CORNWALL BIRD-WATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY Fifty-Third Annual Report 1983 St. George Printing Works Ltd., Camborne. Tel: 712354 Officers 1984-85 President: Dr. C. J. F. Coombs, Greenwith Place, Perranwell, Truro Chairman: Mrs M. P. Visick, Trendain, Perranwell Station, Truro Vice Chairman: M. W. Tyler, Green Valley, Trevia, Camelford General Secretary: Mrs D. F. Inch 9 Compass West, Tregadillett, Launceston Minutes Secretary: Ms J. Sutcliffe 49 Lemon Street, Truro Treasurer and Registrar: W. K. J. Gray, 12 Chynance Drive, Newquay Field Meetings Officer: D. L. Thomas, Mirador, Whitecross, Nr. Newquay Conservation Officer: S. C. Hutchings, 24 Kernick Road, Penryn Assistant Conservation Officer: G. P. Sutton, The Old Orchard, Lynstone, Bude Newsletter Editor: F. M. Couch, 29 Roman Drive, Bodmin Public Relations Officer: E. Grace, Gwyngala, Meres Valley, Mullion, Helston Officer for Youth and Education: Mrs S. D. Johns, 25 Hillcrest Ave., Truro Recorder and Editor "Birds in Cornwall": S. M. Christophers, 'Emberiza", 5 Newquay Rd., St. Columb Major Assistant Editor: R. Smaldon, 46 Briar Road, Hartley, Plymouth Secretary for the Isles of Scilly: D. B. Hunt, Porthcressa Cafe, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly Joint Recorders and Editors — Isles of Scilly Journal: D. B. Hunt, M. J. Rogers, Porthcressa Cafe, 195 Vicarage Road, St. Mary's, Sunbury-on-Thames, Isles of Scilly. Middlesex. Honorary Solicitor: G. R. J. Adams, Hillside, Treliever Road, Penryn Committee Members: P. J. Dwyer (Newquay) retires 1985, Mrs B. Allen (Mevagissey), V. R. Simpson (Chacewater) retires 1986, B. Acland (Truro), G. Gill (Penzance), N. R. Phillips (Penzance), L. A. Smith (Fowey) retires 1987, and the officers ex-officio. OBITUARY Captain E. G. Roper, C.B.E., D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N., Retd. It was with great regret we learned of the death on 13th February, 1983, of a former Vice-Chairman of the Society, Captain E. G. Roper, C.B.E., D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N. Captain Roper's home was at St. Minver, Wadebridge, and he had been a keen, knowledgeable and active member of the Society for twenty five years having first joined in 1956. He served the Committee with diligence from 1967-1970 and from 1972-1975, and represented the Society at various Public Meetings and Enquiries in the Wadebridge and Camel Estuary area which he knew so well. He served as my Vice-Chairman from 1978-1981 and I was always aware that I had a good anchorman to call on when the need arose. His family recalled the great happiness and real pleasure he derived from his association with our society. It was perhaps crowned for him with his sighting in November 1979, of The Belted Kingfisher. This being only the second time that this bird had been reported in England, the previous bird having appeared in the same stretch of river in November 1908. Mrs. Irene Ryves A unique link with the Society was broken when the sad news came to me at the end of December of the death of Mrs. Irene Ryves the wife of our founder, the late Colonel B. H. Ryves. Her daughter Miss Barbara Ryves wrote to tell me and for that I was very grateful. In a wonderful tribute to her mother no words of mine could speak more eloquently. I would very much liked to have met her. I quote from Miss Ryves' letter. It really paints a lovely picture of a very special person. "She was a wonderful woman — his constant companion in birdwatching — his inspiration and encouragement — and she was also a marvellous mother, and person. My father owed her a tremendous amount. She died as she lived, serenely, gently, peacefully. A fine character in every way — aged 89 — still keenly interested in life — able to read without spectacles — her hearing and humour unimpaired. She died on Christmas Day, 8.30 a.m. I shall miss her immensely". The Society and the Annual Report will surely remain a memorial to the foresight, determination and enthusiasm of the Ryves family household which led to our foundation in 1931. Mrs. P. Visick Chairman INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1983 INCOME £ P £ P Subscriptions Annual Membership .3,138.57 Tax refund on covenanted subscriptions . 365.90 3,504.47 Donations 130.64 Rent, Walmsley Sanctuary 350.00 Interest War Loan . 31.56 Cornwall County Council Bonds . 255.00 N.S.B. Investment Account . 290.73 Bank Deposit Account . 408.01 985.30 Other Income Sale of Annual Reports — Scilly . 904.78 — Mainland .... 345.83 Other Sales . 