CORNWALL BIRD-WATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Forty-Fifth Annual Report

1976

St. George Printing Works Ltd., Camborne Officers 1977-78 President: Dr. C. J. F. Coombs, Greenwith Place, Perranwell, Truro Chairman : Mrs. M. P. Visick, Trendain, Perranwell Station, Truro General Secretary : W. J. A. Woodward, Lewidden, Penrose, St. Ervan, Wadebridge Assistant General Secretary : Mrs. P. E. Davies, Poolpark, St. Tudy, Bodmin Treasurer & Registrar : A. F. Reynolds, 33 Treworder Road, Truro Assistant Treasurer & Registrar : P. J. Dwyer, 27 Trenance Road, Newquay Field Meetings : S. M. Christophers, 17 Church Park, Bodmin Conservation : G. Jackson, Treweege Barton, Stithians, Truro Editor : D. J. Barker, Calidris, Four Lanes, Redruth Scientific Officer : H. P. K. Robinson, Carn View, Newbridge, Penzance Secretary for the Isles of Scilly : Miss H. M. Quick, Priglis, St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly Joint Editors — Isles of Scilly Journal: H. P. K. Robinson, D. B. Hunt, Carn View, Pednbrose, St. Mary's, Newbridge, Isles of Scilly. Penzance. Officer for Youth & Education : Mrs. S. D. Johns, 25 Hillcrest Avenue, Truro Committee Members : R. J. Beswetherick (Bude), J. B. Bottomley (St. Ives), J. Hawkey (Newquay), Mrs. A. H. Jeffreys (Wadebridge), Mrs. A. Robinson (Truro), Mrs. R. P. Weeks (Wadebridge), B. Wilson (Lostwithiel), retire 1978 ; S. M. Christophers (Bodmin), G. S. Gay (Portscatho), B. K. Mellow (Truro), R. H. Poynton (Newquay), retire 1979 ; C. C. Barnard (Penzance), S. C. Hutchings (Penryn), retire 1980 ; and the officers ex-officio. Secretary's Report for 1976

Our membership numbers continue in a healthy manner, and, in spite of no increase in subscriptions and the present economic depression, our income reached a new high level. Our Treasurer also forecasts that under normal conditions the subscription can remain unchanged in 1978. Two General and four Executive meetings were held during the year. At the A.G.M. on May 1st, the Chairman, Dr. Coombs, said that further correspondence with the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, had brought replies promising a period of quarantine for ail birds imported into this country and other measures to prevent the unnecessary loss of life of these helpless creatures. The weekend Field Outing to Studland, Dorset had proved to be an unqualified success, thanks to Mr. Dwyer's organisation and Mr. Peter Marriott's excellent hospitality. The Treasurer, Mr. Reynolds presented an attractive Balance Sheet showing a surplus of £630. Income from investments had improved and a legacy of £200 from Miss Stauffer, who died in 1975, had helped to swell the surplus. Dr. Coombs considered that the possibility of oil discovery around Cornish coasts made it imperative that there should be an analysis of the distribution of birds on the whole of the Devon and Cornwall coastline. To co-ordinate and evaluate such a survey, the Executive Committee recommended the appointment of a Scientific Officer. All information recorded would be available to Societies, County Councils, and Government Departments responsible for Nature Conservancy. The A.G.M. voted unanimously that this office be established. Mr. S. C. Hutchings, Treasurer of the Cecil Stevens Memorial Fund, said that the Hide at Ruan Lanihorne was on site and nearly completed. A further £35-£40 was needed to buy material, and he wondered if our Society would help towards this deficit. It was unanimously agreed to subscribe up to £50 to meet this. After this Meeting our Members J. B. & S. Bottomley showed a series of coloured slides depicting many rare and beautiful birds observed in Cornwall. The excellent work of these two well known photographers, together with the running commentary, was greatly appreciated by all those present. At the Autumn General Meeting, the Chairman, Mrs. Visick, said that the survey called " Gulls Nesting on Roofs" on behalf of the B.T.O. had left many areas unreported and she stressed the need for more observers. Mr. Reynolds was thanked for the new list of members, and particularly for grouping the members into the administrative districts of the County. It was reported that the Cecil Stevens Hide was now in operation and keys were obtainable from Mr. S. C. Hutchings, 24 Kernick Road, Penryn at £1 each. Mr. lackson reported that the Hide at Crowdy Reservoir (to which we had subscribed £100) was now complete and permission to use it could be obtained from the S.W.W.A. at Bodmin. 3 Mr. H. P. K. Robinson was elected to the new post of Scientific Officer. Mrs. S. Johns, our Youth Education Officer gave a review of her work during the year. Her aim was to teach the young to take bird watching seriously, and eventually to become leading members of our Society. She found that the problems of transport and the distances to be covered in Cornwall made it difficult to organise, but, if more volunteers to lead were available, the results would be better. After this meeting, Mr. T. O. Darke showed members two of his latest films entitled " The Cornish Cliff" and " The Pond." These fascinating records of Bird & Plant Life, were much enjoyed by those present, and it was obvious that Mr. Darke had again excelled in his creative art. Following our liaison with the S.W.W.A. and the successful installation of the Hide at Stithians Reservoir, further Hides have been built at Crowdy Reservoir, Siblyback Reservoir, Tamar Lake and Tresco, Scilly Isles. So the Society which sowed the seeds at Burniere Point, Wadebridge, 10 years ago, can now look with pleasure at the new Hides it has sponsored, and others which are planned for the future. Considerable work and study have been applied to improving the Marazion Marshes, particularly in trying to control water levels. With the co-operation of the St. Aubyn Estate, a sluice has been installed and water levels have been improved. Mr. Jackson has been assisted with the negotiations necessary for this work by Mr. Hosking and Mr. C. Barnard, to whom we owe our thanks. In connection with the Job Creation Scheme organised by the Government, it was felt that one of the jobs, " cleaning of rivers and streams," ran the risk of disturbing wild life habitats and nesting areas. Such work should be done under the advice of experts connected with conservation. It was proposed that, in conjunction with the Cornwall Naturalists' Trust, we should approach the officials responsible for this work and stress our concern. Following reports of damage to farmland crops on the Scilly Isles by crowds of holiday birdwatchers, Mr. Robinson was discussing the problems with a Warden on the Islands. Suggestions had been made for special fencing and creating a birdwatchers' trail, to prevent indiscriminate walking over agricultural areas. The Society supported these plans and was prepared to contribute towards the cost of the work. It was agreed that the next Scilly Isles Report should contain advice to holiday bird enthusiasts on this matter, and pointing out that legal action could result over damage to crops. A large number of Field Meetings, organised by Mr. F. Couch, were held at various points of the county, planned to cover as wide an area as possible as well as catering for coast, estuary, and woodland habitats. The meetings are very popular and always well supported, a proof of the thoughtful efforts made by Francis Couch.

W. J. A. Woodward, Hon. General Secretary. Treasurer's Report

The Society's income in 1976, £1,967, was £267 more than 1975, mainly as a result of the continuing high rates tof interest earned on the Society's funds. Routine running expenses amounted to £1,230 (including the printing cost of the list of members and an extra large mainland report for 1975). In addition, a contribution of £100 was made towards the cost of providing a hide at Crowdy reservoir and of £50 towards the Cecil Stevens memorial hide at Trelonk. Also a further £113 was spent on work to the cut-off at Stithians and £65 on a sluice gate at Marazion marsh. At the end of the year the Society's accumulated funds stood at £4,995, £391 higher than at the beginning. The Society therefore continues to be in a strong financial position.

