CORNWALL BIRD-WATCHING & PRESERVATION SOCIETY SEVENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT 2000 Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) The emblem of The Cornwall Bird-watching & Preservation Society OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE 2001/02 President Steve Madge, Seawinds, Lower Trerieve, Downderry, Torpoint, PL 15 3LZ Chairman Stuart Hutchings, 24 Kernick Road, Penryn, TRIO 8NT Vice-Chairman Graham Sutton, Harcombe, West Park Road, Bude, EX23 8PB General Secretary Steve Rogers, Roseland, Cyril Road, Truro, TR1 3TA Treasurer Keith Harris, Lowina Cottage, Chyvarloe, Gunwalloe, Helston, TR12 7PY Membership Secretary Sara McMahon, 72 Underwood Road, Plympton, PL7. Recorder Kester Wilson, 1 Tol-Pedn House, School Hill Road, St Levan, Penzance TR19 6LP Editor 'Birds in Cornwall Ian Wilson, 3 Hunters Close, Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire, LEI7 6LG Conservation Officer Brian Craven, 15 Compass West, Tregadillett, Launceston, PL 15 7EA Newsletter Editor Darrell Clegg, 55 Lower Fore Street, Saltash, PL12 6JQ Field Meetings Officer John Chappie, 28 Carclew Street, Truro, TR1 2EZ Public Relations Officer Tony Langford, Miango, Trewirgie Road, Redruth, TR15 2SX Committee Members: Francis Couch (Bodmin), Pete Fraser Truro), Andy Pay (Helston) Martin Rule (Helston), Mark Tunmore (The Lizard). Records Committee: Mashuq Ahmad, Greg Conway, Pete Fraser, Steve Madge, Graham Sutton & Laurie Williams Photographs Front Page: Chiffchaff, Helston Sewage Works, January 2000 - Gary Cokill Back Page: (Upper) Tristris Type Chiffchaff, Helston Sewage Works, January 2000 - Gary Cokill (Lower) Abietinus Chiffchaff, Helston Sewage Works, January 2000 - Gary Cokill 2 CONTENTS Page Review of the Year 2000 Kester & Ian Wilson 4 Editorial Ian Wilson 10 Acknowledgements 10 Submission of Records 11 Submission of Rarity Reports 13 Systematic List for 2000 Kester & Ian Wilson 15 Records for which details are still required 140 First and Last Dates of Summer Migrants 140 Contributors 141 Photographers 142 Gazetteer 143 Ringing Report 2000 Greg Conway 150 Society purchases Windmill Farm as third nature reserve Martin Rule 157 Birds in a Truro Garden 1991 - 2000 Sylvia D. Johns & 160 Nicholas Picozzi Chairman's Report Graham Sutton 165 Conservation Officer's Report Brian Craven 166 2000 Balance Sheet and Accounts 168 The Society's Rules 171 Printed by B. J. Press Ltd., Unit 29 Threemilestone Ind Estate, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9LD Copyright Cornwall Bird-watching & Preservation Society 2001 3 REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2000 Two hundred and eighty-three species were reported on the Cornish mainland during the year, including the first records of Canvasback, Blue Rock Thrush, Iberian Chiffchaff and Spanish Sparrow. Records of wintering birds were lower than usual in both the first and last quarter of the year and the numbers of late migrants was also exceptionally low. It is assumed that this was the result of the generally mild and wet weather, and the lack of any prolonged cold spells to drive birds south. JANUARY The first day of the year was clear and sunny, but this was not a portent for the future as the new century continued with wet and windy weather as a succession of deep depressions came in from the west and temperatures were generally above normal for the time of year. Several rarities remained from last year - a Lesser Scaup at Drift Reservoir - Black Ducks at Stithians and Colliford Reservoirs - an American Wigeon on the Hayle Estuary - a Green-winged Teal at Maer Lake - wintering adult Ring-billed Gulls were still present at Par Beach Pool and the Hayle Estuary. Spoonbills were on the Hayle and Lynher Estuaries, and there was also a Great Bittern at Stithians Reservoir. A good find on 2nd was a female King Eider near St Michael's Mount in Mount's Bay, and people working nearby advised that a bird fitting that description had been in the harbour for some time. It remained in the bay until 6th April, moving west to Penzance during the last few days of its stay. A Great Bittern was seen at Long Rock Pool on 2nd, presumably last year's returning bird. A Water Pipit was at Maer Lake on 3rd and last year's Green-winged Teal returned to Colliford Res on 4th. The weather became more settled but colder in mid-month as a large area of high pressure covered the country. The onset of this colder weather coincided with the annual arrival of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, the first of both species being found at Newlyn on 7th. The 9th saw a Long-tailed Duck at Porthluney, an oiled Little Auk at St Mawes and a Black Guillemot in Carrick Roads. There was a Long-tailed Duck