. 17th.

JACKDAW — Breeds. Resident. Very common and widespread. A partial albino was seen at the Royal Cornwall Showground June 10th. The max. was c.400 feeding in a potato field at Bodmin Dec. 17th.

MAGPIE — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Very common and still increasing. At Sewage Works large numbers were noted feeding on settling tanks — there were 47 Feb. 18th and 33 Nov. 29th. Passage birds : Porthgwarra : 10 moving west Oct. 29th. See also Notes.

JAY — Breeds. Resident. Rare passage migrant. Very few records received and no evidence of passage birds.

CHOUGH — Extinct. Not even an " escape !"

GREAT TIT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Very common and widespread but few records received.

BLUE TIT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Very common and widespread. Maximum numbers : Helston Sewage Works : 55 July 14th. Passage birds : Caerthillian Cove (Lizard): 8 flew in off the sea at a considerable height Oct. 20th.

COAL TIT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Very few breeding records received but reported as common in mid Cornwall. Passage birds : Porthgwarra : singles Aug. 26th, Sept. 25th, Oct. 8th and 29th. Godrevy : 4 Oct. 3rd.

MARSH TIT - Breeds. Resident. Widespread. Few records received. 56 WILLOW TIT — Breeds. Resident. Seems to be increasing in the east of the county. 3 at Hustyn (nr. Wadebridge) July 6th were feeding in a conifer plantation some distance from the habitat normally associated with this species in Cornwall. One at Marazion Marsh Nov. 18th was a long way west. JBB. SB.

LONG TAILED TIT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Common and widespread, but yet another under-reported species. The max. was 36 at Lostwithiel Sept. 29th.

NUTHATCH — Breeds. Resident. Noted in all suitable localities in mid Cornwall. 14 were heard calling at Lanhydrock April 29th.

TREECREEPER — Breeds. Resident. Hardly any records submitted for this species. " Widespread but never common in mid Cornwall" SMC.

WREN — Breeds. Resident. Very common and widespread. At the Lizard one used a Swallow's nest as the base for its own nest.

DIPPER — Breeds. Resident(more common in the east). Recorded breeding at most of its usual sites. At least 13 pairs bred in mid Cornwall. Unusual reports : Nr. Bodmin : an adult was found dead on its nest May 1st. Nr. Warleggan Bridge (Bodmin Moor) : an adult feeding in the road June 15th.

MISTLE THRUSH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Seems to be still increasing as a breeding bird. Maximum numbers : Trewithian (Portscatho) : 35 Aug. 5th. Gwinear Road : 24 Aug. 13th. : 38 Oct. 29th. Passage birds * Porthgwarra : 3 Oct. 22nd, 5 on 23rd ; 3 Nov. 6th, 23 on 26th (all flying east).

FIELDFARE — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Several large flocks in the first winter period : Siblyback : 300+ Jan. 23rd. Walmsley Sanctuary : 1000+ Jan. 25th. Crowdy: 3000+ Feb. 10th. Also a huge movement across Bodmin Moor Feb. 20th must have involved thousands of birds. 57 First and last dates : Pentire (Polzeath) : one April 16th. Chapel Lane (Stithians): one Sept. 19th. A widespread but thin autumn passage. Maximum numbers in second winter period : Redhill Marsh (Bodmin Moor) : 650+ Dec. 26th. Dozmary Pool: 350 Dec. 27th.

SONG THRUSH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Common and widespread but few records received. Passage birds : The Lizard : 12 flew in off the sea Oct. 14th. Porthgwarra : 20 + Oct. 29th. Redhill Marsh (Bodmin Moor) : one or 2 Nov. 27th - Dec. 4th were probably of the Continental race " philomelos."

REDWING — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Some very large flocks in the first winter period : West Looe : 200 + moving west Jan. 1st. Porthgwarra : 400 Jan. 2nd,* 300 Jan. 8th. Roseland Area : a huge total of 14300 Jan. 15th. Walmsley Sanctuary : 2000+ Jan. 25th. Crowdy : 10000 + Feb. 10th. First and last dates : Soapy Cove (Lizard): one April 8th, Ruan Lanihorne : 4 Sept. 21st. A widespread but thin autumn passage, the max. being 190 moving south at Truro Oct. 14th. No large numbers were reported for the second winter period. At Halestown (nr. St. Ives) during January a partial leucistic bird with pale back and wings was present.

RING OUZEL — Uncommon passage migrant. Breeds ? Spring records (the most in spring for very many years) : Pendeen (nr. St. Just) : a male March 6th. Kynance Cove (Lizard) : one March 23rd. Trevalga Hill (St. Ives) : 2 males March 26th. Soapy Cove (Lizard) : 2 April 8th & 9th. Hayle Towans : a female April 10th. Buttermilk Hill (St. Ives) : 9 April 10th, 13 April 11th. Nr. Towednack (St. Ives) : 6 April 11th. Lizard Village : 2 April 16th. Trendrine Hill (St. Ives): 3 females April 16th. Pentire (Polzeath) : a male April 16th. Autumn records : Caerthillian (Lizard) : 2 Sept. 17th, one Oct. 20th. Holman's Hill (St. Ives) : 4 Oct. 8th, 6 on 9th, one on 29th. Angue Cottage (St. Ives) : 4 Oct. 9th, one on 29th. Kynance Cove (Lizard) : 3 Oct. 14th - 16th. Buttermilk Hill (St. Ives): 2 Oct. 16th. Folly Farm (St. Ives): one Oct. 23rd. Porthgwarra : singles Oct 15th, 22nd & 23rd. 58 BLACKBIRD — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Few records received but very common and widespread with numbers increasing in the winter months. C.70 feeding in a kale field at Pentire (Polzeath) Oct. 17th were certainly migrants. An adult female ringed at Lanivet Dec. 11th 1976 was controlled at Insel, West Germany, April 26th 1977 per SMC.

WHEATEAR — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first was one at Carnsew Pool March 6th and there was a widespread arrival over the next few weeks. Breeding season records from : Bodmin Moor (96 pairs), Kynance Cove area (" several,Efford Down, Stanbury Mouth, Morwenstowe and Trevose Head. The usual heavy autumn passage Aug. 9th (one at Stithians) — Nov. 25th (one at Falmouth). Maximum numbers : Porthgwarra : 40 Aug. 28th, 60+ Sept. 17th - 18th. Predannack (Lizard): c.40 Sept. 17th.

GREENLAND WHEATEAR — Rare passage migrant. Birds showing characteristics of the race O. o. leucorrhoa: St. Ives Island : 2 males Oct. 2nd. Downderry (Looe): one Oct. 30th.

STONECHAT — Breeds. Resident. Widespread and apparently increasing.

WHINCHAT — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Spring records : Pentire (Polzeath) : a female April 16th. Towednack Moors (St. Ives) : a pair April 30th. Swanpool: a male May 3rd, 2 May 25th. Hoe Point (St. Ives): one May 3rd. Porthgwarra : one May 18th. St. Buryan : a male May 22nd. In the breeding season noted only on Bodmin Moor where there were at least 85 pairs. Autumn passage began with a male at Pentire (Polzeath) Aug. 18th and lasted until Nov. 11th when there was one at St. Just-in-Roseland. It was a very well scattered but light autumn passage with no large numbers, the max. being 10 at Porthgwarra Sept. 17th.

REDSTART — Breeds. Uncommon summer resident. Passage migrant. Spring records : Tamar Lake : a male April 29th. St. Clement (Truro): a female May 22nd. Breeding proved only on Bodmin Moor — pairs at Smallacombe and Minions but 4 at Bearah Tor. At Croan (nr. Bodmin) a female was noted carrying nesting material May 15th but was not seen again. 59 Autumn records : Hayle Kimbro (Lizard) : one Sept. 11th. Porthgwarra : 2 Sept. 17th - 25th, one Oct. 22nd. Widemouth Bay : one Sept. 17th. Penbeagle (St. Ives) : one Sept. 18th. Camel Estuary : one Sept. 19th. Kynance (Lizard) : 3 (2 males) Sept. 19th. Stithians : 2 Sept. 20th. Rame Head : one Sept. 24th. Rejerrah (nr. Newquay) : a female Sept. 25th. Holman's Moors (St. Ives) : singles Oct. 8th & 15th. Eagle's Nest (St. Ives) : one Oct. 8th. Lelant: one Oct. 10th. Nancledra (nr. St. Ives) : one Oct. 13th. Buttermilk Hill (St. Ives) : one Oct. 16th. Pentire (Polzeath) : one Oct. 17th - 20th.

BLACK REDSTART — Passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. In the first winter period recorded from 7 localities, usually singles but 2 or 3 in the Falmouth area. A thin spring passage March 13th-April 16th with singles from 5 areas. A male at Blackpool China Clayworks Tip July 3rd occured at a strange time of the year. A very much heavier autumn passage with records from at least 50 localities. The first was one at St. Ives Oct. 12th and the max. 10 at Porthgwarra Nov. 16th. In the second winter period (i.e. Dec.) singles were recorded from 7 localities.

NIGHTINGALE — Scarce passage migrant. Porthgwarra : one Aug. 21st PDR. Full details received.

ROBIN — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Abundant. One in a garden at Canon's Town (Hayle) April 18th was seen hanging from a feeding basket containing nuts and fat. This behaviour must be rare. One killed by a cat at Scadghill Farm (Bude) Nov. 28th 1977 had been ringed on the Isle of May Oct. 18th 1976. 590 Km. S.S.W. per TJD. See also Notes.

CETTI'S WARBLER — Vagrant. Soon to be a resident breeding species ? Skewjack (nr. Land's End) ; one seen and heard Jan. 8th - June 8th but a pair April 8th WRH. et al. (presumably this was the 1976 bird relocated after a six months' absence). Bolingey (Perranporth) : 2 singing Feb. 19th RB. ; one singing April 9th PAM. Lewidden (St. Ervan) : a male May 28th - June 17th, trapped June 6th SMC. FMC. PJD. et al. 60 Coverack : one singing June 2nd & 3rd AJM. Marazion Marsh : an adult male trapped July 13th and an adult female trapped Sept. 20th BP. ; one heard calling in late August and one singing Sept. 27th PDR. NJP. et al. Still awaiting our first breeding record but 1977 saw the first (also the second and third) to be trapped and ringed in the county. BP. commented as follows on the male at Marazion : " During ringing I noted how the rounded wings reminded me of a Wren. Also on several occasions the bird slowly raised its tail and splayed all feathers wide — I have never seen this from any other species when held by the upper tarsi for viewing. It was docile at all times when being extracted and handled, and silent — quite unlike most Reed Warblers, more like the demeanour of a Grasshopper Warbler. The bird's feet had a very strong grip with claws as sharp as Treecreeper's."

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Scarce passage migrant. Earlier arriving than in 1976 ; the first was at Porthgwarra April 17th and there were 8 records for that month including one at Tamar Lake on 23rd. 4 pairs were in the Upper Fowey Valley by May 7th. 10 pairs bred between Zennor and St. Ives, at least 4 pairs at Redmoor and the species also seems to have been well distributed on Bodmin Moor during the breeding season. The only record of an autumn passage migrant was one at Phillack reed beds (Hayle) Aug. 20th. Porthgwarra : from April 17th (one) until May 14th (one) but 3 May 7th — probably 7 birds involved.