A. F. Reynolds, Hon. Treasurer and Registrar. CORNWALL BIRD-WATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31st December, 1976

Expenditure Income £ P £ P £ P £ P Printing, Stationery and Postages : Subscriptions : Annual reports, 1975 : Annual Membership — current 867.95 Mainland 420.00 Life Membership 80.00 v Scilly 245.00 Tax refunds on covenanted List of Members, June 1976 95.00 subscriptions 104.06 Other printing and stationery 16.85 1,052.01 Typing and duplicating 68.00 Donations 61.50 Postages 284.33 Rent, Walmsley Sanctuary 52.00 1,129.18 Interest : Subscriptions to Societies 16.00 War Loan 31.56 Stithians Hide — work at cut-off 112.91 Cornwall County Council Bonds 359.93 Marazion Marsh — sluice gate 65.38 9.5% British Savings Bonds 167.20 Contribution to hide — Crowdy Reservoir 100.00 Bank Deposit Account 27.08 Contribution to hide — Trelonk 50.00 585.77 Other Expenditure : Other Income : Sale of annual reports : Hire of rooms for meetings 20.00 Insurances 32.96 Scilly 130.49 Hide keys 22.77 Mainland 9.39 Miscellaneous 26.38 Sale of Hide Keys 44.80 Sale of Society badges and ties 14.80 102.11 Miscellaneous 16.60 Excess of Income over Expenditure 391.78 216.08 £1,967.36 £1,967.36 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER, 1976

Liabilities & Fund Balances Assets Accumulated Funds : £ P £ P £ P £ P Investments : Balance at 31.12.75 4,594.59 £902.24 3.25% War Loan at market Add : Excess of Income over price at 31.12.76 229.00 Expenditure for the year 391.78 Cornwall County Council Bonds Appreciation on War Loan 9.00 13% repayable 13.3.77 1,000.00 4,995.37 13% repayable 13.3.78 1,000.00 Creditors 26.72 11% repayable 31.3.79 1,000.00 Subscriptions paid in advance : 40.00 3,229.00 Debtors : 200.00 Bank Balances : Deposit account 1,470.09 Current account 154.71 1,624.80 Postage stamps in hand 8.29 £5,062.09 £5,062.09

Report to the Members of the Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society I have examined the above Balance Sheet dated 31st December, 1976, 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. D. J. BARKER, Hon. Auditor. Editorial

125 contributors recorded 249 species (including 6 sub-species) on the Cornish mainland in 1976. Two species — Blue-winged Teal and American Kestrel — were additions to the county list and two more — Grey-cheeked Thrush and Black-headed Bunting — v/ere new for the mainland. Few would argue that the American Kestrel was THE bird of 1976, being only the second and so very nearly the first British record. Regrettably this remarkable sighting had unnecessary repercussions as apparently a number of birdwatchers, having been asked to cause as little disturbance as possible to the resident (nesting) Redstarts, paid no heed to this request with the result that the Redstarts deserted the area, only singles being noted after mid-July. (There were also some unfortunate incidents on the Scillies in the autumn involving lack of respect for property and a total disinterest in the welfare of birds). The Machiavellian principle of the end justifying the means (propounded in the 16th century) could well be the motto of some present day " ornithologists " whose sole object seems to be to add another rarity to their check-list at any cost. The weather in the first winter period was again mild and consequently wintering numbers were relatively low although a cold spell at the end of January produced a noteworthy movement of wildfowl (particularly Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Wigeon and Gadwall), Redwings and Fieldfares. Early spring was cold and windy with strong easterly winds for a few days in mid-April but May was generally warmer with several hot spells and winds basically from a southerly direction. Little Egret (2), Little Bittern, Cory's Shearwater and Temminck's Stint (2) were noted in these two months but once again very low numbers of Terns occurred on spring passage. The summer of 1976 will long be remembered as the hottest for many years, the rain-less days eventually resulting in drought conditions, which did not seriously affect Cornwall, and gorse/heather fires, which did. While the seemingly endless days of sunshine no doubt benefitted insect-feeding birds, the various species which feed on worms must have found life difficult as their food supply burrowed deeper into the soil away from the sun's rays and the lifeless, parched upper soil layer. Nevertheless, rarities turned up even in such static weather conditions — American Kestrel, Stone Curlew, White-winged Black Tern, another Cory's Shearwater, Honey Buzzard, Woodchat Shrike, Roller and Collared Pratincole, the last two birds having been preceded by a violent thunderstorm and easterly winds. Migrants were relatively scarce during the early part of the autumn as they presumably took advantage of the clear skies and continued southwards without stopping to feed. However, those that needed to refuel seemed attracted by the areas of burnt gorse — this applied in the main to Flycatchers, Whinchats, Redstarts and Yellow Wagtails. The long-awaited rain did not arrive until the second week of September by which time there had been an unprecedented influx of Aquatic Warblers and Blue-winged Teal had been added to the county list. Winds were north-west from September 9th-14th (a Long-tailed Skua occurred during a gale on the 9th) and then moved around to the east. This produced Scarlet Rosefinch, Black-headed Bunting, another 8 White-winged Black Tern, 2 more Honey Buzzards, Lesser Golden Plover and Long-billed Dowitcher. There then followed a rainy period with winds (strong at times) from the south or south-west. On October 14th a violent north-westerly gale — winds at times exceeding 100 mph — reached our shores from the other side of the Atlantic and, during the next few days, for the first time American passerines arrived in numbers. As usual the Isles of Scilly attracted most but Porthgwarra rolled out the carpet for a Grey-cheeked Thrush, its first American species since the Veery in October, 1970. As has been the trend in recent years, December was mild, this being reflected in the low wintering numbers as compared with the 1960s. At a time when some of us, in a state of euphoria, were beginning to look back what had proved to be another good year for the more unusual species and to wonder what 1977 would bring, we were suddenly brought back to reality by the arrival of Cranes near Land's End — a glorious way to crown the year. The Editor makes no apologies for the emphasis given to records from Porthgwarra as this locality has in the last eleven years shown itself to be the major observation point on the Cornish mainland. It is hoped that an article covering its fortunes between 1966 and 1977 will appear in the 1977 Report. Records for 1977 should please be sent to the Editor (please note new address) by January 15th and it will be of great assistance if they are in the order shown in this Report. (To save time and expense, would observers requiring acknowledgements please enclose a stamped addressed envelope). Descriptions are required for species considered rare in Cornwall including Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Smew, all grey Geese, Little Ringed Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Pomarine Skua, Iceland Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Arctic Tern, Roseate Tern, Little Auk, Hippolais Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow- browed Warbler. No record will be rejected by the Editor without first consulting at least one other observer familiar with the species in question. Thanks: To all who submitted records for this Report and particularly to the vast majority whose contributions were received by mid-January, enabling the draft to be with the printer by April. To R. D. Penhallurick who very kindly prepared the map shown on the centre pages, drew the Chough on the front cover and provided additional information from The Birds of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (unpublished at the time this Report went to Press). To those who contributed articles for consideration ; the Editor was delighted to receive so many and, with the consent of the Committee, they have all been included, making the Report somewhat longer than usual. To L. P. Williams for extracting from observers' notes particulars for the compilation of the section Red-legged Partridge — Robin.

Old Reports : Copies of previous Reports may be obtained from P. J. Dwyer (27 Trenance Road, Newquay) at 50p each ; issues for the following 9 years are available :— 1949, 1950, 1953-56, 1958-62 and 1967-70. Also, there are spare Scillies' Reports for 1969, 1970 and 1972. Would any members of the Society who have old Reports they no longer require please send them to Mr. Dwyer as there are a number of people who would be glad of an opportunity to purchase them. Carcasses : G. Jackson (Treweege Barton, Stithians) would be grateful if any dead birds found could be sent to him for forwarding to Bolton Museum for examination.

