No 53 - Winter 2015 funding for contractors to carry out this BTO volunteers Simon Taylor steps work. Another of Simon’s initiatives was ‘A Day for Nature’. He got CBWPS committee BTO volunteers and sci- down at and SWLT approval to host an Open Day at entists have contributed Stithians for the County’s top conservation to four high level Biodi- The CBWPS is sorry to report that Simon groups to promote awareness and generate versity Indicators; time Taylor has stepped down as Stithians war- further interest in conservation. spent in conservation by den, a role he held since 2007. Simon cites a Simon instigated the feeders near volunteers, pressure from invasive non- number of reasons for his decision, including the hide which have proved such an attrac- native species, the status of threatened spe- vandalism at the hides. tion for several Winters, and brought in cies, and the status of birds of the wider We are very grateful to Simon for his sightings of Marsh Tits, Bramblings, Water countryside and at sea. dedication and commitment to the Stithians Rail and large numbers of commoner spe- Published in December 2014 these Reserve. He worked tirelessly to manage and cies. He funded the materials from his own are part of a suite of 25 indicators of con- promote the site. As well as collating infor- pocket to set up and concrete in the feeder servation engagement, pressures and the mation about sight- frames, supplied the feeders themselves (the state of nature updated annually by the ings at Stithians and seed and nuts were funded by the Society) Government. Read more about the Biodi- writing the quarterly and kept them filled through successive versity Indicators for 2014 at reports for Palores, Winters. The feeders need filling every www.bto.org/science/monitoring/ he did a great deal of other day in Winter, and daily during spells developing-bird-indicators. hands-on manage- of hard weather. A team of 5 are currently ment, including regu- sharing this role which Simon covered sin- Plastic menace larly clearing the area gle-handed. in front of the Stuart The Society was approached by A minimum of 5.25 trillion particles of Hutchings hide, and Simon in 2009 to sponsor him for £100 to plastic, weighing nearly 269,000 tonnes, are the value of the start a nest box scheme at Stithians. The estimated to be floating in the world’s Southern cut-off hide in particular has been CBWPS gave him the money, the first oceans. New research concludes that pieces transformed by his efforts. Each Autumn he boxes were put up (with Simon funding of plastic primarily from food and drink cleared the growth of willow from in front of once again out of his own pocket any re- packaging amass an equivalent weight of the hide and around the feeders. If left un- placement boxes needed through Wood- 1,415 Blue Whales put together, yet is checked, this would have cut off views of pecker damage). This further led Simon to open water almost completely. He also pro- pay for the construction of another 90 boxes mainly made up of ‘micro-plastics’ measur- moted a scheme to dig out channels, scrapes nearer to home. Simon’s departure is a great ing less than 5mm. 95% of dead Fulmars and pools to retain open water in front of the loss to the Society. He has left a valuable analysed from the North Sea have been Southern cut-off hide. This has not yet been legacy and example for his successor, Dan found to have an average of 44 pieces of implemented, but South West Lakes Trust Chaney, to follow and we welcome Dan and plastic contents in their stomachs, with one (SWLT) has recently agreed to revisit the thank him for taking on this important role. bird having 1,603 pieces. (Source: BTO) Top bird photographs Ornithology history Adrian Langdon, warden of Walmsley Sanc- Colin Rees, right, an old friend of renowned tuary, showcases some of his favourite bird Cornish ornithologist Roger Penhallurick, is photos in a new Palores feature ‘Picture writing a history of Perfect’ on page 10. Thanks to Adrian for Cornish ornithol- sharing his wonderful shots. Future editions ogy. Roger had of Palores will feature the work of other bird conceived the pro- photographers in . Adrian’s most ject but died before recent travels have included a very chilly he could begin it. Norway—see below. Colin has taken on the challenge, see Black Guillemot in harbour, 14th page 3. Colin is December 2014, photo by Brian Mellow the co-author with Derek Thomas of Breeding season success Birds of a Feather. Thanks to the benign weather in the spring Subs time! CONTENTS and summer of 2014, birds in the UK en- Chairman’s Chat p3 joyed a bumper breeding season. Not all our If you haven’t Bird report p4 migrant birds returned however, according paid your 2015 to the BTO, although those that did also Reserves report p8 subscription yet, Picture Perfect p10 benefitted from the good breeding condi- please contact our Island p14 tions this year. Membership Sec For more details see www.bto.org/volunteer asap to do so. Swans p16 -surveys/nrs/results/nrs-preliminary-results- Many thanks and Field Meetings p18 2014. Happy New Year. Get to know p 20

CBWPS Directors and Officers Palores – January 2015 f you haven’t had a chance to look at the RSPB’s latest ‘State of the UK’s birds President: Steve Madge I 2014’ report (available on their website), I urge you to do so - but have a stiff Seawinds, Lower Trerive, Downderry, , drink to hand, or something soft nearby to collapse on to. It makes for very depress- PL11 3LZ (01503 250432) ing reading. Here are some of the facts: since 1970, these are the percentage de- clines in the following species: Turtle Dove 96%; Grey Partridge 91%; Cuckoo Chairman: Mark Grantham 64%; Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 82%; even the Little Grebe is down by 53%. 17 Croft Parc, The Lizard, , TR12 7PN Of course there are some good news stories too. Thanks to the herculean (01326 291133) efforts of the RSPB and others, Bitterns are on the increase, as are Ospreys, Marsh [email protected] Harriers and so on. But these successes are entirely overshadowed by the long-term trend which is one of calamitous decline in what were once Honorary Secretary: Cait Hutchings common species. 24 Kernick Road, Penryn, TR10 8NT Behind the collapse in bird populations, lies the even (01326 375593 Mob: 07896353601) bigger problem, namely the destruction of the natural habitat, our landscapes and our countryside. Much of this destruction Honorary Treasurer: John Stanlake is dressed up as progress. The need for new housing, better 12 Deacon Drive, PL12 4SL. transport, renewable energy and so on. But the price that is (01752 848541) being paid for all these things is a terrifyingly high one. The curious thing is how little politicians—local and national, and Conservation Officer: Tony Blunden of all political persuasions - seem to care about our natural Pencairn, Penmenner Road, The Lizard, Helston, environment. And this despite the fact that RSPB member- TR12 7NR. (01326 291064) ship, for example, dwarfs the memberships of all the political [email protected] parties put together. Can anything be done about this or are we and the next few generations doomed to live in a concrete, overcrowded waste- County Recorder: Dave Parker land in which the only creatures accorded any living space are human? 2 Boslevan, Green Lane, Well, some important voices are beginning to be heard. The Prince of Cornwall TR17 0HQ Wales (also Duke of Cornwall of course) wrote an impassioned plea for our coun- (07932 354711) [email protected] tryside in a November issue of Country Life, as did Simon Jenkins, the outgoing Assistant County Recorders: chairman of the National Trust. The great majority of people in this country, urban Tony Mills, Mike Spicer dwellers as well as rural, want our countryside to be protected—for everyone’s sake. But it will need this mass voice to be heard too, and heard loud and clear by Honorary Solicitor: Greg Adams all our politicians if anything is to be done to halt and perhaps reverse the desecra- 2 Wendron Street, Helston TR13 8PS tion of what may not be for very much longer, our green and pleasant land.

Simon Marquis Minutes Secretary: Phil McVey

Bruce Taggart, The Cornwall Bird Watching & Preservation Society Peter Kent

Membership Secretary: Angela Tonry 20 The Copse, Boscoppa, PL25 3EU (07944 988599) [email protected]

Editor, Palores: Simon Marquis Registered Charity No 1144724 St Breock Place, , PL27 7JS The CBWPS was founded in 1931 to encourage the study and pres- (07711 883876) [email protected] ervation of birds in Cornwall. The Society has over 1000 members in total. It owns 4 reserves and manages jointly several others. The Website administrator: Nigel Climpson Society organises weekly bird watching field trips (some jointly with [email protected] the RSPB local members group). Palores (its colour newsletter for members) is published quarterly. Field Meetings Officer: Gordon Mills 11 Commercial Street, Cambourne, TR14 8JZ (01209 718144) [email protected] 2015 Subscriptions: Adult £17 Family £21 Senior Citizen £14 Senior Family £16 Reserve Wardens:

[email protected] Adrian Langdon Subscriptions are due by 31st January 2015. Cheques made out to ‘CBWPS’ please. Please pay by Gift Aid if you can - it saves the Soci- [email protected] Graham Sutton ety £1900 a year. For all payments, membership applications and [email protected] Dougy Wright enquiries please contact: [email protected] Dave Parker Angela Tonry, Membership Secretary, Loveny - Dave Conway 20 The Copse, Boscoppa, St Austell PL25 3EU Stithians - Dan Chaney Email: membership @cbwps.org.uk Independent Examiner: Mr S.G. Hawkey ACA Whitakers, Bryndon House, 5 Berry Road, Palores is published in January, April, July & October. TR7 1AD (01637-873838) Design and typesetting by the Editor. To advertise contact the editor. Full page ad £100. Half page £50. Small ads and notices free to members. Printed by R. Booth Ltd, Penryn. Distribution by Envelope Supplies.