SAVI'S WARBLER — Very rare vagrant. Marazion Marsh : a " probable " April 29th - May 3rd, heard reeling on several occasions but not seen WRH. BP. St. Levan : one seen and heard May 1st E. Grace, (full details received). Apparently there were also records of this species in Devon, Somerset and Dorset around the same time.

GREAT REED WARBLER — Very rare vagrant. Marazion Marsh : one Aug. 27th DSF. PDR. The last published record was June 5th - 8th 1963, also at Marazion.

REED WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Uncommon passage migrant. The first was one at Par Beach Pool April 16th. Very few spring records received — sightings at only 3 localities. Noted in the breeding season in low numbers at Marazion Marsh, St. Erth Valley (6 pairs), Swanpool, Pendower Valley (Gerrans Bay), Ruan Lanihorne, Par, Bolingey (Perranporth), Harlyn Bay and Bude Canal (none at Sladesbridge in 1977). In autumn only at Porthgwarra — singles Sept. 17th, Oct. 21st & 22nd. Is this species declining in the county or simply not being reported ? 61 SEDGE WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. First seen April 17th when there was one at Skew jack (Land's End) and 6+ at Marazion Marsh. The main arrival was at the end of April although the max. was 18 at Porthgwarra May 7th. Numerous breeding season records from most parts of the county but no reports from Ruan Lanihorne — St. Mawes. Recorded on Bodmin Moor at every suitable site visited. In September singles at Marazion Marsh, Loe Pool and Par Beach Pool. 2 at Caerthillian (Lizard) but 5 at Stithians. The last was one at Marazion Marsh Oct. 16th (the only sighting in that month). Unusual reports (perhaps indicating a slight extension of range ?) : Lantyan Woods (Lostwithiel): one singing May 19th. Lanhydrock : one singing from a clump of bamboos May 31st. Ringing recoveries : One found dead at Bolingey (Perranporth) June 23rd had been ringed as a juvenile at Pett Level, Hastings Aug. 10th 1976. per SMC. One ringed at Poldhu (Mullion) August 12th 1977 was controlled at Radipole Lake, Weymouth August 18th 1977 per NBE. AQUATIC WARBLER — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Marazion Marsh : 3 immatures trapped Aug. 22nd DSF. PDR.; one immature trapped Sept. 11th BP.; 2 (possibly 3) Sept. 17th EG. DJB. LPW. RS. Stithians : one Sept. 4th RMB. TRE. JCN. Predannack (Lizard) : one on the edge of the airfield Sept. 10th. EG. We could hardly hope to emulate last year's excesses. This species has now been recorded in 8 consecutive years. MELODIOUS WARBLER — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Porthgwarra : singles Aug. 10th LPW. and Sept. 24th. DJB. Church Cove (Lizard): one Sept. 11th TRP. ICTERINE WARBLER — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Porthgwarra : singles Aug. 29th DJB. Sept. 8th JH. and Sept. 11th E. Grace. BLACKCAP — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. A few " winter." In January and February singles at Penzance, Hayle, Copperhouse (Hayle), Falmouth, Newquay and Cawsand (Torpoint), up to 2 at St. Ives, Par and Looe but 4 at Kenwyn (Truro) Jan. 18th. In mid March wintering birds and passage migrants cannot be separated with any confidence but one at Victoria Gardens, Truro, March 17th was probably a new arrival. Most, however, arrived from April 21st. Widespread during the breeding season (about 20 pairs in the Lelant — St. Ives — Zennor area) and noted for the first time at Pendower Valley (Gerrans Bay). In autumn only at Porthgwarra (see below), Kynance (up to 3) and Pentire, Polzeath (a male Oct. 20th). In the second winter period (mid-November onwards) singles at Lelant, St. Erth and Cawsand, up to 2 at Copperhouse, Falmouth and Looe but up to 3 at Loe Pool. Porthgwarra : a male April 21st, a female May 5th ; in September a male on 6th & 21st but a pair on 29th ; in October ones and twos from 9th - 29th but 6 on the last date. 62 BARRED WARBLER — Rare passage migrant (autumn). Porthgwarra : 2 immatures Oct. 8th WRH. et al.

GARDEN WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Uncommon passage migrant. The first individual was at Bude April 13th and there were 4 other April sightings as opposed to none in 1976. The main arrival was from May 14th-22nd. With the exception of St. Hilary, Kynance and Cadgwith, breeding season records came from the northern half of the county, mainly Bodmin Moor. Some observers thought there were fewer birds than usual but others felt there were more ! Noted at 10 localities in autumn but, excluding Porthgwarra, less than 20 birds were involved. Porthgwarra : one May 1st & 16th ; 3 Aug. 28th, one on 29th ; 2 Sept. 6th & 18th, one on 21st & 27th ; 2 Oct. 9th & 22nd but singles on 13th, 21st & 29th (the latest for the year).

WHITETHROAT Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first was a male at Caerthillian (Lizard) April 6th but most arrived during the first week of May. The max. was 16 at Porthgwarra May 7th. Appears to have had another really good breeding season (both broods) and most observers feel that the species is now virtually back to its pre-1969 numbers. Very few records received of autumn migrants. The last was one at Porthgwarra Sept. 28th.

LESSER WHITETHROAT — One breeding pair. Scarce passage migrant. Caerthillian (Lizard) : one May 1st PAM.; a male May 18th E. Grace. Porthgwarra : 2 May 16th - 28th E. Grace. TRP et al.; one Oct. 8th CCB. JH. Allen Valley (nr. St. Tudy) : a singing male May 22nd SMC. MB. Blackpool China Clayworks Tip: a male May 26th - June 29th SJC. Gribben Head (Fowey): one Sept. 29th SMC. One of the big ornithological events of 1977 as far as Cornwall is concerned was that this species bred at Saltash. A male was seen and heard from May 29th and a pair plus 3 young were seen June 30th and July 18th EG. RS. (Breeding has been proved on the mainland only in 1920 and 1935 but strongly suspected at Mullion in 1955).

DARTFORD WARBLER — Rare passage migrant. Rame Head : one Oct. 25th, probably a male Dr. Bruce Campbell. Buttermilk Hill (on the St. Ives — Zennor Road) : a male Oct. 29th VS. Full details received. There has now been at least one per year since 1973. 63 WILLOW WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first was one at Marazion Marsh March 20th and surprisingly there were records for March from 5 other localities. The main arrival was April 6th - 19th ; at the Lizard on the 6th there were c.80 phylloscopus warblers, mainly Willows. Very common during the breeding season. About 200 pairs were holding territory in May in the eastern section of Bodmin Moor. A moderate autumn passage, the max. being c.20 at Caerthillian (Lizard) Sept. 8th and the same number at Kynance on 19th. There were two October records — singles at Porthgwarra on 4th and at Holman's Moors (St. Ives) on 8th.

CHIFFCHAFF — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Some " winter." The high wintering numbers noted at the end of 1976 continued into 1977. Most were at St. Erth Sewage Works where there were at least 20 throughout January but a max. of c.35 Feb. 12th (at least 4 were very pale and one showed a distinct wing bar, suggesting that one or more of the eastern races may have been involved). At Helston Sewage Works the max. was 15 Jan. 16th. There were also records in January and February from 16 other localities ; these were mainly singles but up to 12 were noted in January in shallows at the Helford River. As with Blackcap there are obvious problems of overlap when trying to detect the first for the spring. However, one at Penwethers (Truro) March 21st was certainly a migrant and in fact the influx appears to have occurred around the middle of that montn. Very common in the breeding season with " exceptional numbers", in the Roseland district but few autumn records received, the last being 6 at Porthgwarra Nov. 5th. In December noted at 16 localities, mainly ones and twos. The only high number was 12 at Angarrack Sewage Works Dec. 28th. (St. Erth Sewage Works closed during the summer — see Notes.)

WOOD WARBLER — Breeds ? Uncommon summer resident. Scarce passage migrant. (Fowey) : one April 22nd SMC. Luckett (nr. Callington) : one singing June 26th EG. Porthgwarra : one Aug. 28th HPKR. Once again there was no positive evidence of breeding at Loe Pool (see 1976 Report) although an adult was seen July 16th and an adult and 2 (possibly 3) juveniles July 30th. 2 remained until Aug. 26th JSG. Not noted at Lanhydrock or Golitha Woods this year. A fairly bleak picture with the only possible breeding record coming from outside this species' normal range in Cornwall.

GOLDCREST — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. " No change in status ; still common and widespread in mid Cornwall " SMC. One in full song at Hellesveor (St. Ives) Dec. 30th JBB. SB. (this species rarely sings in December or January Ed.). No reports received of autumn passage birds. 64 FIRECREST — Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.

Singles unless stated otherwise : January : at Penrose (Helston) on 1st, Skewjack (Land's End) on 8th, Tremethick Cross (Penzance) on 9th, Loe Pool on 16th (2), Cawsand (Torpoint) on 16th and Rospeath (nr. Marazion) on 23rd. February : near Mullion on 1st, at Lelant on 5th and Prussia Cove (nr. Marazion) on 25th (2). March : at Phillack (Hayle) on 20th, Froe Creek (Carrick Roads) on 20th (2) and Copperhouse (Hayle) on 29th. April: at Phillack on 2nd, Holman's Moors (nr. St. Ives) on 2nd and Penbeagle Gardens (St. Ives) on 3rd. October : records only from Porthgwarra (8th - 23rd, involving c.5 birds) and the moors above St. Ives (singles at Buttermilk Hill, Holman's Moors and Folly Farm on 29th). November: at Saltash on 6th, Coombe (Saltash) on 13th, Trelyon Woods (St. Ives) on 20th and Hellesveor (St. Ives) on 25th. December: at Coombe on 3rd, Budock (Falmouth) on 19th & 21st, Lelant on 17th & 26th, Copperhouse on 25th and Angarrack (Hayle) on 30th.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant.

The first were 4 at Porthgwarra May 10th but most arrived May 16th - 25th. A poor breeding season with observers from most parts of the county commenting on the lower numbers present, e.g. M Exceptionally poor year for this species " VS. PP. (St. Ives area). " Rather lower numbers generally in the east of the county" VRT. Few noted on autumn passage ; there were records from 15 localities but double figures only at Mylor (10 Aug. 19th). Porthgwarra : in spring from May 10th (4) until June 10th (one), the max. being 8 May 16th ; in autumn from Aug. 21st (4) until Oct. 21st (one) but in very low numbers — i.e. up to 4 a day. Only recorded at Porthgwarra in October. The rot set in last year and this species' status has now changed dramatically in the space of two breeding seasons. See also Pied Flycatcher.

PIED FLYCATCHER — Breeds? Summer resident at one locality. Passage migrant.

The first was a male at Lanhydrock April 29th. A nest was built and eggs laid ; all the young hatched but were predated before June 13th (there were signs of a mammalian predator around the hole of the nest-box). Neither the male nor the female was seen after June 13th SMC. The only other spring sighting was a male at Mt. Edgcumbe (Rame) April 30th and a female at Porthgwarra May. 1st. A very poor autumn passage from Aug. 13th (one at Lostwithiel) until Oct. 16th (one at St. Ives Island). The max. was 7 at the Lizard Aug. 27th and the species was seen at only 11 localities. At Porthgwarra Aug. 26th - Sept. 29th with a max. of 3 Aug. 28th. 65 RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Porthgwarra : one Oct. 8th - 9th CCB. WRH. The county has now had at least one a year since 1970.