10 List of Contributors

Agnew, Mrs. M. D. Gay, G. R. Meek, N. R. Allinson, M. D. Gay, G. S. Mellow, B. K. Anger, R. Gilbert, J. S. Metcalfe, Miss D. F. Banks, S. Goddard, A. P. Moorcroft, L. Barker, D. J. & D. C. Grace, E. Nicholls, Miss E. M. Barnard, C. C. Graham, J. Nicholls, J. C. Beckerlegge, Rev. J. E. Griffiths, E. Norman, D. M. Belringer, R. M. Grover, J. A. Pattenden, B. Blarney, P. Haddy, D. G. Pellow, K. Bottomlev J. B. & S. Harvey, H. J. Penhallurick, R. D. Box, E. S. Hawes, T. E. Phillips, N. J. Brenton, G. Hawkey, J. Phillips, Miss R. M. Bundy, J. G. Hickson, M. Pinfield, T. J. S. Butts, R. Hirst, W. R. Playfair-Lym,Mrs. K. Callender, A. D. Hosking, A. C. Plummer, T. K. Callender, I. A. Howell, Mrs. P. E. Polglase, T. R. Camden, J. Hurrell, H. G. Polgrean, Rev. D. Campbell, Dr. Bruce Hutchings, S. C. Powell, L. S. & E. S. Carrington, Hyde, P. D. Rabjohns, R. C. Mr. & Mrs. A. H. Jackson, G. Robinson, H. P. K. Christophers, S. M. Jeffery, G. Rogers, S. Coate, M. Jones, Miss M. J. Roper, Capt. E. G. Coates, M. Jones, P. S. D. Round, P. D. Cole, S. J. Juleff, C. Rowe, Dr. G. P. G. Couch, F. M. Kay, Mrs. B. M. Rutter, P. A. Culwick, Miss E. Keiley, D. F. Sawyer, Lt. Col. E. L. Curber, R. M. Kendall, F. H. C. Sharp, R. V. G. Davies, Mrs. P. Kendall, I. Sharpe, W. Deal, H. A. King, B. Silcocks, T. B. Dingle, T. J. Lansdown, P. G. Smaldon, R. Dowrick, M. Last, W. G. Steele, Mrs. M. Dwyer, P. J. Linke, Helmut Stratford, R. Edelsten, J. Lott, Mrs. W. T. Sutton, G. P. Elliott, T. R. Lye, B. M. Toyne, R. Elwood, D. A. Madge, S. C. Truscott, P. Ennis, L. H. Maker, P. A. Tucker, V. R. Exelby, N. B. Maunder, J. L. Tullv, R. Fanshawe, J. May, A. H. Wake, R. E. Farmer, Mrs. J. May, G. P. Weaver, G. P. Fisher, P. McCartney, P. Williams, L. P. Fleet, R. M. Medhurst, H. P.

Some of the above are non-members

NOTE : Where initials are shown in the Classified Notes : MC = M. Coates ; JF = J. Fanshawe ; EG = E. Griffiths ; GJ = G. Jackson ; RS = R. Smaldon, other observers having identical initials being refferred to by name : MO = Many Observers. 11 Classified Notes for 1976

The species in the following list are in the order shown in A Species List of British and Irish Birds (BTO Tring, 1972). Please note the following definitions : (a) reference to " Porthgwarra " includes the area south of a line drawn from Carn Les Boel to St. Levan. (b) " Mount's Bay" refers only to that part of the Bay between Mousehole and Marazion. (c) " Whitsand Bay " = Looe and not the Bay of the same name at Sennen. All species noted on the Cornish mainland in 1976 are included in this Report. Where a record has been accepted by the Rarities Committee, this fact is stated.

BLACK-THROATED DIVER — Winter visitor. Passage migrant (mainly spring). In Gerrans and Veryan Bays noted until May 30th, when there were 2, and from October 14th, when there were 6. The highest number seen on any one day of the month was :— Ian. 22, Feb. 8, Mar. 27, Apr. 30, May 5, Oct. 6, Nov. 28, Dec. 27. In Mount's Bay a max. of 12 February 29th ; a few in spring, the last record being one in breeding dress April 19th ; singles October 30th and November 14th, 6 December 11th and then lower numbers until the end of the year. Porthgwarra monthly totals (30 west, 9 east) : Ian. 1, Feb. 3, Mar. 1, Apr. 27, May 5, Dec. 2. Off St. Ives Island (all flying west), 2 September 12th, 3 October 15th, 4 November 27th, and in December, one on 2nd, 2 on 3rd, 6 on 4th. Other records (singles unless stated otherwise) : In the first winter period at Loe Bar, Bass Point (Lizard), Whitsand Bay (5), Rock and St. Ives Bay (2). More north coast spring records than usual with 21 in St. Ives Bay April 17th (15 on 18th) and, at Porthkidney in May, 4 on 1st and one on 21st; on the south coast one at Par during April and the first week of May. Autumn : 2 west off West Pentire (Newquay) October 16th. In the second winter period at Falmouth Bay, Carrick Roads (2), Padstow/Camel Estuary (2), St. Ives Bay (max. 4 December 2nd) and Carnsew Pool. Mostly December records.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER -— Winter visitor. Passage migrant (mainly spring). St. Ives Bay : Seen regularly in low numbers until April 17th and then a gap until 2 in summer plumage May 29th. The next sighting was a single October 7th after which a few were seen up to the end of the year. Highest numbers — 5 February 29th, 7 October 16th, 6 Dec. 2nd. West off St. Ives Island — 7 October 15th, 2 November 2nd, one December 8th. Mount's Bay : Low numbers until April 17th and then a very late bird June 4th. In the second winter period recorded from November 20th (3) to 12 December 31st. Highest numbers — 6 January 17th, 5 December 18th. (This is an interesting comparison with the St. Ives records). Porthgwarra monthly totals (55 west, 3 — the October birds — east) : Ian. 1, Apr. 11, May 21, Oct. 3, Nov. 1, Dec. 21. In addition a single July 4th was presumably a non-breeding bird. Other records : Unlike 1975, more were seen during the first winter period than the second with reports received from a dozen localities (only two on the north coast). Sightings were mainly of singles but there were 9 at Seaton (Looe) February 14th, 8 in Falmouth Bay February 15th and 5 in Gerrans Bay on several dates. Spring migration was mainly in evidence in Gerrans/Veryan Bay where, in April, there were 6 on 3rd, 7 on 4th, and 2 on 18th, plus singles May 3rd and lune 6th. Elsewhere, there were 2 at Par April 12th, and, in May off Bass Point (Lizard), 4 west on 17th and one on 31st. In autumn, 3 in summer plumage at Looe October 24th and one at Navax Point (Godrevy) November 9th. Relatively few in the second winter period with sightings at nine localities, again only two being on the north coast. Apart from Gerrans/ Veryan Bay and Carrick Roads where the max. was respectively 5 and 7 on December 11th, records were of ones and twos.

