TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Preamble ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Fiel Days, 1957 ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 The Weather of 1956 ... ... ... ... 5 List of Contributors ... ... ... ... ... 6 Cornish Notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Ringing Recoveries ... ... ... ... ... 23 Arrival and Departure of Cornish-Breeding Migrants ... 24 The Walmsley Sanctuary and Camel Estuary ... ... 26 The Cornish Seas ... ... ... ... ... 27 The Isles of Scilly ... ... ... ... 28 Arrival and Departure of Migrants in the Isles of Scilly ... 35 St. Agnes Shores (Isles of Scilly) ... ... ... 36 Migration in the Isles of Scilly ... ... ... ... 37 Hayle Estuary ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 Five Sparrows for Two Farthings ... ... ... 41 The Macmillan Library ... ... ... ... 43 The Society's Rules ... ... ... ... ... 44 Balance Sheet ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 List of Members ... ... ... ... ... 46 Committees for 1956 and 1957 ... ... ... ... 59 Index ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 60 TWENTY-SIXTH REPORT OF The Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society 1956 Edited by B. H. RYVES, H. M. QUICK and J. E. BECKERLEGGE (kindly assisted by R. H. BLAIR and A. G. PARSONS) Forty-five members joined the Society in 1956. We regret the loss by death of six members, nine have resigned, and 43 have had their names removed from the list for the reason of non-payment of subscriptions. This makes a total of 589 ordinary members. The twenty-fifth Annual General Meeting was held in the Museum, Truro, on April 19th, when Mr. Hurrell showed his films of the Dipper and other birds. The Autumn meeting was held on November 3rd. Mr. Palmer spoke on migration, and Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge on recording. One Executive Committee meeting was held during the year. Our thanks are due to Mr. Wills for kindly auditing the accounts. Three Field Days were held during the year. The Home Secretary has agreed to make an Order prohibiting the shooting of Schedule III birds on Sundays and it is expected that the Order will be in force by August, 1957. Following negotiations with Messrs. Harvey's, of Hayle, during which much kindly interest in the Society's aspirations was shown, they granted a lease for 21 years to three members of the Society in respect of the shooting rights over Hayle Estuary, Carnsew Pool, Lelant Beach and Porthkidney Beach as far west as Carrhack Gladden. The lease contains a provision whereby members of the Society will not themselves shoot and will also actively prevent others from so doing. Our debt of gratitude to Messrs. Harvey for the very generous terms granted is very great. In addition, the opportunities for familiarising ourselves with and studying the Waders and other species of birds there at all seasons should actively be enjoyed by members. For the second time within two years the Police successfully pursued trappers of wild birds in the Hayle district. At the sub­ sequent prosecution before the West Penwith Bench in December, 1956, charges, relating to being in possession of wild birds and apparatus used in taking them, were heard against two defendants. Each defendant was found guilty on all counts and each was fined £7 and costs. An additional charge against one defendant in respect 3 of a gun for which he had no licence incurred a separate fine of £1. The birds were Goldfinches and the apparatus comprised decoy cages and rods coated with birdlime. The birds were released and the apparatus impounded and destroyed. As on previous occasions, the assistance of a member of the Society was gladly given to the police upon request in order to assist in stamping out this vile trade of catching and trafficking in birds whose agricultural utility is to be valued as well as the beauty of their appearance and song. The thanks of each and all of us are due to the Police for their sympathy and help in such matters. We must not be content to leave it there. Careful and unobtrusive observation by members and early reporting to the police of suspicious circumstances is required in order to deal with other such cases. Members are asked to send their records for the year, before January 15th, to the Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge, Crowan Vicarage, Praze, Camborne. They are begged to send their subscriptions to the Treasurer, and NOT to any of the Secretaries. Mr. Parsons is still prepared to answer queries about telescopes and field glasses. In view of the continued