DUNNOCK — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Very common and widespread. Ringing recovery : One ringed at Tregays (Lerryn) 28th Jan. 1975 was found dead on the other side of the River Fowey at Golant 8th March 1977. per SMC.

RICHARD'S PIPIT — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Stepper Point (Padstow) : 2 Sept. 25th RS. Porthgwarra : 3 Oct. 3rd and one on 7th HPM. MM. ; 2 Oct. 15th JBB. SB. Caerthillian (Lizard) : 2 Oct. 9th TRP. Marazion Marsh : one Oct. 14th DJB. SCH. Pentire (Polzeath) : singles Oct. 17th SMC. MGB. and Nov. 25th SMC. Full details received. Recorded now for 4 consecutive years, 13 being the most since 1972.

TAWNY PIPIT — Scarce passage migrant (spring and autumn). Clodgy (St. Ives) : an adult Sept. 4th VS. PP. Porthgwarra : an adult Sept. 24th - 26th CCB. WRH. et al; 3 "probables" Sept. 25th WRH. LPW. GSG. ; 3 Oct. 7th HPM. MM. Par Beach : one Sept. 29th - Oct. 2nd SMC. MB. Full details received. Has been noted each autumn since 1971 but there has not been a spring record since 1969.

MEADOW PIPIT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Common and widespread where the habitat is suitable. Maximum autumn numbers : Porthgwarra : 100+ Sept. 18th ; 300+ Oct. 15th, 120+ on 16th. Stithians : c.150 Oct. 6th. Davidstow Airfield : c.150 Oct. 15th. Pentire (Polzeath) : c.150 Oct. 20th. On the moors near St. Ives flocks of 180-200 were a common occurence Oct. 3rd - 10th.

TREE PIPIT — Breeds. Summer resident. Uncommon passage migrant. One at Caerthillian (Lizard) April 16th was the first for the spring and at the same locality there was a single May 4th and 2 on 18th. 2 at Marazion Marsh May 1st were the only other migrants seen away from breeding grounds. Noted mainly on Bodmin Moor in the breeding season (60 + pairs) ; reported to have bred at Lostwithiel Moor for the first time SMC. Autumn records were entirely from the Land's End and Lizard peninsulas with one exception — at Blackpool Clayworks Tip there were 7 Aug. 18th, 6 on 24th and 2 on 31st ("not previously recorded in this area " SJC.). The max. was 15 at Marazion Marsh Aug. 28th but on the whole autumn passage was very light. The last was one at Caerthillian Oct. 14th. Porthgwarra : from Aug. 28th (5) until Oct. 2nd (4), the max. being 12 Sept. 25th. 66 ROCK PIPIT — Breeds. Resident. Scarce passage migrant(?). Apparently common where the habitat is suitable. Unusual reports : Hayle Harbour : a partial albino Jan. 23rd - April 16th. Porthgwarra : a white-headed bird April 3rd, May 1st and Oct. 16th.

WATER PIPIT — (A. s. spinoletta) — Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. A sub-species from the mountain regions of central and southern Europe. All records were of singles. Marazion Marsh: Jan. 2nd, Feb. 19 th - March 13th and April 10th; Oct. 28th - 31st. Stithians : Jan. 29th and March 21st ; Nov. 27th - 30th. Porthgwarra : Nov. 5th - 6th. Tamar Lake : from Nov. 20th into 1978.

PIED/WHITE WAGTAIL — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Largest roosts : Carlyon Bay : 102 Jan. 31st. Par Beach : 215 Sept. 16th, 231 Sept. 18th. In spring " Whites" were noted at Marazion Marsh (max. 15 April 19th), Hayle (one), Portscatho (one), Par (8), and Camel Estuary (one) and in autumn at Porthgwarra (see below), Marazion (9), Predannack, Lizard (150 Sept. 17th), Par Beach (6 + ) and Davidstow (one). Porthgwarra : regularly in autumn from Sept. 3rd (4) until Oct. 15th (5) with a max. of 15 Sept. 13th.

GREY WAGTAIL — Breeds. Resident. Uncommon passage migrant. " Recorded from at least 20 sites in mid Cornwall during the breeding season " SMC. Widespread in autumn in ones and twos but higher numbers at : Helston Sewage Works : 8 Aug. 20th, 15 Sept. 10th (feeding on one filter bed). Marazion Marsh : 8 Sept. 25th. Porthgwarra : 4 Oct. 15th.

YELLOW WAGTAIL — Passage migrant. Has not bred since 1965. The first was a male at Marazion Marsh March 20th, the earliest spring record ever — the previous was March 21st (1955), also at Marazion. The next to arrive was one at Par April 6th. Noted in spring at Porthgwarra (one), Nanquidno, St. Just (one), Marazion Marsh (max. 12 April 30th), Gunwalloe (one), Helston Park Lake (one), Hayle Causeway (4), Par (one) and Upper Tamar Reservoir (3). At Croft Pascoe (Goonhilly Downs) there were 2 June 4th - 19th but no evidence of breeding. The species was widespread in autumn although in relatively low numbers. There were sightings at 23 localities but more than 5 occured at only seven. 67 Maximum numbers : Lizard Point: 21 Aug. 26th, 25 Sept. 4th. Predannack Airfield (Lizard) : 40 Sept. 10th, c.30 Sept. 17th. A very light passage at Porthgwarra from Aug. 28th (12 — autumn max.) until Sept. 18th (6). In October there were singles at Stithians on 2nd, Marazion Marsh on 6th and Copperhouse (Hayle) on 13th. No doubt some of the above were " Blue-headed" as females and immatures are difficult to seperate, especially in autumn.

BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL (M. f. flava) — Uncommon passage migrant.

A sub-species from Central Europe although a few pairs breed in this country. Marazion Marsh : noted regularly from April 17th (a female) until May 22nd (a male) with a pair May 1st and 2 females May 6th (probably at least 4 birds involved) LPW. JSG. E. Grace, et al. Copperhouse (Hayle) : one May 2nd TRP. Ryan's Field (Hayle) : 2 Sept 25th (an adult female and an immature male) PP. VS.

GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL (M. f. thunbergi) — Rare passage migrant.

A sub-species from Northern Europe. Marazion Marsh : a male Aug. 27th LPW. et al. The first autumn record for the Cornish mainland.

ASHY-HEADED WAGTAIL (M. f. cinereocapilla) — Rare passage migrant.

A sub-species from the Central Mediterranean. Marazion Marsh : a male April 17th - 19th JSG. LPW. et al. May 1st TRP. and May 22nd E. Grace. LPW. (at least 2 birds involved). The first mainland record since June 1970.

FLAVA sp.

One at Hayle Causeway May 17th had no eyestripe, blackish ear coverts but a white throat PAR. It may have been a slightly unusual M Ashy-headed" or possibly a hybrid.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE — Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor.

Temple (Bodmin Moor) : one March 29th - 30th SMC. Hawkstor Downs (Bodmin Moor) : one Nov. 18th SMC. Ninestones Bridge (Upper Fowey Valley) : one Dec. 1st chasing a Meadow Pipit MGB. MPF. Tamar Lake : one from Dec. 19th to the end of the year FHCK. IK. 68 STARLING — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Marazion Marsh : at ieast 1,000,000 Jan. 8th RMB. JCN. Davidstow : c. 1,000,000 Nov. 1st FHCK. IK. Kilkhampton : c.2,000,000 Nov. 4th FHCK. IK. Ringing recoveries : One ringed at Lanivet Jan. 19th 1976 was found long dead in a roof gutter at Berkhout, Netherlands in late Sept. 1977 per FMC. An adult female ringed at Mullion Dec. 15th 1974 was found dead at Friedland (Neubrandenburg), East Germany Oct. 5th 1977 per NBE. A male ringed at Breht, Antwerpen, Belguim Oct. 5th 1977 (hatched in the year of ringing) was found at St. Erth Nov. 6th 1977. per RDP.

GREENFINCH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Largest flocks : Connor Downs (Hayle) : 200+ Jan. 8th. Lanlivery : 120 April 6th. Stithians : 90 Oct. 26th. Rock : 150 Dec. 4th. Gwithian: 80-100 Dec. 11th. No large autumn movements were reported.

GOLDFINCH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor.

Largest flocks : Gwithian Church : 170 Aug. 10th. Bude Canal: 100 + in mid August. Church Cove (Lizard): c.80 Sept. 26th. " Still very common but did not appear to have such a good breeding season as in 1976 " SMC.

SISKIN — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Only one first winter period record — a female at Tehidy Pond Jan. 13th TRP. A good autumn passage with sightings at 22 localities. Highest numbers away from Porthgwarra : Holman's Moors (St. Ives) : 80 Oct. 29th. Penbeagle (St. Ives) : 45 Nov. 7th. Treloweth Wood (St. Erth) : from Oct. 23rd (c.40) until Nov. 27th (c.25). Nanquidno (St. Just) : 30 4- Oct. 22nd. At Porthgwarra noted Oct. 8th (4) - Nov. 26th (24), the max. being 80 4- Oct. 23rd and 114 Nov. 6th. During this period a total of 318 birds moved east or south-east. December records : Consols Pool (St. Ives) : 10 on 4th. Swanpool: 17+ (including 4 males) on 4th. Kiggan Pool (Tresillian) : 4 (one male) on 4th, 3 on 5th and one on 29th. Respryn (Lanhydrock) : 6 on 7th. 69 LINNET — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Largest flocks : Gwithian : 264 Aug. 6th. Par Beach : 400 Oct. 19th. Zennor : c.300 Oct. 21st. Davids tow : c.1200 Nov. 1st. Tintagel: c.500 Nov. 5th.

REDPOLL — Breeds. Resident in low numbers. Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. About 53 pairs were present in the eastern section of Bodmin Moor in May but it is thought that only 20-25 pairs bred in this area. There were no breeding season reports from any other localities. Other records : Marazion Marsh : 3 June 4th. Goss Moor : at least one July 21st. Redmoor (Lostwithiel): one flying over Aug. 7th. Wadebridge Rubbish Dump : 2 from Nov. 21st to the end of the year. St. Winnow (River Fowey) : 2 Dec. 12th.

SERIN — Rare vagrant. Trevail (nr. St. Ives) : one Oct. 29th VS. Full details received.

BULLFINCH — Breeds. Resident. Scarce passage migrant. A flock of 22 at Clodgy (St. Ives) Oct. 16th were clearly migrants. Very few records received for this species but no reason to suspect a change in status.

CHAFFINCH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Largest winter flocks : Lanhydrock : 2500+ feeding on beech mast Jan. 12th; 400-500 Jan. 23rd. Lanivet : 570 leaving roost Feb. 11th ; 810 Dec. 8th. Wadebridge Rubbish Dump : 110 Nov. 25th. Bodmin : 900 Nov. 29th. High numbers at Porthgwarra in autumn moving south or south-east. October — 329 on 8th, 72 on 9th, 461 on 22nd, 1783 on 23rd, 370 on 29th ; November — 1135 on 6th, 452 on 19th, 135 on 26th, 80 on 27th. Apart from St. Just (), where there were 1000+ in late October, much lower numbers were noted elsewhere on autumn passage.