RED-THROATED DIVER — Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Reports received indicate that this species tends to be nomadic rather than spend a complete winter period in one locality. The following details relate to singles unless shown otherwise. During January-March there were 21 sightings with birds at Mount's Bay (2), Loe Bar, Falmouth Bay, Gerrans Bay, Whitsand Bay, Rame Head (2), St. John's Lake — River Lynher, Polzeath, Daymer Bay, St. Ives Bay (2) and near Gurnard's Head. Of these, 7 were in March and may have been spring migrants. At Porthgwarra, there were 3 in April, 21 in May and singles September 10th and October 30th ; all but one flying west. Off St. Ives Island (flying west) : one April 14th ; in September, 2 on 9th one on 11th and 12th ; in October, singles on 15th and 30th ; and one December 2nd. The only other September record was one at Carnsew Pool from 12th-20th, but in October there were 2 at St. Mawes on 14th (both were calling), one at Porthilly on 19th and 26th and one in Mount's Bay on 29th. In November and December at Mount's Bay (2), Falmouth Bay (2), Carrick Roads (2), Gerrans Bay, Par (2), Whitsand Bay (2), Rock and St. Ives Bay (3 December 4th). A total of sixteen sightings.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE — Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. As in 1975 most reports were from Carrick Roads. The 2 present at the end of last year were seen until February 14th, there was a single April 3rd, and then 2 from December 11th into 1977. Singles only were noted at other localities. First winter period : at St. John's Lake — River Lynher January 11th — March 8th ; at Newlyn February 7th ; at Camel Estuary — Porthilly February 9th - 21st ; and at Looe February 15th. On autumn passage : at Drift Reservoir luly 27th (an extremely early record) ; at Tamar Lake August 5th - 8th ; at Camel Estuary — Porthilly 13 August 17th - 22nd ; at Upper Tamar Reservoir September 5th ; and west off St. Ives Island October 15th. Second winter period : in St. Austell Bay December 22nd (moving west) and in Mount's Bay December 27th — possibly the same bird ?

RED-NECKED GREBE — Scarce winter visitor. Hayle : one February 7th HPKR. Cawsand Bay (Torpoint) : 2 February 8th - 14th RS. Off Swanpool : one February 24th CCB. Carrick Roads : one February 29th AHM, GPM and possibly the same bird March 14th in breeding dress. GSG. Par : one March 23rd HAD, REW. A decrease after above average numbers in 1974 and 1975. SLAVONIAN GREBE — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. Throughout the first winter period at Mount's Bay (max. 6), Helford River (4), Falmouth Bay (5), Carrick Roads (8 January 30th), Gerrans/ Veryan Bay (4), Camel Estuary — Padstow (5) and Carnsew Pool (2). " Single day" sightings : at St. Ives Bay 3 February 22nd and 2 March 22nd ; at Porthkidney 5 March 14th ; at Carlyon Bay one March 5th ; at Par one March 28th. Noted in April only in Mount's Bay, where there were 3 on 4th and one on 17th, and also Carnsew Pool as one of the wintering birds stayed until 4th by which time it had attained summer plumage. One October record ; a single in St. Ives Bay on 24th. In November and December at Mount's Bay (max. 3), Carrick Roads (2), Gerrans/Veryan Bay (11 December 11th) and St. Ives Bay (3), but only in December at Swanpool (2), Camel Estuary/Padstow (3) and Carnsew Pool (2). There was a badly oiled bird at Copperhouse (Hayle) December 11th.

BLACK-NECKED GREBE — Scarce winter visitor. Mount's Bay: One lanuary 31st - February 6th JEB. HPKR.; one February 22nd but 2 on 29th PAM. BKM.; one December 27th CCB. Helford River: One lanuary 10th PAM. BKM. but 2 on 11th off " Grebe " beach ! TJSP. Carrick Roads ; In February, 5 on 1st, one on 8th, 3 on 13th and one on 20th ; one March 7th. GSG. et al. Gerrans Bay : Singles March 22nd and 27th and April 19th. GSG. Cawsand Bay (Torpoint) : In varying numbers February 8th - March 20th with a max. of 7 February 8th. RS. et al. Camel Estuary/Rock : 2 February 3rd and one February 9th - March 21st HAD. REW. et al; one (seen from the Hide) November 29th. HAD. An unusually large number in Cawsand Bay and overall a high total for the year. The April record was interesting as this species is seldom seen in the county as late as the 19th. LITTLE GREBE — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Bred at Par, Foxhole (St. Austell) and Crowdy ; one juvenile was noted at each of the first two localities but there are no further details about the Crowdy pair. Also " summered " or attempted to breed at Crowan, Stithians, Loe Pool, Swanpool and Siblyback. The resident population was as usual augmented during the winter months and the species was reported from all its normal haunts. The highest totals were 20 in the Hayle Estuary area December 18th, 15 at Tresillian/Truro March 10th, and up to 10 in the Fowey Estuary in both winter periods. 14 FULMAR — Breeds. Resident December - September. Passage migrant. Breeding reported only at Housel Bay (Lizard), Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) and Downderry on the south coast and at Newquay, Trevone, Pentire Point (Polzeath), Trebetherick, Boscastle and the Bude area on the north coast. According to the information received a mere 100 pairs breed in Cornwall — probably a quarter of the actual total! More details on breeding sites would be welcome in future years. Highest totals of passage birds : 600 west per hour off St. Ives March 13th ; 225 west off Bass Point (Lizard) in 5 hours May 17th. Inland record : on August 23rd one flew up the Camel Estuary to Amble Dam (5 miles inland), circled and then returned seawards. SMC. Most birds have left British waters by October to moult on the Newfoundland Banks, returning in late November. There were no 1976 November records but in October there were 3 at St. Ives on 14th, one there on 15th and 2 at Porthgwarra on 19th (all 6 moving west).

CORY'S SHEARWATER — Vagrant Near Wolf Rock : One May 31st, seen from R.M.V. Scillonian PAM. Porthgwarra : Singles flying west luly 9th HPKR. and luly 10th PAM. BKM. HPKR. (All three have been accepted by the Rarities Committee).

MANX SHEARWATER — Passage migrant. Feeding parties during summer. No records for lanuary, November or December but good numbers from April - September. The highest totals : Porthgwarra : 1136 west April 11th in one hour, 1,000 west May 12th. Bass Point (Lizard) : 770 west May 17th in five hours. Lundy Bay (Nr. Polzeath) : 700+ west luly 11th. St. Ives Island : 1,000 + feeding and moving west luly 5th and 6th. Other records (all flying west) : February — 2 off Porthgwarra on 22nd. March — 4 off Clodgy (St. Ives) on 13th ; 7 off Porthmellin Head (Portscatho) on 14th ; 3 off Bass Point during the month. October — 6 off St. Ives Island on 14th ; one at Bude on 15th. The St. Ives picture is incomplete as very few records were received for this locality making the compilation of monthly totals a pointless exercise.

BALEARIC SHEARWATER (mauretanicus) — Uncommon passage migrant. A sub-species, breeding in the western Mediterranean. Monthly totals (all flying west) : Porthgwarra (April 11th - November 13th) : April 1, May 1, June 1, July 6, Sept. 2, Oct. 2, Nov. 3. Bass Point (Lizard) (May 31st - October 11th) : May 1, July 16, Aug. 1 (east), Sept. 5, Oct. 2. St. Ives Island (July 6th - October 14th) : July 3, Aug. 1, Sept. 21 + , Oct. 6. Elsewhere : singles off Mousehole July 11th and near the Wolf Rock September 5th. 15 GREAT SHEARWATER — Scarce passage migrant. Porthgwarra : 2 west July 10th. PAM. BKM. HPKR. Bass Point (Lizard) : 3 west July 15th. PMcC. From R.M.V. Scillonian : One October 20th AHM. GPM. and c.90 October 29th SR. Full details received. Another good year for this species.