increase in membership, it is impos­ sible for the Hon. Secretaries to recognise new Members as such. If they would introduce themselves at meetings or Field days the Secretaries or leaders would appreciate the opportunity of welcoming them. Interesting bird visitors during the year included an Ortolan Bunting, Water Pipit, two Great Grey Shrikes, a Bee-eater, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover and Black Guillemot. ***** FIELD DAYS, 1957 18th May. Lemail Woods, Nr. Wadebridge. Meeting at the signpost at 2.15 p.m. Owing to the very limited space at the entrance to the woods it would be better to leave cars, except for one or two to convey members, near the main road. 10th August. Porthkidney Beach, Lelant. Meeting by Lelant Church at 2.30 p.m. This outing is specially to show Terns in adult and juvenile plumages. A visit to Hayle Estuary will follow, if desired. 7th September. Camel Estuary. Meeting beyond Trewornan Bridge, on the saltings, at 2.30 p.m. 14th September. The Island, St. Ives. Meeting from 2.0 p.m. It is hoped to show various sea birds, as has been asked for occasionally. A visit to Hayle Estuary will follow, if desired. Cars can be left in the park; would members then come up to the Coastguard post to the right of the Chapel, 4 THE WEATHER OF 1956 By B. H. RYVES The year will probably be long remembered for the intensive cold of February, which caused exceptionally serious damage to vegetation. In my own garden some of my ancient, but vigorous, Insignis Pines were killed outright, while others were cruelly pun­ ished. As regards birds, the mortality was pathetic among Thrushes, Lapwings and others. Memorable, too, will be the wretched and cold summer which produced a devastating westerly gale in July, causing much damage to fruit and vegetables and also the terrify­ ing violence of a thunder-storm in September. January. A month of varying conditions—cold winds, heavy rains, some frosts and rain, a warm day or two! February. The first three days brought hard frost and a fall of snow. On the 9th a fearful Ice Age enveloped the land, and continued till nearly the close of the month. As already stated, the damage done to vegetation was phenomenal. I must earnestly hope that we may be spared such awful conditions for many years to come. March. An uneventful month of normal conditions. April. An exceedingly dry month with generally cold winds. May. Useful rain fell on the 2nd and again on the 9th. In other respects, drought held its grip, helped by cold northerly winds. June. On the 4th, good rain saved the situation, and more fell on the 16th. Otherwise the month was cold and dry. A warm day or two was occasionally vouchsafed to us. July. Mainly dull, dry, blowy and cold with an occasional small ration of rain. On the 29th, as already stated in my opening remarks, a devastating westerly gale struck the land with enormous strength. August. On the 3rd the cold was almost of winter intensity. On the 5th nice rain fell, but on the 12th arctic winds hit us. The 18th being brutally cold. A truly horrible month. September. On the 9th a vicious thunder-storm struck the land. On the 28th heavy rain fell. Otherwise the month produced nothing of special note. October was probably about the least unpleasant month of 1956. November. Nothing for special complaint! December. The worst feature of this month was probably the very wet Christmas Day. 5 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS W.E.A. Lt.-Col. W. E. Almond. G.A. Dr. G. Allsop. P. & R.A. Misses P. and R. Aspinall. J.E.B. The Revd. J. E. Beckerlegge. R.H.B. Dr. R. H. Blair. F.E.C. Mrs. F. E. Carter. H.J.C. H. J. Chipman. R.K.C. R. K. Clarke. H.P.O.C. H. P. O. Cleave. E.N.C. E. N. Cock. D.R.C. D. R. Coda. R.M.C. R. M. Curber. W.H.D. W. H. Dady (non-member). F.M.D. F. M. Deacon. R.H.D. R. H. Dennis (non-member). L.E. L. Elmhurst (non-member). J.J.W.E. J. J. W. Everett (non-member). R.M.F. R. M. Fry. M.A.G. Mrs. M. A. Gunby (non-member) J.M.H. Dr. J. M. Harrison (non-member) E.I.H. Miss E. I. Harvey. R.H. R. Hosken. H.G.H. H. G. Hurrell. L.J. & S.W.J. Miss L. and Mrs. S. W. Johns. M.J.J. Miss M. J. Jones. H.R.K. Mrs. H. Rait Kerr. G.E.O.K. G. E. O. Knight (non-member). P.G.L. Major P. G. Lyster. T.R.L. T. R. Lawson (non-member). D.J.L. D. J. Low (non-member). R.H. & M.J.M. Mr. and Mrs. Meares. K.D.N. K. D. Nash. R.E.N. R. E. Newham. I.G.N. Miss I. G. Nicholson. W.H.O. W. H. Oughton. J.L.P. J. L. Palmer. A.G.P. A. G. Parsons. E.M.P. Miss E. M. Paynter. N.R.P. N. R. Phillips. R.M.P. Miss R. M. Phillips. 6 A.B.P. Mrs. A. B. Powell. H.M.Q. Miss H. M. Quick. p.R. F. Radway. p.H.R.