145.52 1,396.13 6,366.54 Less: Printing, Stationery and Postages Annual Reports, 1982: Mainland 1,500.00 Scilly 898.00 News Letters 285.00 Other Printing and Stationery 268.27 Typing and Duplicating 40.00 Postages 711.23 Telephone 2.54 3,705.04 Other Expenditure Hire of Rooms for Meetings 5.30 Subscriptions to Societies 124.50 Insurance 97.30 Rents — Hides and Shooting Rights 41.00 Miscellaneous 49.28 Filing Cabinet 97.75 Calendars 415.13 Hide Expenses 172.30 4,292.47 EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE £2,074.07 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER, 1983 £ p £ p INVESTMENTS £902.24 3.5% War Loan at market price at 31st December, 1983 325.93 Cornwall County Council Bonds:— 14.5% Repayable 13th March, 1985 1,000.00 10.5%Repayable 31st March, 1987 1,000.00 2,325.93 DEBTORS 425.73 BANK BALANCES N.S.B. Investment Account ... 2,985.24 Deposit Account ... 6,258.45 Current Account 782.26 Cash in Hand 106.00 10,131.95 12,883.61 Less: LIABILITIES Subscriptions received in advance 104.50 Sundry Creditors 12.83 117.33 NET ASSETS £12,766.28 ACCUMULATED FUNDS Balance at 31st December, 1982 10,675.29 Add: Excess of Income over Expenditure for year 2,074.07 Increase in Market Value of War Loan 16.92 £12,766.28 NOTE: The Society also owns land at Trethias Island and Walmsley Sanctuary in addition to the Assets shown in this Balance Sheet. We have examined the above Balance Sheet dated 31st December, 1983, and the Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended on that date with the books of the Society and certify that they are in accordance therewith. Whitaker, Redfearn, Pappin & Co. Dated 12th April, 1984 Accountants. Newquay EDITORIAL and REVIEW of the YEAR Although not quite equalling 1982 for rarities, 1983 was nevertheless another marvellous year for birdwatchers in Cornwall. 269 species and 13 distinctive subspecies or races were recorded on the Cornish mainland and a record 200 + observers sent records for inclusion in this report. Three species were identified for the first time in Cornwall. These were Red- throated Pipit, Dusky Thrush and Slate-coloured Junco. Black Kite, Bonelli's Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler and American Redstart all put in their second appearance and many other species were noted for the third, fourth or fifth time. Records submitted were generally of a very high standard with a welcome increase in the volume of notes pertaining to breeding. Conversely, although the extreme rarities mentioned above were well described there was an alarming paucity of descriptions for some of the species considered to be County rarities (e.g. Arctic Tern) resulting in the omission of many records from this report. The highlights of the year were undoubtedly the incredible 'sea-watch' of Sept. 3rd and the Jay invasion of October. The year commenced (as 1982 had ended) with mild, wet Westerly airstreams crossing the County, bringing gales and above average rainfall and temperatures. Consequently the numbers of divers, grebes, wildfowl and winter thrushes were low. On the other hand, Black Redstarts, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Firecrests were abnormally numerous. January and February were rather quiet ornithologically with 3 Spoonbills, 3 Bitterns, 2 Red Kites, a Red-necked Phalarope, 2 Little Auks and a small influx of Iceland Gulls providing the few highlights. Although February rainfall was below average, the weather was generally unsettled and remained so into the first week of March. At this time high pressure developed and the associated Southerly winds induced the arrival of the first Spring migrants on March 5th. The diversity of species involved in this arrival was interesting and included Garganey, Goshawk, Hoopoe, Sand Martin, Black Redstart, Wheatear and Chiffchaff. Simultaneously, many wintering birds moved out of the County, but many must surely have regretted the decision because cold weather returned in mid-month and migration virtually ceased. This cold Northerly airstream persisted almost uninterrupted until April 12th when there was a brief respite for a few days before a return to wet Westerly weather from 16th. April was remarkable for the number of eastern rarities which were recorded. One or two Rough-legged Buzzards, single Tawny and Red-throated Pipits, 2 Golden Orioles, a Great Grey Shrike, 4 Snow Buntings and a Little Bunting provided some fascinating bird watching. Breeding species, particularly hirundines, Cuckoo and migrant warblers were grounded, en route from their wintering quarters, by adverse winds and persistent rain. In fact, with wet, cold and windy weather continuing throughout the month of May, the numbers of some species which arrived to breed were exceptionally low and one can only assume that enormous quantities perished in the inclement weather. The total rainfall for the month was almost twice the average and it was quite amazing that any rarities should arrive — but they did! Little Egret, Purple Heron, Montagus' Harrier, Osprey, Whiskered Tern, Tawny Pipit, 2 more Golden Orioles, 2 Woodchat Shrikes and 2 more Snow Buntings from Europe were complemented by a Surf Scoter and a totally unexpected Slate-coloured Junco from the Nearctic.