SHEARWATER sp. Porthgwarra : 8 large shearwaters, too far out for specific identification, flew west July 10th PAM. BKM. HPKR. SOOTY SHEARWATER — Uncommon passage migrant. Porthgwarra monthly totals (June 19th - November 6th), all flying west : June 12, July 3, Sept. 2, Nov. 1. St. Ives Island monthly totals June 20th - October 14th), all flying west : June 2, July 4, Aug. 3, Sept. 4, Oct. 6. Mousehole : one west June 19th LPW. From R.M.V. Scillonian : 2 September 4th (one attacked by a skua) RB. BKM.; one September 25th RMB. JCN. Gerrans Bay : 4 west September 11th GSG. Bass Point (Lizard) : 2 September 21st ; in October, 2 on 3rd and one on 11th. All flew west. PMcC. Sightings in lune and November are unusual. STORM PETREL — Passage migrant. May breed in very low numbers. Porthgwarra monthly totals (May 14th - September 12th), all west : May 44, June 62, luly 8, Sept. 11 From R. M. V. Scillonian : one May 22nd RMB. JCN.; 3 September 4th BKM. RB. et al. Bass Point (Lizard) : 9 May 31st, one June 20th, 2 luly 15th — all west P.McC. Mousehole: one lune 19th LPW. Navax Point (Godrevy) : 2 west July 6th and October 15th TRP. Porthcurno : one July 11th LPW. St. Ives Island (all west) : August — one on 30th ; September — 4 on 9th, 2 on 12th ; October — 3 on 14th, 11 on 15th MO. Nr. Hell's Mouth (Godrevy) : 2 October 16th TEH. RCR. Rosemullion Head (Falmouth) : one north October 17th PMcC. A bird, stranded in a house porch by St. Ives Harbour after dark, was released, apparently unharmed, on Porthgwidden Beach on November 9th per JBB & SB.

LEACH'S PETREL — Uncommon autumn passage migrant. Porthgwarra : 5 west September 12th HPKR. Navax Point (Godrevy) : singles west October 14th & 15th TRP. St. Ives Island (all west) : in September, 25 on 9th, 3 on 11th, 4 on 12th PAM. BKM. et al: in October 6 on 15th VRT.

PETREL sp. St. Ives Island : 2 west October 14th NJP. GANNET — Passage migrant. Winter and Summer visitor. Noted in Cornish waters in every month of the year. Largest totals : Porthgwarra : 3,500 offshore February 1st ; 15,200 west February 13th 16 in two hours ; also high numbers (1,000 + per day) during the first three weeks of October. Bass Point (Lizard) : 1,120 west September 28th in 2.25 hours ; 1,900 west October 3rd in four hours. St. Ives Island : 2,500 west September 15th ; c. 10,000 west October 14th in eight hours.

CORMORANT — Breeds. Resident. Inland sightings : At Stithians, Crowdy and Siblyback Reservoirs throughout the year in low numbers. (An unusually high number was 12 at Siblyback, Oct. 15th, staying only the one day). St. Austell: an adult flying south-west at Blackpool China Clay Works December 5th. Bodmin area : 4 north April 2nd ; singles October 31st, November 11th and December 23rd. Brockabarrow Common (Bodmin Moor) : one flying over October 4th. Callington : singles February 15th and November 14th. The only flocks in excess of 20 were : Carrick Roads: 25+ November 21st. Fowey River : 26 August 25th. Camel Estuary : 24 lanuary 28th, 31 October 20th. Singles showing features of the Continental race (sinensis) were at St. Clement (Truro) February 11th - 25th JEB. BKM. and at Carne Creek (Helford) February 15th RB.

SHAG — Breeds. Resident. Highest numbers : Caerthillian Cove (Lizard) : 90+ June 29th ; c. 120 August 16th. Falmouth Bay : regular rafts of 100 - 200 fishing together during both winter periods, usually reaching maximum numbers in February. Gerrans Bay: 100+ November 22nd and 100+ pairs on Gull Rock during the breeding season. Unusual record : 1 - 3 on the Camel Estuary near the hide Oct. 14th — Dec. 24th " Rarely recorded here." SMC. Ringing recovery : One ringed as a pullus on Mullion Island on 27th June 1976, was drowned in a fishing net on 7th October, 1976, at Lanildut (Finistere), France, per NBE.

GREY HERON — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant in low numbers. Reports of occupied nests : Marazion (4 nests — all in pines, none in reedbed) ; Carne Creek, Helford (12) ; Malpas (5) ; Percuil River, St. Mawes (c. 12) ; Par Marsh (4) ; St. Winnow, Fowey (4) ; Trenant Woods, Looe (10) ; Sheviock, St. Germans (6) ; Pancarsweek, Tamar Lake (12) ; Pinkson Creek, Camel Estuary (9). Did not breed at Loe Pool this year — the single nest in 1975 was the first breeding record since 1927 or 1928. At Halvana Plantation, for the second year running breeding was suspected. Largest numbers : 21 at St. John's Lake November 14th ; 20 on Camel Estuary Aug. 13th ; 17 on Fowey River September 25th ; 16 on Hayle Estuary August 17th. At Porthgwarra, there were singles May 5th (west), September 2nd 17 (south) and 19th (east), October 20th (nor-west) and 25th (?), and November 13th (west). Also 2 or 3 October 24th. These were presumed to be migrants as there are no resident Herons in the vicinity. Particularly unusual was one out to the west off Land's End June 22nd.

LITTLE EGRET — Vagrant. Porth Navas (Helford) : one May 17th BMK. Bude : one May 25th flying from Hele Bridge towards Widemouth FHCK. IK. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee).

NIGHT HERON — Vagrant. An immature at Tamar Lake July 29th TJD. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee).

The first since April 1970, the year of the Egret influx.

LITTLE BITTERN — Vagrant. A female and an immature male at Swanpool April 27th and 28th. B. Cave. TJSP. et al. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee). The Editor has been told verbally that one of these birds was eventually frightened off (at a time when it was out in the open in full view) by inconsiderate birdwatchers from outside the county who needlessly insisted on getting far too close to it.

Three individuals in two years after four years without a record.

BITTERN — Rare winter visitor. One at Marazion Marsh February 14th and 15th and April 3rd WRH. and presumably the same bird heard booming April 14th early in the morning — per WRH. Rarely recorded in the county during April. MALLARD — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Breeding reported from nine localities but basically very little detailed information received. Evenly distributed, where the habitat is suitable, in the winter months when our resident population is increased (probably by birds of Continental origin). Over 50 were noted at: Marazion : 90 January 8th and 75 January 17th. Loe Pool : 70 January 10th and August 18th ; 154 September 22nd ; 102 October 16th. Hayle Kimbro Pool: 83 July 24th. Ruan Lanihorne : 350+ October 9th. Truro - Tresillian : 109 November 3rd. Veryan Bay : 122 on the sea December 11th. Par Beach Pool: 110 December 29th. Siblyback : 108 December 7th. Tamar Lake and Upper Tamar Reservoir : 230+ October 16th. Crowdy : in December, c. 60 on 12th and 100+ on 27th. Porth Reservoir : c.80 December 12th. Unusual reports : Porthgwarra : one heard October 25th (only previously recorded hero in 1973). Hayle Estuary : in December, 8 on 5th and 5 from 11th - 28th. Hannafore (Looe) : a pair on the sea and rocks throughout the year. 18 TEAL — Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Drift : 350 January 31st. Marazion Marsh : 300+ January 31st (an exceptional number, present only for a few days). Loe Pool : in January, 200+ on 3rd and 370 on 10th. Stithians : 140 January 18th ; 205 December 14th. Ruan Lanihorne : 230 February 7th ; in October, 250 on 2nd and 380+ on 9th. Devoran : 210 January 24th. Truro - Tresillian : 165 January 16th. Millbrook Lake : in January, 145 on 15th and c.100 on 21st. Camel Estuary/Sanctuary : c.300 February 5th ; 136 December 12th. Hayle Estuary : 150 January 31st ; 240 December 5th. First and last records : Marazion Marsh : a pair May 6th and a drake in eclipse plumage July 9th. Unusual reports : Porthgwarra : 10 January 31st, 18 February 1st, one October 31st — all flying east. St. Ives Island : 2 west October 14th. Crowdy : noted in every month of the year.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL — Vagrant. Drift: a drake lanuary 3rd. HPKR. Upper Tamar Reservoir : a drake March 14th. RMB. Both records of this North American race (carolinensis) of the Teal were accepted by the Rarities Committee.