BRAMBLING — Passage migrant. Winter visitor (numbers fluctuate considerably). First winter period : Four Lanes (Redruth) : a female Jan. 12th DCB. Draynes Bridge (nr. Siblyback) : 20 + March 5th PSDJ. Recorded from 21 localities in autumn (October — November) but mainly in ones and twos. 70 The only double figure sightings were at : Porthgwarra : from Oct. 8th (one) until Nov. 27th (one) with 11 Oct. 23rd, 31 Nov. 6th and 45+ on 19th. Lizard : c.20 Nov. 8th & 20th. Stithians : 15+ Nov. 29th. December records : High Street (St. Austell) : one on 1st, 2 on 7th & 10th, one on 12th. Callywith (Bodmin) : 3 on 1st. Loe Pool: one on 6th & 28th. Godrevy : one on 11th. Pentire (Polzeath) : one on 15th. Wadebridge Rubbish Dump : 2 on 17th, one on 31st. Trewithian (Portscatho) : 3 on 27th. Trobus Farm (Ladock) : up to 5 in December.

CORN BUNTING — Breeds. Resident. Scarce passage migrant. A number of breeding season reports for the north coastline but few from the south coast with the exception of the Lizard peninsula. " 25 singing males noted between Mawgan Porth and Polzeath " SMC. " At least 6 singing males in two areas near Sennen " CCB. The largest flocks were 20 at Nanjizal (Land's End) Jan. 8th and 11 at Trevose Head March 29th.

YELLOWHAMMER — Breeds. Resident. Scarce passage migrant ? Seems to have had a more successful breeding season than last year. " Seen in larger numbers than usual from Land's End to Zennor " ACH. " Bred in the Roseland district in its usual areas and at least holding its own " GSG. " Much more in evidence during the breeding season" SMC. (mid Cornwall). Largest flocks : Lanlivery : c.40 April 6th. Nanstallon (nr. Bodmin) : c.40 April 16th. Tamar Lake : c.40 Oct. 15th. Callywith (Bodmin) : 35 Dec. 14th. " Up to 20 birds were attracted to my garden from October onwards when provided with a regular supply of poultry corn but only two were females " SJC.

CIRL BUNTING — Breeds. Scarce resident. Nanjizal (Land's End) : one singing Jan. 1st. PAM. Trewithian (Portscatho) : a male Jan. 17th GSG. Mylor : a pair Feb. 19th PAM. a male Feb. 26th RB. Kingsand (Torpoint) : a singing male March 6th & May 23rd ; a female and 3 juveniles July 29th SMC. MB. Nr. Truro Golf Course : one heard singing throughout April. AHM. GPM. Bolingey (Perranporth) : a male April 9th PAM. and April 11th RB. Caerthillian (Lizard) : a pair April 17th - Sept. 17th but no proof of breeding PAM. E. Grace, et al. Ruanhighlanes : a singing male May 15th GSG. Landgreek Farm (Polperro) : one singing July 23rd RS. 71 ORTOLAN BUNTING — Scarce passage migrant. Porthgwarra : immatures Sept. 7th E. Grace. 17th - 25th WRH. LPW. DJB. et al. but 2 immatures on 24th (probably 3 birds involved). Caerthillian (Lizard) : an immature Sept. 17th E. Grace. Halsetown (St. Ives) : a female Oct. 10th JBB. SB. Full details received.

REED BUNTING — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. 46 pairs were holding territory in May in the eastern section of Bodmin Moor and the species was also well distributed in mid Cornwall during the breeding season. No reports received of large numbers (i.e. more than 20) or passage birds.

LAPLAND BUNTING — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Caerthillian (Lizard) : an immature Sept. 12th E. Grace. Porthgwarra : singles Sept. 17th - 25th, Oct. 3rd - 7th & 29th but 2 Oct. 15th - 21st and Nov. 6th (all immatures) MO. Possibly 7 or 8 birds involved. Holman's Moors (St. Ives) : 2 Oct. 8th, one on 9th, 2 on 15th PP. VS. Hor Point (St. Ives) : one Oct. 16th PP. VS. Folly Farm (St. Ives) : one Oct. 16th PP. VS. Penbeagle Hill (St. Ives) : one Oct. 29th PP. VS. (nr. Newquay) : 8 Nov. 5th PAM. Davidstow Airfield : 3 immatures Nov. 5th MB. SMC. Pentire (Polzeath) : 4+ Nov. 24th - 25th SMC. Eagles Nest (Zennor) : 2 Nov. 26th PP. VS. An excellent autumn passage of at least 30 individuals.

SNOW BUNTING — Uncommon passage migrant (autumn) and winter visitor. First winter period : Towan Head (Newquay) : one Feb. 11th. Tregaina (Boscastle) : one Feb. 19th. Porthcurnick Beach (Gerrans Bay) : one March 5th. The first for the autumn was one at Porthgwarra Oct. 2nd (there was also a single here on 15th). There were sightings at 14 localities of about 20 birds up to mid November — mainly singles but 3 at Stithians Nov. 2nd and 2 at Crowdy Oct. 8th - 26th. The only second winter period birds were 3 at Pentire (Polzeath) Nov. 24th - Dec. 15th.

HOUSE SPARROW — Breeds. Resident. " A female at Egloshayle Feb. 22nd had a dirty white crown and sides of head to eye level and one third the nape " SMC. " A female which was cream in colour with very little other marking was seen making a nest and feeding young in the old Marazion station during the summer." BP. 72 TREE SPARROW — Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. Wadebridge : one Jan. 2nd TRP. Trevassack (Hayle) : one March 20th ; 4 March 25th - April 1st PAR. Nanquidno (St. Just) : 9 May 21st LPW. PAM.; 3 May 22nd E. Grace. SP. Marazion Marsh : 2 May 23rd - 26th WRH. HPKR. Hayle Towans : 3 Aug. 8th LPW. Recorded now in three consecutive years after a three year gap.

* EXOTICA' CAROLINA DUCK :

Once again a female at Priory Pool, Bodmin throughout the year.

MANDARIN DUCK : At least one female (an escapee from a wildfowl collection) is known to be living in a feral state in the St. Breward area.

CANADA GOOSE : The tame bird referred to in the 1976 Report also toured local beauty spots in 1977, being noted at Marazion Marsh, Helston Park Lake and Loe Pool but mainly at Hayle Estuary/Copperhouse Creek.

BARNACLE GOOSE : From may 5th until November 20th one reported from several localities between Rock and Dozmary Pool where it associated with farmyard geese.

PARROT sp. One flew over Trobus Farm, Ladock November 18th.

ADDITIONS TO 1976 REPORT VELVET SCOTER : One at Clodgy (St. Ives) Oct. 1st PP. VS.

GREYLAG GOOSE :

2 at Holman's Moors (St. Ives) Nov. 21st PP. VS.

SPOTTED CRAKE: One at Consols Pool (St. Ives) Aug. 24th PP. VS. 73 LITTLE GULL :

St. Ives : an adult Jan. 4th ; an immature Jan. 25th and March 13th.

SABINE'S GULL: St. Ives Island : an adult Feb 8th ; an immature April 2nd ; an adult Oct. 12th PP. VS.

ARCTIC TERN :

St. Ives : 22 Aug. 22nd ; 6 Sept 29th.

ROSEATE TERN : Trevail Cove (nr. St. Ives) : 4 May 29th. St. Ives : 5 Aug. 31st ; one Sept. 12th and 29th ; 4 Oct. 13th. Clodgy (St. Ives) : one Oct. 1st.

LITTLE OWL :

Bred at two localities near St. Ives.

WRYNECK:

Singles at Clodgy (St. Ives) Aug. 30th and Sept. 25th PP. VS.

RING OUZEL : Noted on the moors between St. Ives and Zennor Oct. 24th - Nov. 20th with a max. of 13 Oct. 31st. BLACKBIRD : One ringed at Porthgwarra in 1968 as an adult was controlled at the same locality October 29th 1976, making it at least 8 years old per NJP.

NIGHTINGALE :

One at Towednack Aug. 15th PP. VS.

BLUETHROAT: A male of the White-spotted form at Penbeagle (St. Ives) Oct. 24th PP. VS.

CHIFFCHAFF : One ringed at Countess Wear Sewage Farm, Exeter October 9th 1976 was controlled at Porthgwarra October 20th, 165 km. WSW. per NJP.

TAWNY PIPIT : Single adults at Penbeagle Hill (St. Ives) Aug. 29th and at Consols Pool (St. Ives) Sept. 25th and 26th PP. VS. 74 SISKIN :

St. Ives Island : one Jan. 2nd ; 3 Dec. 15th.

CHAFFINCH : One ringed at Porthgwarra October 7th 1972 as an adult was controlled at the same locality October 17th and 27th 1976 per NJP.

CIRL BUNTING :

An immature female at Towednack Aug. 15th PP. VS.

ORTOLAN BUNTING : A male at Penbeagle (St. Ives) Oct. 26th PP. VS.

LAPLAND BUNTING : Perranporth : one Feb. 4th - 6th PP. VS. Hor Point (nr. St. Ives) : 3 Nov. 13th PP. VS. Eagles Nest (St. Ives) : 2 Nov. 20th PP. VS. Holman's Moors (St. Ives) : one Nov. 21st PP. VS.

1976 RECORDS ACCEPTED BY RARITIES COMMITTEE Blue-wing Teal at Stithians ("the possibility of CINNAMON TEAL was not eliminated "). Grey-cheeked Thrush at Porthgwarra. Cetti's Warbler at Skewjack and Porthgwarra.

75 Notes

FULMARS ENJOYING A THERMAL. For many years a colony of a dozen or so Fulmars have " nested" on a high sheer cliff near Porteath in North Cornwall. On August 3rd 1977 there were several half grown fluffy chicks in crevices on the cliff face with parents flying around. There was a moderate off shore breeze. At one point there was a narrow gully extending from near sea level to the top of the cliff. We observed two or three of the fulmars apparently picking up a thermal and floating up this gully. When approaching the top — one at a time — they used their wings to hover like kestrels, before drifting away. This play was continued for many minutes by a succession of the birds. This behaviour was seen by Mr. & Mrs. G. H. Harvey and myself, all of whom had watched Fulmars for many years. Nothing remotely similar had been observed before by any of us. R. H. Blair.

GANNETS OFF BASS POINT, LIZARD. The Gannets moving west off Bass Point in Dec/Jan./Feb. number probably 100,000+ per year but where do they come from ? From observations I have made on board ships I am sure that they are Biscay and West African birds returning to Irish and West Coast colonies. Apart from small fishing parties one sees no mass migration east of Start Point, either in mid Channel or along the French Coast. They appear to leave the coast of France about longitude 4° and in normal weather turn westwards 5 or 10 miles off Start Point and then continue towards Scilly — with gales from the south or east they are of course blown towards the shore and continue along the coastline. M. D. Allinson.

FEMALE GADWALLS PARASITISING COOTS. At Par Beach Pool up to 6 Gadwall (but only one drake) were present Dec. 14th - 27th. I noticed that, although the drake acquired its own food, the females were always to be found following Coots and attempted to share any food the Coots brought up from the bottom of the pool. The Gadwall recorded here in 1976 behaved similarly. S. J. Cole.