2

studies in the southwest. This was very well received and Chairman’s Chat we will certainly be running further conferences in the near future. On a less savoury seabird note, the Society was able s Christmas (and 2015) comes rushing to work with the authorities investigating the issue of exces- A in, it’s a good time to look back at sive fishery by-catch in the Fal estuary. This advisory role some of the activities the Society has been can be very wide-ranging, from commenting on cliff-top involved with in 2014. housing developments and hotel developments (Drake’s There’s always a lot of work goes on Island in particular) to objecting to wind turbine applica- ‘behind the scenes’ that goes unrecognised, tions where these are considered detrimental to birdlife. so to all those people who work tirelessly One ongoing issue concerns the culling of gulls in for the Society the Board would like to pub- Looe, where almost 200 eggs are replaced annually by the Mark Grantham licly offer our thanks. Whether it’s warden- town council. We are keen to pursue other means of gull ing one of our reserves, joining work par- control in the town, as we consider that such a cull of a Red- ties, writing bird report sections, organising or leading listed species is not the best solution. walks and talks, the Society relies on your efforts. On a more positive note, the breeding season saw I’d also like to personally thank all of the other many of us helping out with the BTO’s national Peregrine Board members, who have ensured that the sometimes mun- survey, whilst at the same time running our own re-survey dane day-to-day business of the Society goes ahead seam- of heronries in the county, which was a great success. Talk- lessly from my perspective. We’re lucky to have such a ing of Peregrines, we’re also still looking at siting a nesting dedicated group of Board members who bring a range of platform on cathedral which will be a great PR oppor- talents, experience and knowledge to the table. In this re- tunity for the Society and the Wildlife Trust. spect, we’re also pleased to announce the appointment to As for the coming year, it’s going to be exciting to the Board of Derek Spooner, who many of you will proba- see the continuing progress being made at Middle Amble bly know. Marsh, with the wetland enhancement scheme plans there Another new appointment is Dan Chaney, who has looking great. We’re also looking to further enhance our taken over the role of warden at Stithians Reservoir. This species monitoring in the county and hopefully this will be follows the departure of Simon Taylor, who has filled the reflected in the way Birds in Cornwall looks. warden role for many years and has dedicated a large I started by thanking all those who put seemingly amount of time (and money) to the site, and once again de- limitless enthusiasm and time into the Society, but there’s serves all our thanks. always room for more. So if you think you have something So the year began with a very successful joint con- to bring to the Society, do get in touch and we will hope- ference with the University of Exeter, focussing on seabird fully see the CBWPS thrive and further develop in 2015.

Long-tailedDunlin by Tit Steve by J St Rogers Ledger

Firecrest by B Field

oldest friend of some 60 years. So with the encouragement of his A new history of Cornish ornithology widow Pat, I am undertaking the daunting task of writing the book that will be dedicated to Roger. I begin with an overview of Corn- By Colin Rees n the late 1950s I spent a summer in wall’s landscape and move through pre-historic times, the mediae- I Cornwall with Roger Penhallurick. We val period and to more recent, later centuries. I end with chapters bicycled everywhere within a day’s journey of St Mawgan, enjoy- reviewing our own century and speculating on the future of orni- ing the exceptional weather and landscape. Birds were our abiding thology in the county. The great naturalists interest and I recall observing Choughs, Corn and Cirl Buntings Moyle, Carew, Borlase, Couch, Rodd and without much effort! Roger’s intoxication with Cornwall was evi- Ryves are centerpiece, and I explore their dent and it was a happy occasion when he left university to be- influence on Cornishmen as well as the come a Curator at the Royal Institution of Cornwall. He quickly influences on them from the rest of the became one of Cornwall’s pre-eminent archeologists, natural his- kingdom. Along the way, I examine the torians and ornithologists. With many competing demands he status of bird populations and their habi- managed to write and illustrate his two–volume Birds of Cornwall tats and valiant efforts to assure wildlife and contribute substantially to the CBWPS along with many protection in the face of industrialisation learned tomes on an infinite variety of subjects. and agricultural practices and the ‘joker in Over the ensuing years my work took me around the world the pack’ – climate change. Roger Penhallurick and I did not see much of Roger, but he was always there to greet I also weave a story of the evolu- and drive me to his favourite spots during one of our all too infre- tion of bird watching and ornithology, noting the changing ap- quent meetings. During one of my last visits he told me about his proaches and challenges, the growth of the CBWPS and its part- plan to write a history of Cornish ornithology and shared some nerships with national organisations. The book will be published in notes. Sadly, he died in 2004 before getting underway. I lost my 2015 by Isabelline Books.

3

bird report Sept-Nov 2014 by Mike Spicer

Tawny Owl by A. James

4

Whooper Swan: Flocks of up to six birds were reported from several parts of the county. Ruddy Shelduck: What is assumed to be the probable escape seen at Maer Lake in August was at St John’s Lake on 14th September. Mandarin: An eclipse male was at from 7th November into December. American Wigeon: A female was on Gannel Estuary from 8th – 25th November, joined by a second from 26th to the month’s end. Garganey: Singles were at Stithians Reservoir intermittently be- tween 5th and 22nd September, Siblyback Lake on 7th September, Marazion from 20th September until 13th October and Ryan’s Field on 7th October. Ring-necked Duck: An immature female was found at Drift Res- ervoir on 13th October, where it stayed until 28th. Velvet Scoter: Two were seen from the Scillonian near the Run- Osprey nelstone on 25th October. Quail: One was accidentally flushed between Trevilly and Nanji- zal on 10th September. Pacific Diver: The returning adult reappeared in Mount’s Bay on 22nd November but soon became erratic although it was still pre- sent into December. Great Shearwater: Nine were reported from the western seawatching points over the first ten days of September. Cory’s Shearwater: Singles were reported past Porthgwarra on 2nd September and Lizard Point on 26th September. Sooty Shearwater: Reported in good numbers throughout Sep- tember and October, with the last being five past Pendeen on 7th November. Maximum counts also came from Pendeen, with 25+ past on 1st September and 119 on 19th October. Manx Shearwater: 15,000 past Porthgwarra on 1st September was the best count received. Balearic Shearwater: There was a steady passage up to 8th No- vember, with three figure counts received of 104 past Lizard Point on 26th September, 258 past Porthgwarra on 8th October, 163 past Spotted Crake Mousehole on 8th October, 324 past Porthgwarra on 9th October, 360 past St Ives and 178 past Pendeen on 21st October. Little (Barolo) Shearwater: One was seen 13.75 miles WSW of Land’s End flying east on 8th October. Leach’s Petrel: Two past St Ives and one past Pendeen on 21st October. Bittern: The first returning bird of the winter was seen at Mara- zion Marsh on 3rd October. Great White Egret: One was seen near the dam at Stithians Res- ervoir on 9th November and one flew over Sancreed on 15th No- vember. Glossy Ibis: One made a brief stop at Marazion Marsh on 28th September. Spoonbill: One was on the Camel Estuary on 14th September and one was around the from 29th September intermit- tently until 12th November. Black Kite: One drifted ENE over Lizard Downs on 20th September and one was reported in off the sea at Nanquidno on 13th October. Osprey: There were over 30 reports up to mid October, including Dotterel three at Upper Tamar Lake on 7th September. A bird found dead at in early September is thought to have hit overhead wires. Merlin: The first of the autumn was an immature at Porthgwarra on 30th September. Hobby: Singles were reported from on 2nd September, Walmsley Sanctuary on 4th September, Marazion on 21st September and Kenidjack and Nanjizal on 1st October. Spotted Crake: At Marazion Marsh, one was seen on 8th Septem- ber and another from 23rd to 28th, with possibly 2-3 individuals on 25th. Also one was at Helston Loe Pool on 22nd. Corncrake: One was flushed at Land’s End on 18th September and another was seen at Little Treleaver, Coverack on 20th. Common Crane: One was seen at River Lynher on 24th Septem- ber, at Wacker Quay the next day and in flight over Coverack on 26th before finally being seen flying out to sea over Kynance on 27th. Also four flew over Goonhavern on 1st October, one flew over Colliford Reservoir on 11th October with another there on 5th November. American Golden Plover

5

Stone Curlew: One was heard flying over Porthgwarra in thick fog on 29th October. Dotterel: The August bird at Porthgwarra was joined by a second on 1st - 4th September and another was seen there in flight on 10th, with it or another nearby on 13 – 14th. Also one was seen over The Lizard on 26th. Golden Plover: 750+ were reported over Bastreet, Moor on 26th October and 1-2000 were seen at Hayle Kimbro on 11th November. American Golden Plover: One was at Davidstow Airfield from 15th – 31st October. Pectoral Sandpiper: One was found at Marazion Marsh on 6th September, where it remained until 15th. Purple Sandpiper: The first three were reported back at Jubilee Pool, on 30th September. Lesser Yellowlegs: The August bird at Croft Pascoe Pool remained until 4th September and another was on Copperhouse Yellow-billed Cuckoo Creek from 21st October into December, visiting the Old Quay- house on 26th. Redshank: Notable counts were 150 were at Devoran and 126 at Tresemple Pool on 7th September. Red-necked Phalarope: A juvenile was seen from Shearwater II at sea on 4th September. Grey Phalarope: The first were off Pendeen and from Scillonian III on 10th October. High counts were received on 21st October with 32 past St Ives and 6 past Pendeen. Long-tailed Skua: Two past St Ives and three past Pendeen on 21st October plus one past Lizard Point on 8th November. Sabine’s Gull: A juvenile was seen from Scillonian III just south of Penzance on 3rd September and an adult past Lizard Point on 22nd September. 21st October produced two past St Ives, three past Pendeen and one past . Mediterranean Gull: Unusually high counts of over 100 were regular from Hayle Estuary during the period, peaking at 140. Isabelline Shrike Ring-billed Gull: A first-winter was at Sennen Cove briefly on 24th November. Yellow-legged Gull: Three were seen from a Penzance pelagic on 2nd September. Also there was a second winter on Hayle Estuary on 4th and 7th September and a first winter at Marazion Beach on 27th and Gwithian on 2nd October. Bridled Tern: A candidate for the bird of the autumn was a fly- past at Pendeen, to the delight of most of the assembled seawatchers. Black Tern: Three were at St John’s Lake on 4th September with one at Torpoint the next day. Forster’s Tern: One lucky observer had a fly past at Cape Corn- wall on 22nd October. Turtle Dove: Reports came of individuals at Sennen on 29th Sep- tember, Perranuthnoe on 30th September, Sancreed on 4th - 5th Oc- tober, Lizard Village on 5th October and Polgigga on 9th October. Cuckoo: One was reported in song at St Buryan on 21st Septem- Red-backed Shrike ber. Yellow-billed Cuckoo: One frequented Porthgwarra on 23rd and 24th October. Swift: One at Towan Head on 18th October was the last reported. Hoopoe: One was seen briefly at Connor Down on 16th November. Wryneck: There were 23 reported during September, including three at Soapy Cove on 7th and four in October, the last being one at Prussia Cove on 23rd. Isabelline Shrike: A first winter thought to be of the race phoeni- curoides was at Pendeen from 9 – 16 November, within a mile of last year’s adult. Red-backed Shrike: a juvenile was at Windmill Farm from 27th September until 4th October and a first winter was at Tregeseal from 11th – 16th November, allowing close comparison with its cousin up the road. Chough: A flock of 14 were seen at Botallack on 5th September and 12 were at Nanjizal Bay on 11th October. Hooded Crow: The individual at Roskestal Farm remained until 26th October at least and several hybrid young were reported in the Gwynver area. Swallow: 450 were seen at Zennor on 22nd September. Desert Wheatear