GARGANEY — Uncommon passage migrant. On spring passage : Marazion Marsh : Single drakes March 31st CCB. JH. and Apr. 20th BP. Tamar Lake : a pair April 10th - May 1st, the drake remaining until June 1st ; but a different drake at Upper Tamar Reservoir on May 16th TID. et al. Maer Lake : (Bude) : a pair April 20th FHCK. IK. Stithians : a drake May 20th - 24th RB. JEB. Tresemple Pool (Tresillian) : a drake May 24th SR. In Autumn : Marazion Marsh : one August 8th. E. Grace. Camel Estuary : 3 (one drake) August 9th REW. Stithians : noted from August 8th, when there were 2, PAM. until a single on September 19th. At least 3 birds were involved but probably more MO. Hayle Kimbro Pool : a female August 13th E. Grace. Drift: 2 August 13th HPKR, one on 19th JEB, and one Sept. 11th HPKR.

BLUE-WINGED TEAL — Very rare vagrant. A female at Stithians Reservoir August 31st - September 16th BKM. PAM. TJSP. et al. This is the first Cornish record (including Scillies) of this North American duck. Female Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal are said to be impossible to separate in the field but the latter is an unlikely possibility.

19 GADWALL — Uncommon winter visitor. Passage migrant in low numbers. In the first winter period at Drift (max. 8), Marazion Marsh (2), Loe Pool (2), Stithians (4), Par Station Pool (1), Siblyback (4), Tamar Lake (16 February 8th), Upper Tamar Reservoir (8), Crowdy (5), Dozmary (3), Camel Estuary/Sanctuary (6) and Hayle Estuary (2). Spring records : Marazion Marsh : a pair April 9th. Hayle Kimbro Pool: a pair March 23rd - 28th. Par Beach Pool: a pair April 27th and May 15th. In autumn and the second winter period at Drift (max. 2), Marazion Marsh (4), Loe Pool (3), Hayle Kimbro Pool (3), Stithians (4), Par Beach Pool (3), Siblyback (3), Tamar Lake (19 December 28th), Upper Tamar Reservoir (2), Crowdy (3), Camel Estuary/Sanctuary (one) and Hayle Estuary (4). The first autumn record was a female at Siblyback September 7th. Unusual occurrences : Porthgwarra : 3 east January 31st (the first record here). Crowan : a female March 1st. Most were seen in both winter periods at Tamar Lake where numbers were double those at any other locality.

WIGEON — Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Loe Pool: c.200 January 31st. Stithians : 200 February 1st; 100+ December 2nd. Ruan Lanihorne : 600 + January 31st; 273 December 18th. Siblyback : 208 February 1st. River Lynher — St. John's Lake : 4,500 + in both winter periods. Crowdy: 100-+ February 14th. Camel Estuary/Sanctuary : 900 February 20th ; 192 December 28th. Hayle Estuary : c.700 December 14th. First and last records : Hayle Estuary : one May 10th but 5 June 26th. Camel Estuary : one August 10th. At Porthgwarra, where rarely recorded, there were 2 February 1st and one west December 4th.

PINTAIL — Uncommon winter visitor. Passage migrant in low numbers. By far the largest numbers occur on the Camel Estuary where noted until April 6th (one) and from November 4th (3). Monthly maxima : Jan. 20, Feb. 10, March 5, April 1, Nov. 12, Dec. 9. In the River Lynher - St. John's Lake area seen during the first winter period until March 7th (3), with a maximum of 26 February 1st, and then from November 13th to the end of the year, with a maximum of 11 November 27th. Elsewhere in the first winter period there were only isolated occurrences but with a marked influx on January 31st when there were 7 at Drift, 8 at Marazion Marsh, and a drake at Ruan Lanihorne, followed the next day by a pair at Hayle Estuary and 3 at Siblyback. The only other first winter sightings were singles at Stithians February 7th and March 11th. There was no evidence of spring passage but a few were noted on autumn migration beginning with a female at Stithians August 29th

20 and then the following in September : Siblyback : a female from lst-9th. Stithians : 3 on 2nd. Par Beach Pool: from 14th - 23rd, involving at least 3 birds. Second winter period records : Marazion Marsh : a female October 16th and November 7th. Dozmary Pool: a female October 23rd. Drift: one November 27th. Hayle Kimbro Pool : a drake December 5th.

SHOVELER — Winter visitor. Passage migrant in low numbers. More than 20 were noted at : Drift: 90 February 1st (the largest flock in Cornwall since Jan., 1964). Marazion Marsh : 24 January 31st ; 21 December 27th flying over the beach. Loe Pool: 62 January 31st. Par Beach Pool: 26 January 6th and December 29th. Tamar Lake : 33 February 7th. Upper Tamar Reservior : 31 January 31st. Hayle Estuary : 38 January 31st. Also lower numbers during the year at Hayle Kimbro Pool (max. 13), Crowan (10), Stithians (9), Argal Reservoir (2), Ruan Lanihorne (9), St. Austell (3), Siblyback (3), Bude (4), Dozmary (3), Polzeath (one), Camel Estuary/Sanctuary (17). First and last records : Loe Pool: A drake April 24th. Stithians : 2 July 28th increasing to 6 by August 1st and 9 by 10th. Unusual reports : Porthgwarra : 45 east January 31st (the first record here). Near Quethiock (Liskeard): a drake on a farm duck pond March 9th and 10th. Egloshayle : a drake February 9th - 20th. Treweege Barton (Stithians) : 2 drakes February 8th - March 9th. Note the influx on January 31st and early February.

SCAUP — Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. More first winter period records and spring records than in 1975. Drift: a drake January 31st and February 1st. Off Porthleven : a female January 31st. Siblyback : a female January 31st. Carrick Roads : a drake February 1st. Long Rock Pool: a drake February 6th - 8th. Egloshayle : 2 females February 9th. Camel Estuarv : in February, one on 9th, 2 on 10th, and 3 from 17th - 23rd (all females). Stithians : a female February 22nd ; a female March 21st - April 4th. Temple Tor Pool (Bodmin Moor) : a drake March 22nd - 24th. Par Pool: a female April 3rd. In Autumn and the second Winter period : Stithians : a female September 8th, 2 on 12th ; 2 October 3rd. Loe Pool: a female September 27th. Carnsew Pool: a female November 6th. Long Rock Pool: a female November 20th. Spit (Par) : a drake December 9th - 19th, and possibly the same bird at Par Beach Pool December 26th - 29th. Camel Estuary : a female December 24th. 21 TUFTED DUCK — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. A few " summer." Relatively low numbers this year with more than 50 at only two localities. Maximum numbers : Drift: 30 December 12th. Loe Pool : 60 March 6th ; 30 July 27th ; 39 August 9th. Swanpool : 53 January 22nd. Tamar Lake : 31 March 14th ; 38 October 16th. Upper Tamar Reservoir : 37 January 17th. Porth Reservoir : 38 January 18th ; 35 December 12th. Also noted at Marazion Marsh (max. 23), Crowan, Argal Reservoir, Stithians (max. 26), Tresillian, Par, Siblyback (max. 24), Bude, Crowdy and Dozmary Pool. Unusual records : Porthgwarra : one west July 18th with Scoter. Gover Valley (St. Austell) : 3 (2 drakes) in a water filled China Clay- Pit June 6th. Carnsew Pool: 6 November 14th. Off St. Ives Island : a drake west December 4th with Scoter. There were no records for every month of 1976 from any one locality.