(This parasitical behaviour is mentioned in the new Handbook Ed.) GREAT AND LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS ABNORMALLY PLUMAGED. A gull at St. Ives on 19th March superficially resembled a first or second winter Glaucous but more critical inspection showed it to be an immature Great Black-backed. Although its size and shape was the same as nearby (normal) first winter Great Black-backeds, it was overall a uniform ' biscuit' colour as in Glaucous Gull but the head and nape were dirty whitish, streaked brown and slightly paler than mantle etc. The rump and upper-tail coverts were also dirty white ; the flight feathers were just perceptibly darker than the rest of the wing (looking almost uniform in flight), with some very faint barring across the primaries. 76 At Hayle Estuary on 6th May I noted a largely leucistic adult Lesser Black- backed Gull. It was overall a uniform creamy white apart from 1-2 blackish patches on the upperwing ; this was not at all obvious when at rest but in flight it created black diagonal stripes across the upperwing. W. R. Hirst. CLIFF-NESTING COLONIES OF HOUSE MARTINS AND SAND MARTINS. In the summer of 1977, the sites of former and existing colonies were visited on the south coast west of St. Austell. On the north coast, no colonies could be found between and St. Ives.

HOUSE MARTIN COLONIES. Carlyon Bay : on 1st June about 25 nests were occupied out of a total of 32 located on both sides of the bay. Polkirt Beach, Mevagissey ; Mrs. I. M. Carchpole writes that one or two pairs probably did nest, though this could not be proved this year as access to the beach was not possible. Polpeor Cove ; immediately west of the old slipway at Lizard Point in a tiny cove not visible from the shore, about six martins were flying into an obvious nest-site on 1st August. There was no sign of the St. Anthony colony anywhere on the coast between Killigerran Head and St. Anthony lighthouse, nor did there appear to be any nesting birds at Black Head or Dodman Point. Elsewhere birds were found nesting on man-made structures close to the sea ; thirteen nests on outbuildings and two on the main part of the Nare Hotel overlooking Pendower Beach, four nests under the eaves of the Coverack lifeboat station, and three or four on a building below the pilchard cellar at Landewednack. SAND MARTIN COLONIES. Only two occupied colonies could be located. Gunwalloe : probably 20 occupied nest-holes on 22nd May. Perranuthnoe : 15 holes occupied on 22nd August. HISTORIC RECORDS : The following ammendments should be made to the article by the present writer in the C.B.W.P.S. Report for 1974. A sand martin colony of unknown size existed at Newquay. The late H.M. Creswell Payne wrote in The Story of Newquay (1952 ; MS at Truro Museum) that birds " used to nest regularly in the sandy cliff right below the Headland Hotel facing Fistral Beach," but that all this had been altered by "the presence of great numbers of visitors." While a house martin colony was noted at Rumps Point in 1952 and may well be the one un-named by J. M. Macmillan in 1937, it was not " the probable new colony " referred to by A. H. Machell Cox in 1933. Further research into Cox's MS diaries proved it to have been at "Gull Rock, Crackington" (i.e. Buckator, SX118 934) which he visited on 9th June 1933 — " a new feature was a colony of a dozen or more pairs of house martins constantly disappearing under the irregular eaves of the cliffs." R. D. Penhallurick. 77 HIGH NUMBERS OF MAGPIES. An influx on a grand scale occured on Feb. 13th. It is impossible to be certain of the numbers involved as the influx was spread over such a large area. i.e. the larger part of Bodmin Moor. The route of my travels for that day started from St. Cleer to Bolventor, taking in the Upper Fowey Valley and Dozmary Pool through to Temple and then on to St. Breward, also visiting De Lank water works and Calandra Heights, from there around a broad circle of Bodmin Moor sweeping east to Crowdy and then journeying westwards to Stannon china clay works, down the western boundary of the Moor and along the southern boudary to St. Neot back up through Cardinham and Mount back to Siblyback reservoir. During this journey all areas were plagued with Magpies, e.g. in Rose near Kerrow Downs 15 Magpies were counted in 1/2 mile stretch of roadway, in another in the Upper Fowey Valley at least 20 individuals were noted. I think it a safe bet to record that an influx of this species occured on Bodmin Moor numbering —'00—. My own observations led my total for the day to be a staggering 64, which must have been a fraction of the area's total. I have never read of or heard of an influx of such proportions relating to this species. P. S. D. Jones.

CONTINENTAL ROBINS. On 23rd October at 07.00 hours I set my nets at Rospeath (nr. Marazion) and noticed c. 10 Robins present when the normal number would be 2. All had very white underparts (see 1976 Cornwall Report for Porthgwarra record) and appeared very excited, chasing one another and uttering lots of * ticking' notes. I trapped 4 of these birds and noted very orangey breasts and silky white underparts. The birds were very wild in the hand with much calling and struggling. The second bird trapped wore a ring:— Riksmuseum Stockholm 1987363 and this first year bird had been ringed on the 22nd September at Ottenby (Oland) Sweden. Less than two weeks later all these continental Robins had departed and just the local birds remained. Possibly the birds made a temporary halt on their journey south to France and Iberia. B. Pattenden.

A SURVEY OF ACROCEPHALUS WARBLERS AT MARAZION MARCH 1977 Breeding success was considered to be average. For the first time since 1972 Cuckoos were often present, seeking out Reed Warblers as suitable foster parents. First noted on 17th June, they were in the area most of the summer. A notable event was the retrapping of Sedge Warbler JS 50585 on the 14th July 1977. The bird, originally ringed as adult on 7th May 1976, was reported on 1st July 1976 by the B.T.O. as " found stunned on road, flew later." This proves that trying to rescue road casualties can be worth the effort, this bird having flown to Africa and back since the event. The oldest bird to date is a Reed Warbler ringed at the Long Rock reed-bed as a juvenile on 22nd August 1972 and retrapped on the south side of the marsh on 20th August 1977 — just over five years old. 78 Totals Trapped Returned from previous years Apr. May July Aug. Sept. Oct. Total Ringed as Adult Juvenile Sedge Adult 3 14 9 13 — — 39 3 4 Sedge Juv. — — 55 163 52 1 271 Reed Adult — 2 18 5 — — 25 18 9 Reed Juv. — — 58 84 32 1 175

Weights of heavy birds Sedge Warbler Time Reed Warbler Time 21st Aug. 17.4 grms Juv. 09.00 28th Aug. 17.8 grms Juv. 20.00 17th Sept. 17.3 grms " 06.00 13th Oct. 16.2 grms „ 18.00 20th Sept. 19.1 grms " 06.00 same bird retrapped on 19th Oct. 20.9 grms „ 18.00

Recoveries and Controls (A " control " is a bird caught and released with its ring)

Sedge Warbler Juvenile ringed Long Rock 7th August 1977 controlled Titchfield Haven (Hants.) 14th August, 1977 310 kms ENE. Juvenile ringed Marazion 20th August 1977 controlled South Milton Ley, Thurlestone, (Devon) 28th August, 1977 115 kms E. Juvenile ringed Radipole Lake, Weymouth (Dorset) 11th September, 1977 controlled Long Rock 17th September, 1977 215 kms W. Three movements in opposite directions along the south coast before going south.

Reed Warbler Juvenile ringed Long Rock 12th July 1976 controlled Bardsey Island (Caernarvon) 15th May, 1977 300 kms NNE. This bird possibly overshot Cornwall in spring. Reed Warblers are uncommon on Bardsey and on return from Africa it would most likely return to a local marsh. Adult ringed Long Rock 29th June 1974 killed Mota del Marques (Valladolid) Spain 1st - 15th April 1977. Well on the way back to Long Rock from Africa in spring the bird just failed to complete its journey.

Aquatic Warbler With Atlantic depressions more in evidence in 1977 than in 1976, Aquatic Warblers were very scarce this year. Birds were trapped on August 22nd — three juveniles September 11th — one juvenile

Sincere thanks to Lord St. Levan for permission to trap birds at Marazion Marsh and to Phil Round for assistance with ringing. B. Pattenden. 79 CHIFFCHAFFS WINTERING AT SEWAGE WORKS IN WEST CORNWALL The unusual concentration of wintering Chiffchaffs reported in late December and early January 1976-77 (C.B.W.P.S. Report, 1976) was not repeated in December 1977. Furthermore, the sewage works at Treloweth, St. Erth, which held most birds, closed during the summer and the new works which opened on 1st July on the other side of the woods, has not so far attracted birds of any species to the filter beds. During a cold in late November 1977, one Chiffchaff fed on the filter beds at Angarrack on the 21st (max. temp, about 2.7 °C) while two appeared at Gwithian on 1st December (max. 8.7 °C), but this promising beginning was not followed by a gradual increase of birds. Regular visits to Angarrack and less frequent ones to Helston throughout December shewed that Chiffchaffs, when present at all, obtained sufficient food from the hedgerows because of the mild weather. At Culdrose R.N.A.S., 13°C (55.4°F) was attained on 23rd December, while the average daily maximum from the 1st to the 23rd was 10.5°C, compared with 8.37°C for the same period in 1976 when up to twelve birds had been recorded at Helston. The greatest numbers in 1976 (37+ at Treloweth on the 29th) had coincided with a cold spell in which the daily maximum from 24th December to the 31st was only 6.6°C with the night minimum falling to —4°C at Culdrose on the 29th, the coldest night in December and January. In December 1977 the temperature also dropped a little after Christmas, but the average maximum from the 24th to the 31st was still 9.4°C, 2.8°C higher than for the same period last year. Perhaps more significant were the comparatively mild nights when the temperature did not fall below the 1.8°C recorded at Culdrose on the 28th. It was on the 28th that the greatest number of Chiffchaffs was seen in December 1977. At Gwithian there was one, and at Crowlas two where none had been seen the previous year. Angarrack supported twelve birds, though usually not more than seven appeared on the filter beds at the same time. Praze held one bird and Helston four. At Angarrack it was noticeable that the Chiffchaffs would not allow one to approach so closely and spent far more time 1 hawking' in the boundary hedges. That similar concentrations have been overlooked in previous winters is supported by the observations of Mr. A. G. Parsons (pers. comm.) who has counted a dozen or more birds at the Helston works periodically since the early 1960s. It will be interesting to see whether the relative warmth of filter beds will attract large numbers of Chiffchaffs in future to sewage works in other parts of Cornwall and South Devon. R. D. Penhallurick.

ASSISTED PASSAGE There has been a lot of controversy in recent years about whether or not the American birds which turn up on this side of the Atlantic are " ship-assisted " on their way across. It is well-known that quite large numbers of migratory American passerines do turn up on occasion on board ships in mid-Atlantic but do these birds make it to the European side ? There is some doubt as to whether insectivorous 80 birds in particular would benefit by remaining on board ships where there is little food to be found. It might be that a bird would stand more chance of surviving if it pressed on Eastward under its own steam. In vol. 20 of " Sea Swallow" (Journal of the Royal Naval Birdwatching Society, 1968) there is an interesting report of several American Redstarts Setophaga ruticilla coming aboard M.V. " Ruahine " of the New Zealand Shipping Co. These birds remained on the ship during the period 20th - 22nd October, 1967, during which time the ship steamed for about 800 miles in a north-easterly direction, from 200 miles N.E. of Bermuda to about 600 miles S.E. of Cape Race. It is probably unnecessary to remind most of the C.B.W.P.S. that 21st October, 1967 was the day the American Redstart was found at Porthgwarra ! Some interesting questions arise from this. Was the Porthgwarra bird " ship-assisted ?" A non-stop flight from the place where the " Ruahine" birds were last noticed to the Cornish mainland need not be impossible for a passerine such as this — if it was well-fed. Or were the birds seen aboard the " Ruahine" destined to die of starvation before land was reached in the absence of any suitable food ? Could the Porthgwarra bird, and other American passerines, have flown non-stop across the Atlantic, possibly making use of high-speed, high-altitude " jet-streams" associated with a cyclonic weather system ? With the present high concentrations of bird-watchers in western Britain in Autumn, it is probable that a large proportion of American birds arriving in this country, and surviving subsequently, are discovered. One way to throw some light on the problem of " assisted passage " might be to attempt to catch and ring birds which come aboard ships in the Atlantic. The chances would seem to be quite good that, if it is indeed the " ship-assisted " birds which make it to these shores, then sooner or later a ringed bird would be seen and re-caught here. Any data on the weights of these birds would also be interesting. Such information would be very useful in helping us to understand the mechanics of bird migration, many aspects of which are still practically unknown. N. J. Phillips.