6

Yellow Wagtail: The highest count received was of 20 at Nanquidno on 10th September. Siberian Stonechat: One was seen and photographed on 27th Oc- tober near Porthgwarra but sadly was only seen by the finder. Wheatear: 52 was the highest count received, at Porthgwarra on 7th September. Desert Wheatear: A very obliging female frequented the clifftop path at Porthgwarra from 26th November into December. Bearded Tit: Two flew over Marazion Marsh calling on the morn- ing of 23rd September but could not be relocated. th th Short-toed Lark: One was at Cubert from 28 - 29 September, Barred Warbler another was at Sancreed from 5th to 10th October and a third was at Rinsey Head on 7th October. Arctic Warbler: One was seen briefly at Church Cove on the Yellow-browed Warbler morning of 30th September. Pallas’s Warbler: A single report of one at Rame, 18th October. Yellow-browed Warbler: The first of the autumn was at Porth Joke on 22nd September. Radde’s Warbler: An unusually confiding individual was at Kenidjack Valley on 26th October. Dusky Warbler: One remained at Kelynack from 16th November to the end of the month. Wood Warbler: One was seen briefly at Church Cove on the morning of 30th September, discovered by the finder of the Arctic Warbler which he was trying to relocate. Siberian Chiffchaff: Several around W. by November. Western Bonelli’s Warbler: One was seen at a private site in West Penwith on 15th September. Another at Kenidjack on 19-20th refused to give itself up by calling, and must therefore go down as a Bonelli’s Warbler sp. Barred Warbler: A juvenile was trapped and ringed at a private site in West Penwith on 8th September. Also singles were at Porthgwarra on 11th October and Pendeen on 29th October. Eastern Lesser Whitethroat: An individual from one of the far eastern races was at Stithians Reservoir from 10th – 12th November. Subalpine Warbler: A male was at Porthgwarra from 10th – 18th October, although it’s race is yet to be determined. Aquatic Warbler: A juvenile was trapped and ringed at a private site in West Penwith on 9th September. Marsh Warbler: One was at Rinsey Head on 7th September. Rose-coloured Starling: A juvenile was first seen at Penzance on th th 8 - 9 September. What is assumed to be the same bird was then Radde’s Warbler relocated at Land’s End the next day and then settled at Higher Tregiffian Farm from 15th – 19th. It or another was then at St Ives from 4th – 9th October and then Penzance from 10th October until 4th November, with possibly the same bird coming in to roost at Marazion Marsh on 2nd November. Other reports came from Lizard Village on 22nd September and 4th October, St Buryan intermittently between 29th October to 12th November and St Ives again on 11th November. Red-breasted Flycatcher: The first of the autumn was at Porthgwarra on 10th October, followed by one at Rame on 15th October and two at Nanquidno on 25th and 26th October. Richard’s Pipit: One was in fields at Nanjizal on 1st October, singles were at Cot Valley and Land’s End on 5th October, th st Porthgwarra on 27 October, Coverack on 1 November, Bone Siberian Chiffchaff Valley, Heamoor on 20th – 24th November and Coverack on 29th November. Red-throated Pipit: A first-winter was at a private site at Chapel Photos from the top of this report: Carn Brea on 18th September and a flyover was reported from Sen- Tawny Owl by A. James nen on 9th November. Meadow Pipit: 800+ were seen south over Buttermilk Hill, St Ives Osprey by J. Irvine on 10th October. Spotted Crake by Rod Farnes Water Pipit: One was at Rinsey Head on 6th October. Dotterel by John St Ledger Serin: One was seen briefly at Lizard Village on 11th October, one was at Polgigga on 18th and Porthgwarra on 20th November. American Golden Plover by Adrian Davey Linnet: 4-500 were reported from Levant on 15th September. Yellow-billed Cuckoo by Brian Field Common Rosefinch: A female or immature was seen at Land’s Isabelline Shrike and Red-backed Shrike th End on 14 September. by Brian Field Ortolan: Brief stayers were reported from St Levan on 3rd Septem- ber and Trevean on 4th September. Desert Wheatear by Rod Farnes Little Bunting: Reports were received from Church Cove on 11th Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, th October and presumably the same bird at Housel Bay on 12 Octo- Radde’s Warbler and Siberian Chiffchaff ber, with other sightings at St Levan on 26th October and Nanjizal on 20th November but none stayed. all by Brian Field 7

though nest building was observed no young were seen this year. A maximum of just 4 Cormorants were reported although they reserves were present throughout the period and included 2 colour-ringed report birds originally trapped on Mullion Island on 17th May this year. The odd Grey Heron was seen and there were up to 4 Little Egret seen sporadically. Despite good numbers of Ospreys being reported through- out the county none were recorded on the reserve this year and only 4 species of raptor were reported in the period. Moorhens, like the Water Rails, were more often heard than seen although present throughout, peaking at 8 and 2 respec- tively, while Coots briefly peaked at 8 before all moving on. Although this year conditions for waders were very good, the hoped for rarities failed to put in an appearance and disappoint- Oct-Dec ingly only 14 species were recorded with no large numbers. The 2014 only birds of note were a Spotted Redshank from 2nd to 20th Sep- tember, a Little Ringed Plover from 7th to 11th September and a Little Stint on 16th to 25th September. Large white-headed gulls were reported in good numbers throughout the period, but the first Black-headed Gulls were not Redwing by A Langdon hroughout the period wildfowl Drift T were slow to build up in num- bers with the following peak counts: By Dave Parker just 8 Mute Swan plus 5 Whooper Swan on 10th October. The geese were late again this year with the bulk not arriv- ing from their summer grounds on the Hayle Estuary until 24th November when there were 248 Canada Geese, 39 Greylag and 13 hybrid geese, plus an escaped Bar-headed Goose. Ducks were also quite low in numbers with the 2 Muscovy Ducks present through- out the period with up to 119 Mallard plus at least 1 late brood of ducklings. The two Call Ducks remained throughout the period and there were also 4 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 24 Teal, 18 Tufted Duck and 1 Pintail. Less expected was an immature female Ring- necked Duck, (which was a nice find for the WeBS counter) stay- Mediterranean Gull by B Field ing from 13th to 28th October, a Long-tailed Duck from 31st Octo- ber to 11th November and an unringed immature drake Mandarin from 7th November into December. Up to 18 Little Grebes were reported including at least 4 juvenile birds, and 5 Great Crested Grebes were present and al-

fter a really quiet autumn Walmsley A passage bird numbers have picked up well in the reserve. By Adrian Langdon After the first winter spate in the river which overflowed into the marshes we saw good numbers of waders appear to feast on the invertebrates that were close to the surface. Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Lapwing and Golden Plover all spent time foraging in the Ring-necked Duck by D Flumm wet meadows and the increase in water coverage drew many more wildfowl to the site. All the regular species such as Teal, Wigeon, Mallard and reported until 12th October. The first Mediterranean Gull was re- Shoveler increased alongside some of the less common ones such corded on 6th September with only 2 others recorded in the period. as Pintail, Tufted Duck and Gadwall. A large white goose has The only large flock of Swallows was 200 on 18th Septem- been spending time with the Canada geese and has been reported ber with the last bird being reported on 9th November. Both House as a variety of different species and I think that may be a clue to its and Sand Martins were last reported on 18th September. 3 Whin- identity as it is much bigger than the often suggested Snow Goose chats in the surrounding fields were unusual but Wheatears were and it has an orangey bill and with varied amounts of black in the seen sporadically with the last on 13th October. Only a single plumage. I guess it’s a hybrid of unknown parentage! Firecrest was reported this year but a Yellow-browed Warbler was Our Walmsley work party has worked hard through the present from 1st to 11th November and a Siberian Chiffchaff on 8th summer and autumn and has cleared a path to the site of a pro- November and a few Chiffchaffs which look set to overwinter. Up posed new hide that will sit on the flood bank between the north- to 3 Kingfishers were reported on numerous dates and a party of ern end of the sanctuary and the new reserve at Middle Amble. Crossbills were heard but not seen on 24th September. All planning applications have been submitted and we are It has been a quiet time for management on the reserve but hoping to hear a successful result soon. We have funding for some the roof on the hide has been renewed before the winter storms of the earthworks and the creation of an access path to the hide. with help from Mike Spicer, Mike Bishop and Alex Mackechnie, We will however need to start raising funds to build the hide or to to whom I am extremely grateful. Apart from this the usual strim- install a ready-made model, and I hope this can start soon so that ming of footpaths and vegetation in front of the hide continued as we can be ready as there is only a tight window when works can did strategic planting of Willow saplings. The sluice for the new be done. Most of the winter leaves the site too wet for machinery scrape and reedbed has worked well and the reeds are slowly to work and this is followed by the breeding season which can go spreading across the scrape, filtering the run off water from the into early July so we need to be ready for the late summer of 2015. surrounding farms.