POCHARD — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. Maximum numbers : Drift: 60 lanuary 10th ; 128 December 11th. Loe Pool : 35 January 18th ; 83 December 12th (the most since 1968). Siblyback : 37 December 27th. Tamar Lake : 35 January 4th ; 67 December 12th. Upper Tamar Reservoir : 55 January 17th ; 44 December 12th. Dozmary Pool: 49 December 5th. Porth Reservoir : 33 January 18th. Also noted at Long Rock Pool, Swanpool (max 20), Argal Reservoir, Stithians, Tresillian, Par, Crowdy (max. 28) and Hayle Millpond. First and last records : The only May sighting was a pair at Loe Pool on 30th and, at the same locality in July there was a drake on 1st, 3 drakes on 27th and 2 on 31st. The only other July record was a female at Stithians on 25th. In August, there was a single at Stithians on 10th, 2 at Upper Tamar Reservoir on 15th, and a drake at Par on 20th & 29th. Unusual reports : Crowan : 28 lanuary 1st was a high number here (see 1975 report). St. lohn's Lake : a pair February 4th. River Camel: a drake February 20th up river from Wadebridge. Hayle Kimbro Pool: a drake November 19th. 25 at Stithians on September 4th were clearly on autumn passage, greatly exceeding the second winter period maximum of only 10.

GOLDENEYE — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. As usual by far the largest numbers were at Carrick Roads where noted until April 4th (a drake) and then from October 28th (3). Monthly maxima were as follows : Jan. 35, Feb. 40 + , March 20, April 1, Oct. 3, Nov. 3, Dec. 15. In the first winter period at Drift (max. 2), Long Rock Pool (one), Loe Pool (6), Crowan (one), Stithians (7), Perranarworthal (one), Tresillian (one), St. lohn's Lake (2), Tamar Lake (6), Upper Tamar Reservoir (6), Crowdy (one), Camel Estuary - Rock (16), and Hayle Estuary - Carnsew Pool (9).

22 In the second winter period at Long Rock Pool (max. 2), Loe Pool (2), Hayle Kimbro Pool (one), Crowan (one), Stithians (5), Tresillian (3), Siblyback (3), Tamar Lake (2), Upper Tamar Reservoir (6), Bude (one), Crowdy (4), Camel Estuary - Rock (10), and Hayle Estuary - Carnsew Pool (6). First and last dates : Loe Pool : a female April 19th. Carrick Roads : 3 October 28th. Unusual reports : Mount's Bay : 2 on the sea off Eastern Green Beach January 31st. Fowey Estuary : 2 February 14th (rarely recorded here). Ruan Lanihorne : one November 14th and a drake December 31st. Helston : one on a small pool near a playground November 25th - December 1st ; one on Helston Park Lake December 21st. From the information provided, the ratio would appear to be one drake to 4/5 females.

LONG-TAILED DUCK — Uncommon winter visitor. Drift: a female January 1st - April 22nd (a very late date). CCB. JEB. et al. Gerrans Bay: a pair January 15th DJB. 2 December 4th RB. GSG. Daymer Bay (Padstow) : a female February 1st, seen also at Porthilly on 2nd and 10th HAD. REW. Also a female at Porthilly April 12th. IAC. ADC. (the February bird ?). Harlyn Bay : an immature February 28th - March 28th JLM. MH. Upper Tamar Reservoir : a drake October 16th TJD, Long Rock Pool: one October 20th RB. 2 (a female and an immature) November 5th - 17th and then only the immature until November 27th ACH. SCH. PDR. et al. Crantock : a pair October 31st, but only the female November 13th RB. JCN. TRE. Camel Estuary: a female October 31st and November 1st but 2 November 4th HAD. EGR. REW. et al. Stithians : a pair October 31st SCH ; an immature male from Nov. 11th into 1977, assuming full winter plumage in January JEB. et. al. Loe Pool: a female from November 7th until the end of the year JSG. TRP. West Looe : a pair November 11th HAD. A good year with at least twenty individuals.

VELVET SCOTER — Scarce winter visitor. Whitsand Bay : up to 8 from January 3rd until March 7th EG. RMB. RS. Falmouth Bay : a pair February 6th - 22nd TJSP. PAM. BKM. et al. Carrick Roads : a female April 4th GSG. Gerrans Bay : one November 7th RVGS. Off Loe Bar : an adult male November 13th - 22nd JSG. ACH. St. Ives Island : a pair west December 4th LPW.

COMMON SCOTER — Winter visitor. Passage migrant. A few " summer."' Porthgwarra monthly totals (all but 5 moving west) : Feb. Mar. Am. Mav June July Oct. Nov. Dec. 4 15 2 37 48 74 43 5(E) 3 From February 29th - July 20th and October 8th - December 4th. Monthly totals for Bass Point (Lizard) — all west : May 24, June 9, July 11, Aug. 3, Sept. 4, Oct. 18. 23 From May 22nd - October 31st ; also 4 March 20th. Off St. Ives Island : in September 28 on 9th and 3 on 14th ; in October, 200 on 1st and 132 on 15th ; in December, one on 3rd and 11 on 4th. All flying west. Spit (Par) was the only locality where this species was recorded during every month of 1976, the max. being 86 + November 21st. In the first winter period at Mount's Bay (max. 30), Falmouth Bay (8), Gerrans Bay (14), Whitsand Bay (53), and Bude (40 + ). Spring records from Mount's Bay, Loe Bar, Gerrans Bay and Rock but autumn records from more than a dozen areas. In the second winter period (i.e. December) only at Mount's Bay (max. 24), Loe Bar (30 + ), Gerrans Bay (2) and Whitsand Bay (11). Unusual reports : Newlyn : one in the harbour mouth February 23rd. Foxhole (St. Austell) : a female in a water filled quarry May 21st - 23rd. This species is rarely noted inland or even in harbours.