BOOK REVIEWS THE HEN HARRIER By Donald Watson Published by T. & A. D. Poyser 1977 307 pages 4 colour plates numerous black and white drawings Price £6.80 This is an excellent monograph on one of our least known birds of prey. It describes its history, status, breeding cycle, hunting habits, migration and winter distribution in great detail and for good measure includes a most informative chapter on Harriers of the World. The whole of the second half of the book is devoted to the author's personal observations of the Hen Harrier in South West Scotland. It makes compelling reading and his delightful wash drawings provide a splendid atmospheric background to the text. It is ironic that the Montagu's Harrier has disappeared from the West Country and indeed the rest of Great Britain as a breeding 81 bird ; yet the much persecuted Hen Harrier continues to survive and even increase. Perhaps it will eventually spread to the South West and replace the missing Montagu's. It is a bird which seems to succeed in a wide variety of habitats. The author, along with the publishers, must be congratulated on a most readable book. The printing and format are a delight to the eye making it very good value at £6.80. R. B. Treleaven.

BIRDS OF CORNWALL AND THE ISLES OF SCILLY by R. D. Penhallurick. Published by Headland Publications 1978. Price £11.75 (hard cover), £8.50 (soft cover), 500 pages, size 9i" by 7", printed on matt coated art paper. Numerous illustrations and maps. This book deals systematically with the species not included in Birds of the Cornish Coast (by the same author) and in fact contains a Supplement to the earlier book, thus completing the picture up to the end of 1976 with some of the rarer 1977 records also being detailed. The Systematic List obviously takes up the greater part of the book ; all records of the more unusual species are included and the more common migrants and breeding birds are also dealt with comprehensively. However, it is much more than a glorified check-list, the author covering such subjects as the topography of the county, its ornithologists, migration patterns, falconry and Cornish rookeries (the latter perhaps being somewhat predictable in view of Roger Penhullurick's involvement in the recent rookeries census !). It is clearly a must for Cornish birdwatchers and for that matter for anyone interested in the ornithology of the county. The high standard of Birds of the Cornish Coast is continued in the new book ; it is highly readable and has been well set out. Roger Penhallurick is not only to be congratulated but also thanked for successfully concluding the task of putting together in two books a complete history of the ornithology of Cornwall, a task which must have involved very many hours of painstaking research. The end-product was well worth the effort. D. J. Barker.

AMERICAN VAGRANTS IN CORNWALL AND THE ISLES OF SCILLY 1961-1976 By E. Griffiths Although most of these records have been published before in County Reports and British Birds, I have put them together to give a complete picture of American vagrants in the past sixteen years. Included are two or three unpublished records, the authenticity of which, in my opinion, is beyond doubt. There has been a steady increase in records of passerines since 1961. Several new species have been added to the British and European List, but interestingly only two of these in the spring and summer months. Who knows if this may change in the years to come. 82 In the period covered by this article, Cornwall and Scilly have had at least 250 waders of 15 species, 50 passerines of 19 species, 13 ducks of 3 species and 1 sub-species, 4 gulls of 2 species and 1 species each of rail, tern and hawk. As to be expected, waders are the most numerous with good numbers in favourable years. Of all the wader species listed only three breed in Siberia as well as North America. It is, therefore, possible that some of the records of Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii), Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) and Lesser Golden Plover (PluviaUs dominica) are of Eastern origin. This possibility is supported by the fact that in the past few years the Asiatic race of Lesser Golden Plover has been identified in Cornwall. A Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) occured with three Pectoral Sandpipers on St. Mary's in 1974. In some years one or two waders may stay on into the winter, as did the Killdeers (Charadrius vociferus) on St. Mary's in the 1963-64 winter, and the Long-Billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus) on the Hayle Estuary in 1966-67 and Stithians Reservoir 1975-76. The Isles of Scilly must surely be regarded as the most likely European location for producing sightings of American land birds. In the past sixteen years the number of records has increased dramatically, no doubt due to the fortunate combination of " good old" westerly storms at the peak migration time and the increasingly high standard of today's British birdwatcher who allows very little to slip through his fingers. Cornwall itself has been put on the map most noticeably at Porthgwarra (near Land's End) where regular observations on migration have been made for some years now. Four species have been recorded, two of which were new to Britain. One wonders how many others have escaped unseen in other small coastal valleys on the Land's End peninsula. The general opinion is now held that nearly all the land birds seen in Britain fly the Atlantic unaided except by strong winds from very deep depressions and hurricanes. A few no doubt are partly or wholly ship assisted but their numbers must be very small, due to the lack of suitable food. 1968 and 1975 were regarded as the two best years for American passerines in the Isles of Scilly. Arguably, 1976 proved even better with Blackpoll Warblers (Dendroica striata) flashing about on at least four islands, Grey-cheeked Thrushes (Hylocichla minima) creeping under willow copses and along mangle fields, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (Pheucticus ludovicianus) munching away at blackberries, and the cries of American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) ringing over the islands. At least 17 birds of six species were seen during that autumn. Let us hope that in the years to come we will again have such an abundance of American vagrants finding their way into the western approaches and landing safely on our shores, for nowhere else in Britain during the autumn can you find our " little Americas." NOTE : All references to " St. Agnes" relate to the Isles of Scilly and not the St. Agnes on the mainland. 83 BLACK DUCK Anas rubripes 1969 4th September. One on Tresco. First record for Scilly and fifth for Britain and Ireland. 1976 27th October. Two on Tresco. One left on 1st November but the other remained until at least 9th April 1977. AMERICAN WIGEON Anas americana 1976 8th October. St. Mary's. BLUE-WINGED TEAL Anas discors 1976 31st August to 16th September. One female at Stithians Reservoir. GREEN-WINGED TEAL Anas carolinensis Males of this sub-species were seen on :— 1962 4th February to 22nd April. One at Marazion Marsh. 1963 15th May. One at Marazion Marsh. 1968 10th February to 15th April. One on River Lynher. 1970 26th April. One at Landulph Marsh. 1971 2nd January. One shot on St. Mary's. (Found to have been ringed in New Brunswick, Canada 22nd August 1970). 1975 1st May to 10th May and 14th May to 22nd May. One on St. Agnes and St. Mary's. 1976 3rd January. One on . 14th March. One at Tamar Lake, North Cornwall. SURF SCOTER Melanitta perspicillata 1975 5th October to 23rd October. One in Tean Sound and Tresco area. This was the second record for Scilly, the first being as long ago as 1867. 1976 19th October. One off St. Mary's. AMERICAN KESTREL Falco sparverius 1976 13th June to at least 28th June. One at Bearah Tor, Bodmin Moor, a female or immature male. This was the second bird to be seen in Britain in 1976, the first being on Fair Isle on 25th May to 27th May. None had been seen in the British Isles before. SORA RAIL Porzana Carolina 1973 26th September to 9th October. One seen well on St. Agnes. First record for Scilly and first in Britain since 1920. KILLDEER Charadrius vociferus 1963 19th November to 16th January. 1964 At least two on St. Martin's, Scilly. 1976 30th March to 7th April. One on Sampson, Scilly. LESSER GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis dominica About 19 birds recorded to date. 1962 30th September to 10th October. One on St. Agnes. The first record for Scilly. 1968 6th October. One on St. Just Airport. 1969 9th October. One on St. Just Airport. 1971 6th September to 14th September. One on Tresco. 84 1971 5th October to 14th October. One at Trevorrian, Crows-An-Wra, and at the same place another two from 23rd October to 25th October, these were thought to be of the Asiatic race Pluvialis dominica fulva. 1972 2nd August to 7th August. One on St. Mary's. 28th September. One on St. Agnes. 1973 15th September. Two at Stithians Reservoir. 20th September to 25th September. One on St. Mary's. 27th September. Two on St. Mary's. Two birds frequented St. Agnes and St. Mary's from late September until the 15th October, one staying until the 20th October. 1975 28th August to 29th August. One at Stithians Reservoir. 2nd September. Two at Stithians Reservoir. 18th September to 19th September. One on St. Mary's. 19th September. One on Culdrose Airfield, Helston. 26th September. One at Stithians Reservoir and also one at Siblyback Reservoir. Both these records were thought to be of the Asiatic race, Pluvialis dominica fulva. 1976 15th September. Stithians Reservoir. UPLAND PLOVER Bartramia longicauda 1968 26th September. One on Tresco which then moved to St. Mary's the same day. 27th September to 12th October. Two birds on St. Mary's. 6th October. One on St. Just Airport. 1972 7th October to 28th October. One on St. Mary's.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER Tringa macularia 13 records. All since 1965. 1965 23rd September to 28th October. One on St. Agnes. First record for Scilly. 1966 3rd September to 1st October. One on Tresco. 23rd September to 25th September. One on St. Agnes. 1967 6th September to 21st September. One on St. Agnes. 1968 18th September to 2nd October. One seen on St. Agnes and one on Tresco. 27th October to 30th October. One at Porthgwarra. Found dead on 3rd November. 1969 4th October to 25th October. One on St. Mary's. 1970 17th August to 29th August. One on Bussow Reservoir, St. Ives. 1971 10th October. One on St. Agnes. 1973 9th September. One on St. Mary's. 1974 27th August to 11th September. One on St. Mary's. 1976 13th October to 31st October. Two on St. Mary's. SOLITARY SANDPIPER Tringa solitaria 1974 23rd July. One first seen on Rosevear. Next day it was seen on St. Mary's and again on Tresco on the 25th July. 8th September to 11th September. One on Tresco. 1975 12th September. One on Tresco.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS Tringa melanoleuca 1975 24th August to 3rd September. One on Tresco. (Found dead on 6th September). Was also seen on St. Mary's on 28th August. 85 LESSER YELLOWLEGS Tringa flavipes 11 records since 1961. 1961 18th September to 20th September. One at Trewornan Bridge, River Amble. 1964 3rd October to 7th October. One at Trewornan Bridge, River Amble. 1966 29th August. One on Hayle Estuary. 1967 26th October to 29th October. One on St. Mary's. 1968 9th November to 6th December. One at the Amble Dam, Camel Estuary. 1969 17th October to 30th October. One at Stithians Reservoir. 1972 10th September to 20th September. One on the Camel Estuary. 21st September to 30th September. One at Hayle Kimbro, Lizard. 12th October. One at Stithians Reservoir. 1973 2nd September to 17th September. One on Tresco. 1974 1st November. One on . 11th May to 18th May. One on St. Mary's. 1975 1st October to 22nd October. One at Calenick Creek, Truro. PECTORAL SANDPIPER Calidris melanotos By far the most common American vagrant to be seen in Britain. At least 100 seen since 1961. 1961 1st September to 7th September. One at Ruan Lanihorne. 8th September to 11th September. Two at Marazion Marsh. 13th September. One on St. Agnes. 5th October. One on St. Agnes. 1962 29th May. One on Marazion Marsh. 27th August to 28th August. Three on St. Agnes ; two left on 29th, and one remained until 12th September. 31st August to 1st September. One on Tamar Lake. 3rd September. A new bird arrived on St. Agnes. 4th September. One at Porthmeor Cove, Zennor. 6th September. One on , Nr. Egloshayle. 1963 15th August to 18th August. One at Marazion Marsh. 10th September to 13th September. One at Marazion Marsh. 18th September to 23rd September. Two on St. Mary's. 28th September to 5th October. One or two birds on St. Agnes. 7th October to 8th October. Two on St. Mary's. 4th November. One late bird on St. Agnes. 1964 10th September to 19th September. One on Hayle Estuary. 17th September. One at Devoran Creek. 26th September to 30th September. One on St. Mary's. 1965 4th August. One on Landulph Marsh. 29th August. One on Hayle Estuary. 1966 4th September to 18th September. One on Marazion Marsh. 1967 15th August. One at Ruan Lanihorne. 7th September. One at Devoran. 9th September. One on Tresco. 17th September. One on Hayle Estuary. 18th September to 26th September. One or two birds on Marazion Marsh. 19th September. Two on Tresco. 21st September. Now 4 on Tresco, two leaving by 5th October. 22nd September. One on St. Agnes. 11th October. One on Marazion Marsh. 86 1968 20th July. One on Tresco. 22nd September to 10th October. One on Tresco. 27th September to October 11th. One at Amble Dam, River Camel. 9th October to 13th October. One on Tresco. 12th October to 20th October. Two at Copperhouse, Hayle, one staying until 26th October. 2nd November. One at Ruan Lanihorne. 1969 20th September to 21st September. One on St. Agnes. 4th October to 14th October. One at Stithians Reservoir. 1970 31st August to 20th September. Two at Stithians Reservoir. 31st August. One on St. Agnes. 4th September. One on St. Martin's, Isles of Scilly. 8th September to 8th October. Up to four on Tresco. 15th September. Three at Stithians Reservoir. 18th September to 3rd October. One to two on St. Mary's. 22nd September to 27th September. Three at Crowan Reservoir. 27th September. One at Drift Reservoir. 27th September. Two at Stithians Reservoir. 3rd October. Two at Stithians Reservoir, then 1-3 birds on many dates until 26th October. 6th October. One on St. Agnes. 17th October. Four at Stithians Reservoir. 1971 7th June to 12th June. One on Tresco. 22nd August to 18th September. One at Stithians Reservoir. 28th August to 30th August. One on St. Mary's. 3rd September. Two at Stithians Reservoir. 4th September. Two on St. Mary's. 13th September. One on St. Agnes. 13th September to 14th September. One on Tresco. 26th September. One on St. Mary's. 2nd October to 5th October. One on St. Agnes. 4th October to 16th October. One at Stithians Reservoir. 10th October. One on St. Agnes. 1972 2nd August. Two on , Scilly. 1973 25th August to 14th September. One on Marazion Marsh. 25th August to 29th August. One on Crowan Reservoir. 30th August to 2nd September. Two on Crowan Reservoir. 31st August to 8th September. One at Stithians Reservoir. 4th September. Three on Tresco. 4th September to 14th September. One on St. Mary's. 9th September to 21st September. Four on Tresco, two remaining until 4th October. 15th September to 16th September. One at Drift Reservoir. 27th September to 29th September. One on Copperhouse Creek, Hayle. 6th October. One seen on Hayle Estuary — almost certainly the Copperhouse Creek bird. 13th October. One Copperhouse Creek, Hayle, assumed to be the same bird. 1974 19th May. One on Tresco. 29th August to 30th August. One on St. Mary's. 3rd September to 9th September. One on St. Agnes. 9th September to 17th September. Two at Stithians Reservoir. 11th September. Two on St. Mary's and one on Tresco. 87 19th September to 21st September. One on St. Agnes. 24th September. Three on St. Mary's. 15th October. Last remaining bird on St. Mary's. 18th October to 28th October. Two on Marazion Marsh. 1975 & 1976 It seems worthwhile to note that, strangely, none were recorded in these two years.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER Calidris fuscicollis 1962 2nd October to 3rd October. One on St. Agnes. 1964 22nd September to 29th September. One on St. Agnes. 19th October. One at Devoran Creek. 1965 6th September to 28th September. One on Tresco. 5th November. One on Marazion Marsh. 1966 10th September to 17th September. One on Tresco. 1967 6th September to 20th September. One on Tresco. 1970 6th October. One on St. Mary's. 7th October to 9th October. One on Bryher, Scilly. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER Calidris bairdii 1965 25th September. One on St. Agnes. This was the first record for Scilly. 20th October to 21st October. One on Marazion Marsh. 1966 26th August to 12th September. One on Tresco. 19th September to 30th September. One on St. Agnes. 1967 19th August to 21st August. One on Bryher. 9th September to 27th September. One on Tresco.