8

nother great year at Wind- ater levels at Stithians, in Windmill Farm A mill Farm! Cornwall Stithians W common with many of the Wildlife Trust and the CBWPS reservoirs in our region, contin- By Dougy Wright continue to provide excellent By Dan Chaney ued to remain relatively low – support for the upkeep, devel- early November and the water opment and regeneration of the farm back to its natural habitat. was a long way out from the hides. The birds were still there though – Windmill Farm is, by design and nature, a boggy environ- just not as close as they could be! Unfortunately, lots of exposed margin ment and heavy rain can cause the footpaths to become muddy – I encourages the public to walk where they advise that you always have your wellies with you and if it is par- shouldn’t. Perhaps it’s time to revisit the signage out there? ticularly boggy/wet you may have to keep away from certain areas Sadly, early November saw an unfortunate hide vandalism of the farm. The trust and helpers try their utmost (with scarce incident. Frustrating, but local kids, rather than international Mafioso. resource) to keep paths clear at all times but it is not always possi- The police were informed and were able to locate and deal with the ble. A big thank you from me – as always if any of you wish to perpetrators (if you’re going to do graffiti – don’t write your name down help out please look on the CWT and CBWPS websites for events/ everywhere!) Late November saw a change in warden for the reserve. I hope dates. Also if you have anything you wish to discuss please contact to continue with much of the work and projects which Simon Taylor has me, or either of the boards of the societies, as we are always happy initiated, and I echo the thanks given for all Simon’s efforts and achieve- to listen, engage and discuss. ment while he held the post. A new rota has been instigated to keep the You may be aware that grants/funding have been approved feeders at the southern hide supplied and the birds fed this winter – less to restore the windmill – this work will commence soon. Basically than a week gone by and it is paying off already with Reed Buntings, we will have a roof (sympathetic to the original) put on it with an plenty of Chaffinch and Water Rail. Any donations of seed of course internal staircase leading to a viewing platform. Great views will still gratefully received. be available! Onto the report... Seventeen or so species of wader were recorded throughout the We have had 4 new bird spe- period. No rarities, but single Little Ringed Plover and Curlew Sandpi- cies this year - amazing after per were reported on the 1st and 18th September, long-staying individual nothing new in the preceding 2 Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits, Little Stint (maximum of 3 on the 8th years! The new species were August, tailing off to 1 by the 14th), Wood Sandpiper on 3 dates mid- Lesser Yellowlegs, Red period, and a Bar-tailed Godwit for two days in September. Lapwing Backed Shrike (2 birds – one in and Golden Plover built up to 150+ and 120 each by the end of Novem- June and another arrived on the ber, whilst October saw the highest counts of Snipe, Dunlin and Ringed 27th Sept and hung around until Plover, with 20+, 11 and 16 respectively; 2 Ringed Plover remained the 4th Oct), Common Crane until 7th November. and Dotterel (photo taken on Waterfowl started off slowly, with Wigeon eventually building the airfield adjoining the re- to 50+, Canada Geese to 90, Tufted Duck 20+ and Mallard to 50+ by serve). Let’s hope next year brings some new birds too – surpris- periods end. Teal peaked at 20+ in September, and then up to c75 in ingly there are some fairly common species not on the list e.g. November. Goldeneye and Pochard reached 5 and 10 on the 29th No- Mute Swan! vember. There were also reports of a single Gadwall, with Shoveler Autumn passage was quieter than previous years (or recorded twice, and 1-2 Garganey on the northern cut-off for much of th September. maybe just less visitors?). Whinchats (max count of 9 on 20 Sept) th and Wheatears continued to pass through in small numbers in Sept One Little Egret graced the shoreline on the 7 Oct, with a and early Oct with the odd Green Sandpiper putting in a skittish maximum of 3 by the following month, Kingfisher was reported twice, appearance. 3 Spotted Flycatchers were recorded on 6th Sept. The with Coot 30+ by periods end. Herring Gull maximum of 300+ reported in mid October, with a single Mediterranean Gull on the 19th October first of our over wintering/perhaps passage Jack Snipe was flushed th th and 3 on the 12 November. Five species of raptor were recorded, in- on the 20 Sept – if you want to see a Jack Snipe you need to th rd cluding a Merlin on the 12 November. Wheatear peaked at 4 in early walk around the margins of the pools! The fairly resident 3 year th th September, last bird on the 14 October. Sedge Warbler reported twice; Marsh Harrier returned (after his summer holidays) on the 20 Stonechat on a couple of occasions, with other commoner birds includ- Sept and has been seen a few times since. The last record of th ing Meadow Pipit 30, Chaffinch 10 and a good movement of hirundines Hobby was on the 24 Sept and also a Water Rail was heard that th th on the 18 September. day. Since the 28 Sept there have been up to 3 Teal frequenting Other interesting birds included a Common Tern on the 19th the reserve – Teal are rare on the reserve these days – in fact other September, Whinchat on the 23rd October and a Firecrest on the 17th than Mallard all duck species are declining probably due to the November. Rarity value was provided by a report of a Great White mild winters. Since mid-Oct we have also had a visiting Little Egret near the dam on the 9th November. Both interesting and potentially Grebe – again a rare record for the reserve. The second week in rare was a (probably Siberian) Lesser Whitethroat, outside the Stuart Nov saw large movements of Meadow Pipits, Grey Wagtails and Hutchings hide from 10th to 12th November. the arrival of Golden Plover (on the airfield). The first Woodcock Thanks to all those who contributed sightings via the hide note- th was recorded on the 16 Nov. Winter raptors are back – Merlin books or CBWPS sightings page. Finally, I have started a new blog for and Hen Harrier on the 26th Nov – no Short Eared Owl as yet. 2 bird pics, sightings and other info for the reservoir - stithiansreservoir- Lapland Buntings flew over on the 30th Nov. birding.blogspot.co.uk. The arable field (second compartment on the left south of Lesser Whitethroat at Stithians by Tony Mills the car park) is holding a large flock of Chaffinch, Pipits and Reed Buntings – it is worth ten minutes down there looking through the flock. Away from birds we have had another great year for Drag- onflies with Red Veined Darters breeding in good numbers and mating Lesser Emperors. It has been a good year for butterflies too – a few records of Marsh Frit and lots of migrant Clouded Yel- lows. This year has been excellent for Adders – first record on the 8th March and last in late October – I still look for them on sunny days now. My aim is to find one in January! I have found them in February before. In fact lets have an Adder challenge – the first one found and photographed at Windmill farm in 2015 wins a bottle of Champagne or book token (donated by the Warden!). Send your photos to [email protected]. Obviously I am in the competition and if I win I will be presenting myself with a bottle of Champagne! A Happy New Year to all.

9 ...see page 12 for Maer Lake report

Picture Perfect Adrian Langdon

any of my earliest memories of growing up in Wadebridge seemed M to involve the natural world. I vividly remember taking a dead adder to school in an old marshmallow box and many of my writings told of “today I saw a heron” or “today we had an owl in the garden”! Strangely enough I still find myself saying similar things to friends and family although now with a bit more confidence and usually backed up by a photograph. When I look back on my first attempts at bird photography the pictures look poor compared to the quality of images I make now, partly because I’ve learnt more about birds and about cameras and partly due to the technology now available. Digital has allowed me to take more photo- graphs and to take more chances at getting that flight or behavioural photo that was rarely possible with film. I love working from hides and I also love nest photography. I know the latter is often frowned on but if done properly with a knowl- edge of the species and of the specific habitat I feel it is so rewarding and increases one’s range of understanding of the intimate calls and behav- iours used by a pair of birds as they go about their annual breeding proc- ess.