at Stithians Res on 12th. A second Iceland Gull was seen at Newlyn on 13th and there were numerous Mediterranean Gulls in the County. Nineteen Woodlarks were found at Reskadinnick on 14th. On 16th there were six thousand Herring Gulls feeding around boats in the bay at St Ives and thirty- two Black-necked Grebes in the Carrick Roads. European Golden Plovers were on the Camel Estuary in large numbers on 17th when three thousand six hundred were seen. A Long-tailed Duck and a Little Auk were in Veryan Bay on 19th, and a Green-winged Teal was on Loe Pool on 20th. On 23 rd a Serin appeared at Trewellard, and one hundred Black-tailed God wits were on Truro River on 25th. There was a Green-winged Teal at Stithians on 27th that may well have been last year's November individual. The month ended with a Black Guillemot off Looe and thirty Shovellers at Walmsley Sanctuary. FEBRUARY The weather continued as it had ended in January, unsettled but mild for the time of year, and there was still a good mix of gulls to be seen. Two hundred and fifty-eight Common Shelduck were found on 1 st on the Lower Tamar Estuary. A good count on 10th was one hundred and twenty Chiffchaffs at St Austell Sewage Works. On 13th there was a Long-tailed Duck on Looe Bay, and the discovery of two Dartford Warblers at Porthgwarra cheered up what could otherwise have been a slow day. Two Western Yellow-legged Gulls were found at Hayle on 14th, and there were twenty Red- throated Divers at Seaton/Downderry on 16th. The wintering Water Pipits at Walmsley Sane had 4 increased to three by 18th, there were three Velvet Scoters in Carrick Roads on 19th and one hundred and nineteen Red-breasted Mergansers were seen roosting at Turnaware Point on 21st. A Red Kite was at Treskinnick Cross on 22nd and on 27th there were two Little Gulls at Drift Reservoir. MARCH The star bird of the month was a Gyr Falcon. It was initially seen on 3rd at Traboe Cross and then ranged widely along the coast before eventually becoming more settled in the Cape Cornwall area. Helston Sewage Works had a Yellow-browed Warbler on 4th and 12th, presumably a wintering bird, and there was a Green-winged Teal at Drift on 7th. Migrating Sand Martins and Chiffchaffs started to arrive on 11th when a Bonaparte's Gull also made a brief appearance at Drift Reservoir and a Kumlien's Gull was at Siblyback Res. On 12th there were one hundred and twenty-five Black-throated Divers at Portscatho, fifty-one Slavonian Grebes at Porthpean and a Red Kite at St Jidgey. A Green-winged Teal was at Skewjack on 14th. Wheatears were starting to appear with seven at Caerthillian on 16th, and there were thirteen Garganeys on Eastern Green Beach. A Spotted Crake was at Skewjack on 17th. The 18th saw seven Garganeys at Hayle Kimbro, twenty-two Common Eiders off Rumps Point, one hundred Black-throated Divers in Veryan Bay, forty Great Northern Divers in St Austell Bay and twelve Red-necked Grebes at Portholland. There were also two Garganeys at Skewjack on 21st following a blast of winds from the southeast, and migrants on 22nd included the first Willow Warblers. On 23rd Hayle was visited by a Kumlein's Gull for a two-day stay and twelve Black Redstarts were newly arrived at Land's End. A quiet period of weather moved in and lasted until the end of the month when a Red Kite was seen at Heamoor. APRIL The month had periods of favourable winds to encourage the arrival of birds into the county from the south and the east, but few overshoots of migrating birds were recorded. South-easterly winds on 2nd brought notable numbers of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, a Little Ringed Plover on Ryan's Field and a Great White Egret at Drift Reservoir. There was (for the extreme south-west) an unusual movement of Song Thrushes on 7th when up to thirty were seen at various sites around Land's End. A Little Ringed Plover was on Kynance Downs on 8th. There were also a number of Ring Ouzels in the Land's End and Porthgwarra area, and Ryan's Field had a Scandinavian Rock Pipit in summer plumage. The first Osprey of the year appeared at Hayle on 9th. There was a Redstart at Land's End, a Little Ringed Plover on the Camel Estuary and a Sedge Warbler at Marazion on 11th. Another wave of migrants arrived on 14th - 15th, including a Serin at Porthgwarra. An area of low pressure passed through on 19th and produced a first for the county in the form of a Canvasback on Par Beach Pool. A Ring-necked Duck was on Dozmary Pool on 20th, and was seen with a pair on 21st - 29th Apr. A pair was also seen at Siblyback Res on 21st - 22nd Apr. Southerly winds on 22nd produced a Richard's Pipit at Porthgwarra. A thousand Sand Martins were at Colliford Reservoir on 23rd and a Black Tern was at Par on 24th.