LEAST SANDPIPER Calidris minutilla 1962 4th October. One on St. Agnes. The first record for Scilly. 1965 24th August. One on Tresco. 1966 12th September to 22nd September. One at Amble Dam, Camel Estuary. 1970 7th June to 8th June. One in breeding plumage on Marazion Marsh. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER Limnodromus scolopaceus Eleven birds seen since 1966 1966 23rd October. One on St. Agnes. 30th October. One on Hayle Estuary staying until 19th April 1967 when it was in almost full breeding plumage. 1967 27th September until the end of October. One on Tresco. 1968 21st September to 22nd September. Two on St. Mary's. 1970 11th May. One on Hayle Estuary in full breeding plumage. 1973 25th September to 6th October. One on Marazion Marsh. 1975 6th October to 13th October. One on St. Mary's. 13th October to 16th November. Two at Stithians Reservoir, one staying until about 25th March 1976 and coming into partial summer plumage. 1976 22nd September to 26th September. One at Stithians Reservoir. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER Calidris pusilla 1969 19th August. One on Tresco. 29th September. One on St. Agnes. 1970 27th September. One on Tresco. 88 WILSON'S PHALAROPE Phalaropus tricolor Since 1961 there have been 9 records. 1961 15th June to 4th July. One on Marazion Marsh. 1962 23rd August to 25th August. One at Ponsandane, Penzance. 1963 2nd September. One at Trewornan, Camel Estuary. 1964 22nd June to 23rd June. One on St. Agnes. 1966 4th September. One on Hayle Estuary. 1967 6th September to 12th September. One on Marazion Marsh. It was also seen on Hayle Estuary on the 10th September. 1970 6th October to 8th October. One at Looe. 1971 29th August to 7th September. One on St. Mary's. 8th September. One at Stithians Reservoir. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Tryngites subruficollis About 62 birds since 1962. The second most common American Wader recorded in Britain. 1962 9th September to 13th September. Three on St. Mary's Airport. 1963 18th September. One on Beach, St. Mary's. 28th September to 29th September. Two on St. Mary's. 2nd October. One on St. Mary's. 1967 17th September to 30th September. One on St. Mary's. 1968 14th September to 21st September. Two on St. Mary's. 1st October. One on St. Just Airport. 17th October to 24th October. One on St. Mary's. 1969 25th September to 27th September. One on St. Agnes. 1970 6th September to 4th October. Up to seven seen on St. Mary's. 12th September. One on Tresco. 15th September. One on Tresco. 20th September. One at Stithians Reservoir. 27th September. Four on Predannack Airfield, The Lizard. 28th September. One on St. Agnes. 5th October to 8th October. One on Tresco. 1971 4th June. Two on St. Agnes. 4th September to 10th September. Three on St. Mary's, remaining until 5th October. 27th September. One on St. Just Airfield. 1972 29th October. Two on St. Agnes. 1973 8th September to 15th September. Four at Stithians Reservoir. 10th September to 16th September. One on St. Mary's. 19th September. One on St. Agnes. 23rd September. Two on St. Mary's. 1974 26th August. One on Tresco. 27th August to 29th August. Two on St. Mary's. 8th September to 11th September. One on St. Mary's. 14th September. Two on St. Mary's. 15th September to 27th September. Three on St. Mary's. 1975 8th September to 18th September. Up to eight on St. Mary's. 10th September to 11th September. One on Tresco. 26th September to 11th October. One on St. Agnes. 10th October to 12th October. Two on St. Mary's. 1976 4th/5th September. One on St. Mary's. 17th/22nd September one on Tresco. LAUGHING GULL Larus atricilla 1967 31st October. One off St. Agnes. First for Scilly and fourth for Britain. 1974 22nd October. One off , St. Agnes. 89 BONAPARTE'S GULL Larus Philadelphia 1967 23rd October to 25th October. An adult at Newlyn. 1968 16th March to 9th April. An adult at St. Ives. 1969 1st March to 20th March. An adult at St. Ives. 1970 15th February to 26th April. An adult at St. Ives. 1971 30th January to 31st January. An adult at St. Ives. No doubt the same bird as in the previous three years.

ROYAL TERN Sterna maxima 1971 2nd September. One seen well at St. Ives. First record for Cornwall and Scilly and 3rd for Britain and Ireland.

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO Coccyzus americanus 1965 28th October. One on Gugh, St. Agnes. 1970 4th October. One on St. Mary's. 1971 4th November to 7th November. One at St. Mawes.

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO Coccyzus erythropthalmus 1965 30th October. One at Gweek. Found dying. 5th for Britain.

NIGHTHAWK Chordeiles minor 1971 12th & 13th October. One on St. Agnes. 4th for Britain. 1976 15th October. One picked up dead on St. Mary's (Beach). 1976 25th October. One picked up dead on St. Mary's (Airport).

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER Sphyrapicus varius 1975 26th September to 6th October. One on Tresco. First record for Britain and the second for Europe.

AMERICAN ROBIN Turdus migratorius 1963 1-2 on Gugh a day or two prior to 20th December. One trapped on the 20th December but found dead on the 28th December. 1976 17th October to 30th October. One on St. Agnes.

GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH Hylocichla minima 1976 14th October to 19th October. Two at Holy Vale, St. Mary's. One until 23rd. 15th October to 17th October. One at Salikie Farm, St. Mary's. 16th October to 20th October. One at Porthgwarra. 20th October. One on Tresco. Another from 21st October to at least the end of the month.