Goldfinch This image was taken at the feeders in my garden. I fixed a sprig of blackthorn blossom to the top of my feeder and then waited for the birds to land on it on their way to the food. Great Crested Grebes These grebes were taken on Texel in a freshwater lagoon heavy with flag iris where several pairs of grebes were feeding young that they carried on their backs. My aim was to get both adults in the shot preferably with the chicks being fed. The lighting can often make or break the photograph but fortunately the subjects were well lit thus enabling me to get enough depth of field to get all the birds in focus. Redshank I took this image on the island of Texel in the Netherlands. The bird was regularly using this fencepost as both a lookout and I guess a courtship display site. It was next to a small lane and I did all my photography from the car window. Kingfishers mating Kingfishers are a Schedule 1 breeding bird so I needed a licence to photo- graph them at the nest. I’ve held licences for both them and Barn Owls for many years and they are a joy to spend time with and to discover their more intimate side. Experience has taught me that within a few days of the first brood of young leaving the nest Kingfishers start mating again toward their second brood. I’ve learnt the calls of the bird which signal this event and it is always a compromise in getting the exposure right and the shutter speed fast enough to stop the action but also maintaining low enough ISO (old film speed) to get some quality. The image I’ve chosen is just that—a compromise of many factors but I doubt many people had seen Kingfishers mating and fewer still recorded it with their cameras! For those interested it was taken under heavy leaf cover at 1000 ISO at 1/60th of a second at f4 with a 500mm lens on a Nikon D300. Green Crowned Brilliant Hummingbird One of my favourites from an eventful trip to Costa Rica which culmi- nated in us being robbed and having all my camera kit stolen… but that’s another story! The image was taken in the Monteverde Cloud Forest where the rain was incessant and light levels very low. The hummingbird was perched up near some feeders and allowed me to get close enough to take the photo using a 90 mm macro lens. King Eider One of a series of images I took earlier this year at Batsfjord in Arctic Norway from a floating hide in the harbour of one of the northernmost fjords in Europe. We paid to use the hide and were taken to it at 4.30 in the morning when the temperature was at -12 degrees C and we stayed there until noon. Our host provided us with survival suits and hot coffee and we lay prostrate on the floor of the hide photographing the seaducks at sea level which gave a much better angle on them than one normally gets. This did however throw up other problems especially when the snow blew in through the hide shutters and filled our lens hoods! This shot still ranks—in my view—as one of the best images from my Norwegian trip but this doesn’t seem to be reflected in other 10 people’s minds. I’ve entered it in a few competitions and for some exhi- bitions and each time it has totally bombed! Nevertheless I still love it and hope that fellow birders will appreciate the beauty of this bird.

11

s the end of another year Maer Lake A approaches and the futuristic sounding 2015 is imminently looming on the horizon, I am By Graham Sutton more inclined at my age to think about a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting life in the past than to Sanderling on Marazion beach, Sept 2014, by Steve Rogers worry about a future over which we have no control whatsoever, especially so with the arrival of Christmas cards with news of friends far and wide. It is true, good health really does mean happi- ness. Bird-watching is a remarkable and fascinating interest and Poet’s Corner: Norman MacCaig so beneficial in many ways, and the more hours that you put in the more you get out. For me it is totally absorbing and takes my mind off the day to day issues of life. Highly recommended! It is so far so good this winter at Maer with regard to the sluice repair, but we have not had, as yet, the heavy rainfall that we experienced in the winter of 2013/14. We will have to see what the New Year brings, and what happens if the sluice is severely tested. Peter Kent and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust team did some more work on the original access lane in November and this was much appreciated. The Reserve is now in really good shape for the winter, and we are on top of all management issues. We are still waiting for a decision on the possible Water Vole reintroduction programme, and this will be in the late spring if we get the green Thanks to CBWPS member Mr P. Box who is a fan of light. Scots poet Norman MacCaig (above). MacCaig (1910-96) Golden Plover numbers have again been excellent, with a loved Assynt, a wild part of north west Scotland but gradual increase in numbers from October 24th. On November 9th Cornish birdwatchers will empathise with his keen a count of 1835 birds at 08:30 was added to at 09:40 when 550+ observation of a bird still readily to be seen in Cornwall... birds arrived from the north. They circled four times calling to the birds on the ground who called back, before they landed and then merged in with the existing flock on the ground. What a magical Kingfisher bird the Golden Plover is, and there are still so many gaps in our knowledge of its winter feeding movements here in Cornwall. We hear them flying in and out of Maer at all times of the night, and I That kingfisher jewelling upstream wonder how far they actually go to feed? seems to leave a streak of itself Maer continued its excellent record for Whooper Swans in the bright air. The trees th with five present on October 26 /27th. Considering its small size, are all the better for its passing. and the shallowness of the water, Maer has a truly impressive re- cord for this species. A Little Stint on November 16th/17th was a good record and I enjoyed seeing it in flight with the Golden It's not a mineral eater, though it looks it. Plover. Three Egyptian Geese were present on November 21st, and It doesn't nip nicks out of the edges it is interesting to speculate where they originated from. of rainbows. - It dives I was very pleased to hear of the successful breeding year into the burly water, then, perched that the Cirl Bunting had in Cornwall in 2014, and that together with record Red Kite sightings gives some optimism for the future. on a Japanese bough, gulps Technology comes increasingly into bird watching, from the radio/ into its own incandescence satellite tracking of bird movements, to the latest optical improve- a wisp of minnow, a warrior stickleback. ments in cameras and binoculars. I am looking forward to testing - Or it vanishes into its burrow, resplendent the new Canon 7D Mk 11 camera, with a burst rate of 10fps and Samurai, returning home 65 cross-type AF points it is a wildlife photographer’s dream. Un- to his stinking slum. fortunately it will not replace my 36.3 megapixel Nikon D801 for landscape photography; the quality that you can obtain from the Nikon is staggering in very large prints. Sadly, Song Thrush has become rather scarce in , so I did enjoy looking at one in outstanding detail for a good ten min- utes at Maer this week, thanks to a decent pair of binoculars. If you are out bird watching every day it is great to have a good pair of binoculars and such enormous improvements have been made in them in recent years regarding light transmission, brightness (coatings) and lighter carrying weight. Although sometimes they seem expensive, they are very good value if used daily for many Alan James years.

12

Pandion, By Vic Simpson pathology and pathos

hen carrying out a post-mortem examination a pa- W thologist must record, accurately and dispassionately, any abnormalities. However, even after doing the job for many years I am occasionally presented with a case where I am moved or saddened by its death. In August 2013 the specimen in question was an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) (Fig 1). The bird had been found grounded and in weak condition near Relubbas, west 1. The author with the Swedish Osprey (J. Simpson) Cornwall. It was taken to Mousehole Bird Hospital where, despite the best efforts of the staff, it died. It was juvenile, in very poor muscular condition, with no fat reserves and weighing only 805g. (The normal weight range for Ospreys is 1120 to 2050g. Birds of the Western Palearctic, vol 2. p276). There were several recent puncture wounds to its feet and left leg and on its right leg there was a numbered metal ring inscribed ‘Rijksmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden’. The post-mortem findings were consistent with death due to debility and starvation. This is quite common in young, recently independent, raptors, presumably due to a lack of hunting skills combined with limited prey availabil- ity. I strongly suspected that the leg lesions were talon wounds inflicted by other birds, most probably common Buzzards, when it was in a weakened state. The Osprey had presumably been passing through Cornwall as it migrated from its natal area in Sweden to 2. Swedish Osprey chicks, Lake Asnen 2013 (A. Roos) spend the winter in north-west Africa. I sent a PM report to the Bird Hospital for them to pass on to the Rijksmuseum. This might have been the end of the story but in De- cember I received a Christmas email greeting from an old friend and otter researcher in Sweden, Anna Roos. I re- turned the season’s greetings and attached a photo of the osprey and a copy of the PM report as I thought she might be interested. Her reply was immediate, saying “Dear Vic, I cannot believe it, but the Osprey you had was one that I ringed!!! This is such a small world! I cannot believe it. It was the first Osprey that we know ever that flew to UK from Sweden…” It was one of a brood of three (Fig 2) she had ringed on 5 July at Lake Asnen in south central Sweden and when it died in Cornwall 55 days later it had travelled 1522 km. Over the last 50 or more years I have carried out post -mortem examinations on many species of raptors but this was the first Osprey. It was a surprise then, in September 3. Scottish Osprey showing electrocution burns. (V. Simpson) 2014, to be presented with another one. This second bird The first part of the Osprey’s scientific name comes from had been found dead close to a power supply pole near the Greek god Pandion, the mythical first king of Athens. Hayle. It was in excellent condition with really well devel- We might think it odd to worship mythical gods but the oped muscles, exceptional fat deposits and weighed 2435g. Ancient Greeks were a civilized lot and led the world in It was also ringed, with a BTO ring on its right leg and a science, arts, philosophy and debate. Many Greek words blue Darvic-type one on its left. The cause of death was form part of our language today. ‘Pathos’ was used to de- immediately apparent as it had severe burns to two toes on scribe a state of sadness or grief but also disease or illness. the right foot and to the left carpal (wrist) joint (Fig 3). When combined with ‘logos’, the Greek word for detached These highly characteristic lesions are caused when a large and factual observation, we get ‘pathology’. bird perches at a lower level on a high voltage electricity The Greeks also gave us the word ‘ethos’ to define supply pole and then touches the cable above with either a the character or principles of people or organisations. I have wing or the back of its head. I submitted a PM report to been recording electrocution cases in raptors in Cornwall BTO and to the ringer, David Anderson, who informed me for over 30 years and, as far as I am aware, our power sup- that the bird was one of a brood of two that were ringed on ply companies have made no attempt to solve the problem. 3 July in Stirlingshire, Scotland. The welfare of our raptors is clearly not part of their ethos. 13

Update on the other seabird colonies of Looe Island Text and pictures by Derek Spooner n the 50th edition of Palores I reported on the results of my first I attempts in 2013 to monitor the non-gull seabird colonies of Looe Island, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Nature Reserve. The sum- mer of 2014, blessed by wonderful weather, has proved just as interesting as the first. Between mid-March and the end of August I visited the island 22 times. While my main focus in the early part of the summer was the Cormorant colony, this year I intensified my surveillance of Shags and Oystercatchers, and was also de- lighted to locate at last some Fulmar chicks, which stayed on the cliffs until late August. As reported by Bruce Taggart in Palores 52, 2014 was a bumper year for the Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls on Looe Island, and it was a good year for nest numbers among other seabirds, though Oystercatchers appeared to suffer considerable losses at the chick stage from predation by their gull neighbours. The Cormorants in fact got off to a sorry start. Warden Jon Ross reported that nest building was under way in the colony in High Cove in January, but then came the ferocious storms of Feb- ruary, demolishing the nests. The birds had to start again. Eggs appeared nearly a month later than in 2013. Moreover the colony split into three separate clusters, with only 17 nests in High Cove, (half the number in 2013), but 13 more on the south side of the island, with 4 parked in a conveniently visible position opposite the bird hide. But although there were fewer nests in total than in 2013, with persistent good weather the nests were generally more suc- cessful, and fledging was much more concentrated in a short pe- riod in the first half of June. In 2013 some birds had fledged in April. This year 4 nests successfully raised 4 young each (none achieved this in 2013) and the total number of fledged young was considerably higher (73 against 53), with an improved number of fledged birds per nest. If the Cormorants prospered after a false start, the Shags had a somewhat disappointing year, though it is more difficult to be sure that all nests were found. Several nests raised only one chick. The Oystercatchers of Looe Island were prolific in 2014, though the increase in nest numbers to 15 may be partly attribut- able to our growing skills in finding them (though a couple still eluded us)! Extraordinarily, seven nests were located on or close to Little Island, a principal site for Black-back nests, and very close to the main colonies of Herring Gulls. Most of these nests ap- peared to survive the eggs stage, and several young were seen, but they rapidly disappeared. On the island’s eastern and northern beaches and rocky shore the nests were more successful and several families of fledged chicks stayed close to their nest sites for a few weeks. On the island as a whole at least 21 chicks were seen (13 were ringed by Mark Grantham and colleagues), but less than half appeared to survive. Finally, the Fulmar colony on the island at last showed some results. Fulmars are regularly present at several potential nest sites, but evidence of successful breeding has been scanty. Fulmars are notoriously slow breeders, often courting for several years. In 2013 we found no chicks. This year five nests were lo- cated, all close to the Cormorant and Shag colonies on the west side of the island. While one chick perished on an exposed, sun- baked site, four fledged successfully after sitting alone on the cliffs for weeks, with only brief visits from the parent birds. Overall the healthy picture suggests that the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s careful management of the island over the last decade is paying dividends, while in 2014 the mild spring appears to have boosted nest productivity.

14

2014 Heronries re-Survey

By Mark Grantham uring 2014 the Society organised a complete re-survey of D known heronries in the county. The BTO Heronries Census, dating back to 1928, provided us with a complete list of sites re- corded in the county. Of these, it appeared that 17 were active in the recent past and 21 in the more distant past, hence the aim of the re-survey was to visit as many of these sites as possible to confirm their current status. In addition, there were 14 sites recorded as extinct which we aimed to cover if we had the volunteer support. Heronry status Number Covered in of sites Re-survey

A – data received for 2012 5 5 Two new sites were found, one with just a single nest on Bodmin Moor and a private site was identified in the west of the county B – data received for 2011 but 4 4 where birds were actively breeding in the recent past. The latter not 2012 site has access issues, but it may be possible to monitor it intermit- C – active when last reported 9 7 pre-2011

D – empty when last 21 11 recorded E – recorded as extinct 14 8

The annual BTO Heronries Survey volunteers covered 21 sites in 2014, with an additional 15 sites covered by Society volunteers. In summary, no previously extinct sites were found to have been reoccupied, although two of these did hold up to seven birds dur- ing the breeding season, so the possibility exists that these may be occupied in the future. In total, 12 occupied heronries were re- corded in 2014, totalling a minimum of 93 pairs, as detailed below:

Site Occupied nests

Confidential site, near Saltash 17

Polwheveral Creek, 14 tently in the future. Penpoll Creek, River 13 Sites recorded in the BTO Heronries Survey database. It is likely that there are still further sites in the county yet to be Malpas 12 (and 5 Little Egret) recorded, and a look at the county Bird Atlas map for Grey Heron does show sites with probable or confirmed breeding over that Trenant Wood, West Looe 10 (and 8 Little Egret) period (particularly on the Helford) where further survey work may identify these. Marazion Marsh 9 It was also encourag- Restronguet Creek South 6 ing to find at least 13 pairs of Little Egrets Pinkson Creek, Camel River 5 breeding in the Pill Wood, Feock 4 county and it is hoped in the future Grogley Halt 2 that this number will continue to increase. Pelyn Creek, Percuil River, St 1 This follows the first Mawes breeding of Little Egret in 1998, when Newton Farm 1 two chicks were fledged. We would like to thank all of the volunteers who covered These are also mapped below, where the darkness of the marker sites for the survey, many of whom checked sites that must have indicates the number of breeding pairs recorded. The spread of seemed like a futile gesture. But we now have a much better snap- sites across the county is encouraging, although the two remaining shot of the occupied sites in the county and can take this forward sites on the Camel are perhaps a shadow of the number seen previ- to possible future surveys. ously (see second map). 15

Winter Wanderers

Rex Harper MBE

ost winters see at least some wild swans visiting Cornwall, beautiful M evocative birds, as wild and as white as the arctic regions from Although is seemed likely that other Whoopers were somewhere in Corn- whence they come. wall I had no idea where they were, so I telephoned the Cornwall bird One cold winter evening, when a severe gale off the sea blew dark watchers for advice. It seemed that several Whoopers had been seen re- storm clouds across the almost full moon, a single Bewick’s Swan ap- cently on the abbey pool at Tresco, one of the isles of Scilly, but they had peared like a white ghost in the sky, high above the farm, circling around, moved off, and were possibly back on the mainland somewhere in west attracted by several Mute Swans in the swan compound at the rear of the Cornwall. R.S.P.C.A. centre. We would have to take a chance and go looking for the swans, so Wild swans usually fly in family groups or in pairs when on mi- putting the cygnet in a swan bag in the back of the car, Julie and I set off. gration, but this bird was alone, and obviously desperate to find company We decided that our best bet was to drive towards Lands End, checking the and shelter from the impending storm. The swan circled the area, around big reservoirs and estuaries on the way. and around, gradually coming down until its wing tips almost touched the The Hayle estuary, a favourite wintering place for wildfowl, was wooden posts surrounding the swan compound. I felt certain that it would that day populated by several hundred Widgeon, and waders of all shapes land to spend the night in the safe company of the Mute Swans, but at the and sizes, together with huddled groups of keen bird watchers, muffled in last moment it changed its mind and climbed up into the sky to be quickly thick jackets against the biting wind, but no Whooper Swans. swept away by the force of the wind. Driving on to Mount’s Bay we stopped to scan the off shore wa- Watching from a distance, I felt worried for the bird, travelling in ter, but apart from two Great Northern Divers busily fishing for crabs and an unknown area on such a night, but Cornwall is a narrow peninsula and an unidentified grebe, we again drew a blank, although as always the magi- the sea is never very far away, so probably the swan would have eventually cal beauty of the castle on its island held us spellbound as we sat in the car landed on the sea and sat the night out on the waves. with our binoculars watching the Sanderlings and Dunlins running along The larger Whooper Swans are fairly frequent winter visitors and the tide line. in January one year, a young cygnet was picked up exhausted and brought On through Penzance, our next port of call was Drift reservoir, to the centre. where a large congregation of swans in the far distance gave us hope that Young wild swans have to be pretty fit to make the long journey some Whoopers might be among them, but the binoculars showed us that from the far north when migration takes place in the first autumn of their the birds were all Mute Swans so we pressed on. The countryside was lives, following their parents on wings unused to long flights. Some of the wilder down here in the far west of the county, windswept fields and few youngsters fail to make the distance, and no doubt the cygnet that came to trees, apart from where a fold in the land gave at least a little shelter and us had given up through tiredness, and had eventually collapsed in a field. allowed some bushes and trees to establish, until their tops were forced A kindly passer by had noticed the brown and white bundle of feathers sideways by the fierce Atlantic gales. lying on the ground, and had taken the trouble to pick up the unresisting We drove through the village of St Just and were heading back swan, placing it in the boot of his car, and driving it to the centre. into the country again when Julie spotted a flash of white in a field to the The cygnet was in a pretty poor state, but closer examination left of the road. Stopping the car I reversed into a gateway expecting to showed no apparent bone fractures, or bodily damage, so it was placed in find a flock of geese, but instead twenty Whooper Swans were busily graz- an indoor pen on a folded blanket, with an infra red lamp suspended above ing on the rough pasture, success at last! The swans were far enough away it, and left to settle in. Several hours later the swan had its head up and from the road to prevent them being scared by the traffic, but the problem seemed a little stronger, dabbling into a container of water with grain at the was how to get our cygnet reunited with its own kind without spooking the bottom. entire gathering. Taking the cygnet, still wrapped in its swan bag from the Although swans are quite capable of picking up grain from the car, I walked back down the road to another gateway and entered a field ground, they find it much easier to manage if the grain is given in water separated from the one in which the swans were grazing by a Cornish when they can take a beak full and allow the water to drain out through the hedge (stone and earth). Walking along the side of the hedge hidden from filters on their lower mandibles, our cygnet was certainly getting the idea. the grazing Whoopers I eventually came to gap, almost opposite the swans The following morning things were looking good, the cygnet was and decided to release the cygnet as I was pretty certain that it would walking around the confines of its pen, backing off and hissing at me as I quickly see the other swans and head off towards them. Remaining hidden approached. Time to move on so, catching up the swan I carried it out to behind the hedge I opened the swan bag and placed the cygnet in the gap, the swan compound and released it into the company of several Mute releasing it as I did so. As I had hoped the young swan immediately saw Swans. Keeping an eye on the young Whooper throughout the day I was the grazing Whoopers and walked quickly across the field towards them, to pleased to see it acting normally, swimming on the pond, preening and be met with a noisy greeting ceremony, strident calls, much head bobbing feeding with the other swans. Every so often it would stretch its long neck and wing stretching. Hopefully our cygnet’s parents were somewhere in and point its beak skyward searching no doubt for the family that it had the group, but in any case our casualty was now back with its own kind and never before been separated from. stood a good chance of surviving. Each day saw the cygnet getting stronger. One morning a week Back in the car we sat for a while watching the swans, feeling after its arrival at the centre it became obvious that the time had come to pleased that our trip had been so worthwhile but, as the cold gradually return the swan to the wild as it was desperately trying to fly, running the caught up with us we drove off to a friend’s house at St Buryan to warm up length of the compound with extended wings, but where should it be re- with a more than welcome cup of tea! leased? This article is an extract from Rex’s book ‘An Eagle in the Airing Cup- board’. Photo of a Whooper Swan at Croft Pascoe, 2012, by Bob Sharples 16