VEERY Hylocichla fuscescens 1970 6th October. One at Porthgwarra. First record for Britain and Europe. RED-EYED VIREO Vireo olivaceus 1962 4th October to 10th October. One on St. Agnes. A second bird from 5th October to 9th October. First records for Scilly and second and third for Britain and Europe. 1966 6th October. One on St. Agnes. 1968 6th October to 7th October. One on St. Agnes. 90 BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER Mniotilta varia 1975 27th September to 30th September. One on St. Mary's. The first record for Scilly and the second record for Britain, the first being in 1936. PARULA WARBLER Parula americana 1966 16th October to 17th October. One on Tresco. First British record. 1967 26th November. One near St. Ives. Second record for Britain. MYRTLE WARBLER Dendroica coronata 1968 23rd October to 27th October. One on St. Mary's. First record for Scilly. Third record for Britain. 1973 16th October to 23rd October. One on Tresco. BLACKPOLL WARBLER Dendrocia striata 1968 11th October to 25th October. One on St. Agnes. First record for Britain and Scilly. 1970 20th October to 26th October. One on St. Agnes. 1975 19th October to 1st November. One on St. Agnes. 1976 4th October to 13th October. One at Salikie, St. Mary's. 6th October to 23rd October. One at Holy Vale, S. Mary's. 7th October to 20th October. One on St. Agnes. 8th October to 12th October. Two on St. Agnes. 9th October. One on St. Martin's, Scilly. 14th October. One at Watermill, St. Mary's. 20th October to 3rd November. One on Tresco. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH Seiurus noveboracensis 1968 4th October to 8th October. One on Tresco. Second record for Scilly and second British record. HOODED WARBLER Wilsonia citrina 1970 20th September to 23rd September. One on St. Agnes. First for Britain and Europe. AMERICAN REDSTART Setophaga ruticilla 1967 21st October. One at Porthgwarra. First record for Britain and second for Europe. BOBOLINK Dolichonyx oryzivorus 1962 19th September. One on St. Agnes. First record for Britain. 1968 10th October. One on St. Mary's. Second record for Britain. 1975 9th October. One on St. Mary's. Fifth record for Britain. 1976 28thSeptember to 29th September. One on Tresco. BALTIMORE ORIOLE Icterus galbula 1966 15th October. One at Porthgwarra. Fourth British record. 1967 18th October to 26th October. One on St. Agnes. First record for Scilly. 1968 11th May to 13th May. One at Racecourse Downs, Bodmin. 29th September to 3rd October. One on St. Agnes. SCARLET TANAGER Piranga olivacea 1970 4th October. One on St. Mary's. First record for Britain and Scilly. 1975 27th September to 3rd October. One on Tresco, an immature male. This was the second record for Scilly and Britain. 91 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK Pheucticus ludovicianus 1966 6th October to 11th October. One on St. Agnes. First for Scilly and third for Britain. 1976 16th October to 31st October. One on St. Mary's. 20th October to 26th October. One on Tresco. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank Mrs. C. Spry for typing the first draft of this paper and Mr. J. F. Spry for his advise and helpful comments in the preparation. SUMMARY To publish all the records of American vagrants in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. To give a more general picture of their occurrances in the past 16 years. As this article shows there has been a marked increase in records since 1961 with several new species of passerines added to the British and European list. It will be interesting to see if the next 15 years will be so productive. REFERENCES Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Annual Reports 1961-1976. Isles of Scilly Reports 1961-1976. British Birds Rarities Reports 1961-1975. The Birds of Canada by W. Earl Godfrey. E. Griffiths, 8 Cowdray Terrace, Saltash, Cornwall.

THE FRESHWATER COMPLEX OF BODMIN MOOR AND ITS ASSOCIATED WILDFOWL By P. S. D. Jones. For species of Wildfowl dependant on freshwater, Bodmin Moor is, or on the completion of the Colliford Reservoir will be, the most important area within the county. The complex of reservoirs on the Moor collectively will provide the largest surface area of freshwater in Cornwall. Already existing reservoirs at Siblyback and Crowdy Marsh are important wintering areas for many species of wildfowl. At the moment the reservoir at Siblyback has proven itself the greater attraction to wildfowl and waders alike. However, his should not in anyway lessen the importance of Crowdy Marsh reservoir. Crowdy Marsh due to its high altitude and exposed setting can be a bleak and inhospitable place in the winter, but it is in the summer months that the importance of this area can be recognised. The lush flora of an old and established marshland habitat unceasingly attracts large numbers of dependant invertibrate and thus provides an abundant food supply to all its associated birdlife. The shore vegetation is subject to limited grazing but in view of the importance of the flora in this area, especially at the marsh end of the reservoir, further reduction in grazing would be desirable. Mallard, Teal, Coot and infrequently Little Grebe are some of the breeding species at the reservoir. In recent years Reed Warblers have joined Sedge Warblers here during the breeding season. Dozmary Pool, one of the most important sites in terms of its flora on Bodmin Moor, has had an impressive history for such species as Bewick's Swan and Pintail. 92 Bewick's Swan are present most years in small numbers, though there are years when the Moor fails to produce a record. Pintail have also been noted most years and this pool would appear a traditional site for this species, though rarely more than one bird is recorded. Red-necked, Slavonian and Black-necked Grebe have all been recorded at Dozmary and occasionally rare waders such as Grey Phalarope turn up. Goldeneye, usually singletons, are recorded annually here. In terms of birdlife, Siblyback Lake is without doubt the most important stand of water on Bodmin Moor. Wigeon, Pochard, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Coot all find their main moorland wintering quarters here. Sawbills are particularly frequent. Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander and Smew have, in recent years, been recorded here, annually. It would appear that Goosander and Smew now find their principal Cornish wintering grounds at Siblyback. Great- crested Grebe has been present on two occasions, once in spring and once in autumn. Little Grebes are well represented in winter, with as many as nine individuals having been recorded at one time ; infrequently this species of Grebe will stay to breed. Mallard, Moorhen and Coot are amongst species using the area as a breeding site. Movement between these three waters has been a noticeable feature during the period I have been studying the fauna of Bodmin Moor, a notable example being the regular commuting of both Pochard and Goosander between Siblyback and Dozmary. Movement between Crowdy reservoir and the remaining waters is far less noticeable, except possibly movements of Wigeon between Crowdy and Siblyback.

Wildfowl Tables Records from as far back as 1959 have been used in the text, but do not figure in the formulation of the tables. In the case of Dozmary Pool numbers refer to 1961 onwards and for Crowdy Marsh and Siblyback reservoirs, numbers refer to records made since their completion. Key to abbreviations used in the tables : X = Annually recorded. XX = Occurs regularly, but not every year. XXX = Vagrant. TABLE 1 DOZMARY POOL Species 1st winter period 2nd winter period Mallard X 53 27 Teal X 30 24 Gadwall XX 3 4 Wigeon XX 17 3 Pintail XX 2 1 Shoveler X 18 9 Scaup XX 1 1 Tufted Duck X 20 5 Pochard X 50 50 Goldeneye X 4 2 Long-tailed Duck XXX 1 1 Goosander X 3 1 Greylag Goose XXX 2 2 Mute Swan XXX 4 4 Whooper Swan XX 3 7 Bewick's Swan XX 19 13 Coot X 30 20 93 TABLE 2 CROWDY MARSH RESERVOIR Species 1st winter period 2nd winter period Mallard X 100 87 Teal X 100 150 Gadwall X 5 3 Wigeon X 100 30 Pintail XX 3 1 Shoveler XX 7 3 Scaup XX 3 1 Tufted Duck X 15 8 Pochard X 37 21 Goldeneye XX 4 1 Red-b Merganser XX 1 Goosander XX 1 4 Shelduck XXX 1 W-fronted Goose XX 6 30 Barnacle Goose XXX 1 Canada Goose XXX 2 Whooper Swan XX 2 Bewicks Swan XX 9 Coot X 200 130

TABLE 3 SIBLYBACK LAKE Species 1st winter period 2nd winter period Mallard X 130 108 Teal X 100 50 Garganey XXX 2 Gadwall X 10 7 Wigeon X 208 134 Pintail XX 5 4 Shoveler X 7 12 Scaup XX 1 4 Tufted Duck X 25 15 Pochard X 140 98 Goldeneye XX 3 3 Common Scoter XXX 1 Red-b Merganser XX 1 1 Goosander X 8 7 Smew X 2 4 W-fronted Goose XX 5 Barnacle Goose XXX 1 Mute Swan XXX 2 Bewick's Swan XX 4 4 Coot X 300 100

94 THE SOCIETY'S RULES (Current from 6th May, 1978)

Rule 1. (Name) The Society shall be called " The Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society."

Rule 2. (Objects) The objects of the Society shall be :— (a) To further the study of birds in the field. (b) To assist in their preservation. Rule 3. (Membership) The Society shall consist of a President, a Chairman, a Vice- Chairman, one or more Honorary Secretaries, Honorary Treasurer and Registrar, Assistant Honorary Treasurer and Registrar, Honorary Editor, Assistant Honorary Editor, a Scientific Officer, an Organiser for Field Meetings, Honorary Joint Editors Isles of Scilly Journal, Officer for Youth and Education, Full and Junior Members. Any persons under the age of 18 years shall be eligible for Junior Membership, and any person who has attained his or her 18th birthday for Full Membership. Junior members shall be entitled to participate in the activities of the Society, but they shall be ineligible for election to the Executive Committee or Officers of the Society. Life Members may be elected provided that they have signed the declaration on the subject of protection upon a single payment of £20.00. With a view to recognition of useful service to the aims of the Society a General Meeting of the Society may, upon the proposition and seconding by any members, elect any person to be a Honorary Member of the Society without regard to the actual membership or non membership of such person, who is deemed worthy of such election. Any Honorary Member so elected shall enjoy all the rights of Full Membership without payment of any subscription being required, but in the case of a non-Member, signature of the declaration on the subject of Protection will be required. The Officers shall be elected annually at the first General Meeting of the year (which Meeting shall be named the Annual Meeting) and shall be eligible for re-election. New Members may be elected at any General or Executive Committee meeting provided they have signed the declaration on the subject of protection and paid the current year's subscription.

Rule 4. No person shall become a member of the Society until he declares in writing that he will not take the eggs or skins of any birds protected by law and any member proved to the satisfaction of a General Meeting of the Society to have taken or incited any other person to take the eggs or skins of such birds shall forthwith cease to be a member of the Society. 95 Rule 5. (Subscription) The Subscription shall be £1 for Full Members: 50p for each additional member of the same family sharing the same literature : and 50p for Junior Members, payable on election and thereafter on the 1st January. But any member who both signs the declaration form and pays the first subscription after 30th September in any year, shall not be liable to pay a further subscription until the close of the following year. A Junior Member, on attaining his or her 18th birthday shall not be liable to pay a Full Member's subscription until after the close of the current year.

Rule 6. (Management) The Secretaries shall keep minutes of the meetings and prepare such literature as will keep members informed of the Society's activities. The Treasurer shall present a Statement of Accounts at the Annual Meeting each year. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the Officers and fifteen ordinary members. A nomination in writing containing the name and address of the member proposed for election to the Executive Committee together with the names and addresses of a proposer and seconder must have been received by a Secretary at least 10 days before the Annual General Meeting. This Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual Meeting and shall deal with all routine business. The Executive Committee shall have power to add to this number subject to confirmation at the next Annual Meeting. No ordinary member shall serve on this Committee for more than three consecutive years.

Rule 7. (Meetings) General Meetings shall be held as often as necessary, but not less than twice a year (including the Annual Meeting). The Executive Committee shall meet when necessary for the transaction of routine business. All meetings shall be convened in consultation with the President and Chairman.

Rule 8. (Alteration of Rules) An alteration of Rules may be made at any General Meeting, provided that the precise alteration has been shown in advance on the Agenda, and that the alteration be passed by a two-thirds majority of those present.

Rule 9. This Society shall neither be dissolved, nor amalgamated with, nor subordinated to any other body without the consent of two-thirds of the Members, at a General Meeting at which business is transacted, and in respect of which dissolution, amalgamation or subordination, prior notice must have been given under Rule 8. For the purpose of this Rule, Members may vote by post. 96