Dick Twinney, whose wonderful paintings have featured several times over the years in Palores, is a popular wildlife artist based at St Columb in north Cornwall. Dick uses a medium called Chro- macolour, which is flexible enough to be diluted with water or used like oil paint on canvas and various other surfaces. If you like Dick’s detailed and precise work, such as the Barn Owl shown here, have a look at his website for more paintings and how they are done. See: www.artofdicktwinney.com

alores is fortunate to be able to use the wonderful images created P by modern photographic equipment (in the very talented hands of Bewick’s masterpiece great photographers of course) as well as using state of the art printing technology capable of accurately reproducing the paintings of artists By Simon Marquis such as Dick Twinney (see above). Two hundred years ago, it was not so easy. Most people only knew the birds they could see for themselves, and even those few books on the subject were rare and contained not exactly what we would regard as accurate renditions of the birds. All this changed with a two volume book by famous Tyneside wood engraver Thomas Bewick. Bewick’s keen eye and incredible skill with woodcuts produced images of lifelike quality and detail. His A History of British Birds was a sell-out and became perhaps one of this country’s most important ever natural history books. The two volumes — land birds and water birds — were to set the standard for subsequent bird books, including those by Morris and Gould in the 19th century, and could be found in the hands of some of the most eminent people of the day including William Wordsworth, Charles Kingsley, John Ruskin and the Bronte sisters. Indeed, Bewick’s work plays a significant part in Charlotte Bronte’s classic Jane Eyre. What made the books and their illustrations so special? Most engraving at that time was done on metal plates. Not since Albrecht Durer in the 16th century had there been anyone as skilled at engraving on boxwood as Thomas Bewick. Woodcuts could produce more subtle shades and gradations, almost imparting colour to the black and white prints. But above all, it was Bewick’s in-depth knowledge of birds built up over many years since his rural childhood, that made the difference. His beloved Tyne valley provided most of the inspiration as did various rambles around northern England and Scotland. This knowledge and keen observation, coupled with a rare artistic eye, pro- duced images of astonishing life and vigour. Such was his encyclopaedic knowledge of birds (and the natural world in general) that he has given his name to one of our most attractive winter visitors, the Bewick’s Swan. All birdwatchers in the UK and beyond owe Thomas Be- wick a great debt of gratitude for his contribution to the enduring enjoyment of, and interest in, this country’s wild birds.

17

Sunday 11th January 9 am Leader: Viv Stratton (01736 796487) field meetings Marazion beach and reserve. A morning walk looking for Gulls, Waders and migrant birds. Meet at Folly Field car park first on right by phone box. Approaching from Long Rock map ref: SW511 309

Saturday 17th January starting at 7:30am Mark Grantham phone: 01326 291133 E-mail: [email protected] Bird ringing activities at Stithians. Ringing will be carried out early mornings at the western side of the reservoir overlooking the ‘cut-off’ from the western bank. Anyone is welcome to come along and see what we've been catching. For more details, text or email to confirm if event is happening or if the weather looks bad. Access from Stithians lake water sports centre car park. Follow footpath south past campsite along the board walk to willow and alder scrub where ringing takes place Grid ref: 70779 36496

Tuesday 20th January 1 pm Leader: John Cope (01872 865108) Tresillian River, St. Clements. An afternoon walk along the river looking for Waders, Ducks and Gulls. Path can be muddy so good footwear recommended. Particularly good for newcomers to bird watching. Meet at St. Clements car park. Map Ref: SW852 439

Saturday 24th January 9 am Leader: Steve Rowe (01637 875788) Porth Reservoir and Towan Head. A morning walk observing any birdlife around the reservoirs and then on to Towan Head. Meet at Porth Reservoir car park. Map ref: TR8 4JS

Sunday 25th January Contact: Roger Hooper Jan-April 2015 To book your place call 01209 820610 or email [email protected] Mini-bus trip to the Exe Estuary. Bowling Green Marsh RSPB reserve and other sites. Leaving at 8.00 am. Pick-ups en- By Gordon Mills route. Waders and wildfowl on the best estuary in the south west. Seats are £14 each. elcome to another programme of local birding events for the W first three months of 2015. We have compiled a range of Sunday 1st February 7-9 am, finish 11 ish. field meetings, walks and indoor meetings covering a range of Leader: Tony Blunden birding based activities; walks around local Reserves and locations (01326 291064) renowned for good birding; rewarding sea watches from The Liz- Sea-watching at Lizard Point. Meet just below the Lizard Point ard point; ringing events at Stithians (weather permitting) and a Cafe. With luck we may expect to see Gulls and Waders on the trip to the Exe Estuary, Devon. There are three indoor meetings reef, Black Redstart and Chough on the cliffs. At sea, Auks, Gan- and working parties to maintain valuable habitats on RSPB,CWT/ nets, Skuas, Sea Duck. There is always plenty to look at. Park at CBWPS reserves. NT car park or the Green, Lizard village and walk down to South- Our winter weather may not always be ideal for some erly point. Map ref: SW701 11 events so if in doubt please contact the Walk Leader. Thinking about Winter, if anyone is interested in seeing ringing of winter Saturday 14th February starting at 7:30 Mark Grantham Chiffchaffs, email Mark Grantham for details: text: 01326 291133 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]. Bird ringing activities at Stithians. Ringing will be carried out early mornings at the western side of the reservoir overlooking the Thursday 1st January 10am - 1pm Leader(s) Dave Thomas ‘cut-off’ from the western bank. Anyone is welcome to come and Adrian Langdon Contact: Dave Thomas along and see what we've been catching. For more details, text or e (01726 861093) [email protected] -mail to confirm if event is happening or if the weather looks bad. New Year’s Day bird watch near Padstow. Begin the New Year Access from Stithians Lake water sports centre car park. Follow with a mornings walk along the trail looking for win- footpath south past Campsite along the board walk to willow and tering waders, ducks, geese and divers. All are welcome and ideal alder scrub where ringing takes place Grid ref: 707 364 for beginners. Organised by CWT. The event is free. Bring bin- oculars bird book and warm clothing. Meet at Old Town car park Sunday 15th February 9 am Leader: Viv Stratton near Padstow. Please drive slowly down the narrow track. No (01736 796487) dogs. Grid Ref: SW 939 738 Hayle Estuary A morning walk around the area looking for Gulls,

th Waders and migrant birds. Meet in Ryan’s field car park map ref: Saturday 10 January 10.30am - 12.30 am Leader: Peter Kent SW549 362 Contact Mary Langworth (01752) 843852 Winter waders at Churchtown Farm Nature Reserve organised Friday 20th February 7:30pm Contact : Roger Hooper by Friends of Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve. Dis- 01209 820610 or email [email protected] cover the waders and other birds on the reserve. Bring binoculars The wild life of Andalucía Spain. A presentation by S. Jones & camera. Suitable footwear and clothing. Free for members £2.00 leading entomologist. An indoor meeting at Chacewater village for non members. No dogs. Meet at Cecil Arms Pub, by St. hall, Chacewater, Nr. Truro. Grid Ref: SW751 444 Stephen’s, Church Saltash PL12 4AR Map Ref: SX 417 58 Photographs: Bittern at Marazion Marsh by Terry Tirlaway; Long-tailed Duck at Drift by Brian Field 18

Sunday 22nd February 9:30 am Leader: Gordon Mills wise on 01208 812423 to check that walk is on. Map ref: (01209 718144) SW989725 Loe pool and Helston boating lake. A morning walk to the Na- tional Trust bird hide to look for woodland birds Wildfowl and Windmill Farm Scrub Clearing Days Gulls. Meet in Helston amenity car park. Map ref: SW654 270 Contact: Richard Moore, West Cornwall Reserves. Richard.Moore@ Cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk Be part of an exciting new project by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Saturday 14th March starting at 7:30 am Mark Grantham at on the Lizard. A chance to get your hands dirty, uncover and text:01326 291133 E-mail: [email protected] record World War Two buildings as well as undertake essential Bird ringing activities at Stithians. Ringing will be carried out conservation work. As part of the project there will be regular early mornings at the western side of the reservoir overlooking the scrub clearing days, working alongside the Cornwall Wildlife ‘cut-off’ from the western bank.. Anyone is welcome to come Trust’s Reserves Staff offering a great opportunity to find out along and see what we've been catching. For more details, text or e more about the land management of this very special nature re- -mail to confirm if event is happening or if the weather looks bad. serve. Dates: Access from Stithians lake watersports centre car park. Follow January 8th and 22nd; February 12th, 22nd and 26th. footpath south past Campsite along the board walk to willow and 10am until 3pm alder scrub where ringing takes place Grid ref:707 364 Since Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall Bird Watching Pres- ervation Society became owners twelve years ago the Windmill Saturday 14th March 11:30 Leader: Catriona Burt Farm Nature Reserve has changed immeasurably. On what was (01726 66262) once intensively managed dairy pasture there are now hay mead- St Winnow bird watch. A level bird walk along the ows, fields of sacrificial arable crops for birds, heath land re- from St.Winnow to Lerryn and back looking for birds along this creation trials, numerous lightly scraped hollows for wildfowl and beautiful river and woods. Bring binoculars, stout footwear or waders and carefully designed dragonfly pools. wellies and picnic lunch (there is a pub at Lerryn). Meet at car There is loads to see at Windmill Farm with botanically park by the Church at St Winnow. Grid Reference SX 115 570 rich heath land and hay meadows, arable fields that act as a giant bird feeder in the winter, open water that attracts rare migrant birds Thursday 19th March 1 pm Leaders: Kate and Dave Williams and dragonflies and World War Two structures that are only just (01209 843512) starting to be uncovered. Tresillian River St. Clements. An afternoon walk along the river looking for Waders, Ducks and Gulls. Path can be muddy so good RSPB Task Force! Contact: Jenny Parker footwear recommended. Particularly good for newcomers to bird Telephone: 01736 360624 [email protected]. watching. Meet at St. Clements car park. All welcome. Join a work party and help with vital reserve mainte- Map Ref: SW852 439 nance. You need to be physically fit and willing to work outdoors. Please bring suitable outdoor clothing/footwear and lunch Friday 20th March 7:30pm Contact : Roger Hooper Tuesday 6th January to Tuesday 31st March. 01209 820610 or email [email protected] 10 am-5pm. Every Tuesday at Marazion Marsh nature re- Illustrated talk 'Birds of Cornwall” with John Chappell. An in- serve. door meeting at Chacewater village hall, Chacewater, nr Truro. During autumn and winter we spend most of our time clearing Grid Ref: SW751 444 willow from the reed bed at Marazion Marsh nature reserve on these weekly work parties. Hot drink and biscuits are provided. Saturday 21st March 9 am Leader: Viv Stratton Meet at Marazion Marsh nature reserve. Full details given when (01736 796487) booking. Full details given when booking. Towednack. A morning walk around the moors, looking for resi- dent and any early spring migrants. Meet at Towednack Church Sunday 11th January to Sunday 8th March 10 am-1 pm map ref: SW498 388 Beach-clean - RSPB Hayle Estuary nature reserve ALL WELCOME! Our beach-cleans are held on the second Sun- Sunday 29th March. arrive 7-9 am, finish 11 ish. day of each month and last about 3 hours with a tea break. (Hot Leader: Tony Blunden (01326 291064) drink and biscuits supplied.) We alternate these work parties be- Sea-watching at Lizard Point. Meet just below the Lizard point tween Copperhouse Pool and Carnsew Pool. Price: Free but book- Cafe. We may expect to see Gulls and Waders on the reef, Black ing essential. Redstart and Chough on the cliffs. Late March is also good with spring diver passage picking up. Plenty to look at. Park at NT car PLEASE NOTE park or the Green, Lizard village and walk down to Southerly Walk leaders have given their telephone numbers with each point. Map Ref: SW701 11 walk. However before contacting them, would you please check the relevant websites: Thursday 16th April 1 pm Leader: John Cope RSPB (www.rspb.org.uk/groups/cornwall) (01872 865108) CBWPS (www.cbwps.org.uk), and Tresillian River St. Clements. An Afternoon walk along the river CWT (www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk) for the latest infor- looking for Waders Ducks and Gulls. Path can be muddy so good mation. Every effort will be made to keep the websites up- footwear recommended. Particularly good for newcomers to bird dated with cancellations, changes in venue or route or any watching. Meet at St. Clements car park. access problems. Map Ref: SW852 439

Thursday 16th April 7pm Contact : Roger Hooper 01209 820610 or email [email protected] Tel: 01209 820612 Tony Whitehead RSPB media officer. An indoor meeting at Cha- cewater village hall Chacewater nr Truro.Grid Ref: SW751 444

Camel Trail Nature Walks. Duration approximately 4 hours. These walks cover Flora and Faunas well as birds and take place every Wednesday through January, February, March and April 2015. Walks start at 10am and will be led by Jack Humphrey, Bernard Ide, Alan Taylor and Charles Travis. Meet outside Countrywise, Eddystone Road, Wadebridge. Phone Country- 19

Getting to know... John Stanlake Palores listens to the society’s Honorary Treasurer on birds, the CBWPS, and how we can all help a little bit more...

Tell us about you... Mute Swans which unfortunately has joined the modern age I was, as they say, born and bred in God’s given land of by becoming a one parent family, the lone Egret, occasional Cornwall and spent my first 16 years living near Luxulyan Peregrine or Sparrow Hawk as well as birds that come to the before moving closer to St Austell. Living in the Luxulyan feeders. Despite three nest boxes only one ever gets used by area meant that in my early years I was always close to Blue Tits despite relocating the other two from time to time. wildlife and could wander off into the countryside at will. I have never kept a proper list although in my youth With hindsight this was a great privilege and I saw and un- a pencil tick in my Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds derstood things that some people don’t have the opportunity amounted to a list. I do however thoroughly support arm- to experience in a lifetime. chair bird watching which I suspect a lot of our members When I “grew up” I qualified as a Chartered Ac- can relate to. Enjoyment can as easily be obtained by watch- countant in St Austell, spent a short time in London, then ing birds at a feeder as tracking a rarity blown off course. practiced mainly from an office in Plymouth. After being a Notwithstanding that I am not averse to sidling up to birders partner for 20 years I became semi-retired and started to to see what is happening which often pays dividends. A travel. I have been also been a member of the CBWPS for couple of years ago I was fortunate to see a Short-billed over 50 years! Dowitcher on Tresco. More fortunate as it was a Sunday What got you interested in birds? with no ferry service so only a few islanders were there. Not one single thing but several events, not in any order of What do you do for the CBWPS? significance, inspired me as follows: I am a Trustee Director of the Society and my title is Honor- Whilst at primary school I earned a medal and a book in ary Treasurer. Sounds impressive but in layman’s terms I respect of the annual RSPB Bird and Tree competition for keep the books and, like everyone else, I don’t get paid. my observations of the Blackbird. Because of my background I also prepare A school teacher called Mr Julian from the annual accounts and submit the gift Carthew near St Austell took me to aid claims to H M Revenue and Cus- Walmsley and I saw the Osprey. I re- toms. member he also explained that some of What are the Society’s main financial the birds we saw were called Comic challenges? Terns as it is difficult to spot the differ- The Society’s biggest financial challenge ence between Common and Arctic Terns. is that it does not receive sufficient in- In addition to other books I read “The come from the members’ subscriptions to life of the Robin” by David Lack and fund its annual recurring costs. It accord- “The Badger” by Earnest Neal. As badg- ingly has to work on a tight budget and ers keep trying to landscape my garden I rely upon income from grants and dona- have lost a bit of interest in them re- tions etc. Costs and particularly postage cently. continue to rise. I joined as a junior member of the The Society is not large but through care- CBWPS and still remember wearing my ful stewardship over past years it does puffin enamel badge. own or jointly own with Cornwall Wild- Do you have a favourite bird? life Trust four reserves and I am sure will My favourite UK bird is difficult to pick but I guess the consider other suitable opportunities should one arise within lowly Robin is my choice probably from reading David the limits of its resources. The Society however relies upon Lack’s book referred to above and also because one always the tremendous unpaid work of its volunteers to look after seems to be close at hand when I am in the garden. The its reserves and to provide the number of support services to Robin seems almost fearless when it hops near my feet to its activities many of whom are listed on page 2 of Palores. pick up a titbit when I am picking fruit. Do you have a message for our members? I have been fortunate in recent years to travel a lot Firstly, get involved and support the current volunteers in and because of it I have seen a lot of strange and beautiful whatever they are doing. There are plenty of areas where birds such as the Cuban Trogon, Magnificent Frigate-birds, more help is needed and I am sure everyone has a skill they Macaws, Turquoise Browed Motmot etc, etc. This year I can bring to bear. Secondly, please do not criticise those was fortunate to see an Ivory Gull, Red-throated Diver nest- members who are doing their best unless you are willing to ing and Ptarmigan with young on Spitsbergen. My lasting get involved yourself. memory however is the sight of a group of Blue Cranes in On the purely financial front I would urge all mem- Namibia on a background of arid grassland. Such grace bers to pay the correct subscription on time and with a gift contrasting with their bleak environment. aid declaration where eligible. The Society currently claims Where do you go bird watching? over £2,000 per annum of gift aid from H M Revenue and Time never seems to be available to go serious bird watch- Customs. I also ask again for all members that have not ing other than the odd day on my travels. I still stop the car adjusted their standing order to CAF Bank to do so as a mat- on a quiet road when I see something interesting but most ter of urgency. of my bird watching is local to my home in Saltash. It is Finally, the Society is always extremely grateful for surprising what can be seen from my window or any win- any one off donations or legacies as it cannot sustain its dow if someone is patient. I can see this year’s family of activities purely from members’ subscriptions. 20