EIDER — Uncommon winter visitor. The fairly high numbers reported at the end of 1975 at Carrick Roads and Whitsand Bay stayed into 1976. Carrick Roads : stayed until April 24th with a max. of 40+ Feb. 15th. Whitsand Bay : last seen April 6th, the max. being 45 February 15th. Elsewhere only single figure numbers in the first winter period. Noted at Rinsey (Porthleven), St. lohn's Lake, Camel Estuary, St. Ives (up to 7) and Treveal Cove (Zennor). Spring records : Rame Head : from March 20th — late July with a maximum of 23 decreasing to 12 — 14 by July. Porthleven : Loe Bar : 5 from March 21st — end of April. Prussia Cove : a female April 22nd. Late summer and autumn records : St. Anthony Head (St. Mawes) : 5 (all immatures), first seen Aug. 5th, stayed about a month. Par : 6 August 20th. Godrevy : a drake September 4th ; 5 (one drake) October 31st. Carrick Roads : one September 8th. Off St. Ives Island : an immature drake west September 12th ; an adult drake west October 15th. Porthleven Harbour : an immature drake September 25th. Whitsand Bay : 5 October 25th. Scarce in the second winter period (November — December) with records from only five localities : Spit (Par) : a drake November 21st. St. Ives : a drake December 3rd — 24th. Helford River : an immature drake December 19th. Camel Estuary : a female December 28th and at Porthilly on 30th. Cawsand Bay (Torpoint) : 3 drakes December 31st.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER — Uncommon winter visitor (apart from Carrick Roads). Carrick Roads monthly maxima : Jan. 60, Feb. 72, March 70, April 3, Nov. 35, Dec. 60. Noted until April 11th (3) and from Nov. 14th (10). First winter period : Camel Estuary — Rock : up to 5 January 1st — March 19th Siblyback : a drake January 11th. 24 Hayle Estuary/Carnsew : 2 January 20th ; one February 19th : a drake March 13th. Mount's Bay : a pair January 31st. Crowdy : one January 31st. Upper Tamar Reservoir : one February 1st. St. Ives : one February 14th. Rame Head : a drake February 15th. Cawsand Bay (Torpoint) : one February 29th. April sightings : Porthgwarra : one east on 16th. Off Par : 3 females on 24th. Autumn and second winter period : St. Ives : one west October 14th ; one off the sewer December 18th. Hayle Estuary/Carnsew : brownheads October 31st, November 7th and December 26th, but a drake December 18th — 29th. Camel Estuary — Rock : one November 1st — December 30th. Spit (Par) : one November 16th. Off Swanpool: 2 December 4th. Gerrans Bay : 3 December 11th.

GOOSANDER — Uncommon winter visitor.

Wintered only at Siblyback where seen in both winter periods. The 4 brownheads noted at the end of 1975 remained until February 24th but the drake was seen only until February 2nd. However, there were 5 brownheads lanuary 11th — 20th JGB. HAD. et al. The first sighting for the second winter period was November 15th, when there were 3 (2 drakes) ; 3 (one drake) were seen December 11th and 4 brownheads December 29th. Therefore at least 6 birds were involved HAD. PSDJ. et al. Elsewhere there were only isolated occurrences : Dozmary Pool: a drake January 9th HAD. 3 (one drake) Dec. 1st — 3rd EG. VRT. Drift: 5 January 31st HPKR. Tamar Lake : a brownhead February 7th & 8th FHCK. IK. et al. Looe Estuary : a brownhead February 15th PSDJ VRT. Hayle Estuary : a pair April 19th PAR. Loe Pool : a pair April 19th HJH. Crowdy : one November 6th FHCK. IK. Upper Fowey Valley : 2 drakes flying down the valley December 1st EG. VRT. Camel Estuary : a brownhead December 15th JC. SMC. HAD. It is difficult to say how many individuals occurred in 1976 as records in 1975 indicated that Siblyback birds occasionally visit Dozmary. Further the Tamar and Looe records could possibly relate to the same bird, and the Hayle and Loe Pool sightings seem almost certain to be of the same pair.

SMEW — Rare winter visitor.

Siblyback: the brownhead seen at the end of 1975 remained until March 7th on which day 2 brownheads were present PSDJ et al. a brownhead December 5th (not seen subsequently) HAD. PAM. BKM. PSDJ. Off Par Beach : a brownhead February 19th HAD. REW. 25 SHELDUCK — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Breeding records : Hayle Estuary : two broods of 7 and 9 young May 30th. Ruan Lanihorne : 50 young and 150 adults June 13th. Truro — Tresillian : 50 young June 22nd. River Fowey : 8 young June 16th. Millbrook Lake (Torpoint) : one pair with 10 young June 17th. Whacker (River Lynher) : a pair with 5 young July 19th. Antony Passage (Saltash) : an adult with 11 young June 2nd. Camel Estuary : 61 young June 28th. Largest wintering numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 250 + March 28th ; 96 November 22nd. Truro — Tresillian : 370 March 10th. Devoran : 107 January 28th. River Lynher : 375 March 8th ; 94 November 23rd. Camel Estuary : 169 March 14th ; 89 December 24th. Also lower numbers at Hayle Estuary, River Fowey, Millbrock Lake and St. John's Lake. Unusual reports : Crowdy : one January 31st. Loe Pool : 9 February 1st plus 3 flying south off the Bar. Gerrans Bay : 5 on the sea April 10th. Drift : a juvenile July 31st. Porthgwarra : an immature flew up the valley September 25th ; 6 October 8th. GREYLAG GOOSE — Scarce passage migrant. Escape from feral stock ? Stithians : one April 5th E. Grace. Hayle : one landed in the harbour August 15th and was seen the next day at Copperhouse PAR. LPW. TRP. The Hayle bird may have been an escape as it was very early for an autumn migrant. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE — Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. Porthgwarra : one January 25th HPKR. Walmsley Sanctuary : the 2 present at the end of 1975 were last seen March 9th SMC. HAD. et al. None seen here at the end of 1976. BRENT GOOSE — Scarce winter visitor. Passage migrant in low numbers. Another good year — all records were of birds of the dark-bellied race. Marazion Beach : the 3 present at the end of 1975 gradually increased to a peak of 11 (February 3rd — 8th) and then decreased to 5 on March 14th ACH. PAR. RS. et al. 4 September 13th — 16th WRH. 2 December 4th — 25th but 3 26th — 28th JH. ACH. CCB. et al. Camel Estuary — Rock : 8 adults February 14th — March 21st PAM BKM. SMC. et al. 4 flew in off the sea but did not land November 22nd DFK. 8 December 3rd — 17th HAD. Copperhouse (Hayle) : an immature December 24th LPW. but 7 (6 adults) December 25th - 31st LPW. PAR. MJJ. CCB. Ruan Lanihorne : 2 December 24th GSG. St. Just Lane (Roseland) : one December 27th GSG. The world population of this race has been increasing since the 1950s : in Cornwall there have now been four consecutive good years. 26 CANADA GOOSE — Scarce visitor but possibility of escapes. Marazion Marsh and Beach : one January 15th — 18th JBB. SB. JEB. ACH. Hayle Kimbro Pool: 2 April 26th — May 2nd TRP. SCH. E. Grace. Loe Pool: one May 16th JSG. Although it is anyone's guess, these four seem more likely to be visitors rather than escapes.

MUTE SWAN — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Breeding attempted at the following localities ; where success is known the numbers of cygnets hatched is shown in parenthesis : Loe Pool, Gweek (2), Swanpool (5), Percuil River (4 but only one reared), Stithians (7), Boscawen Park — Truro (5), Par Harbour (7), Par Beach Pool (6), Lostwithiel (2), Looe Estuary (4), Forder River — Saltash (6 but only 4 later), River Lynher, Tamar Lake (2), Bude (2 but one killed by vandals), Amble dam (2), Egloshayle (2), and Newquay (7 but only 3 reared). The largest herds were 51 at St. John's Lake November 14th and 40 at Par January 4th. Monthly totals at Looe Estuary show a marked passage during autumn PSDJ. July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 18, Oct. 23, Nov. 14. Our resident population is augmented in the winter months by visitors from other parts of the British Isles.

WHOOPER SWAN — Scarce winter visitor. Occasionally on passage. Crowdy : an adult November 11th — December 21st EGR, REW, SMC. et al. but 2 adults December 1st EG. VRT. Camel Estuary/Sanctuary : an adult December 10th — 19th JC. HAD. EGR. et al and probably the same bird at Egloshayle on 12th SMC.

BEWICK'S SWAN — Scarce winter visitor. Occasionally on passage. Tamar Lake : on lanuary 1st 6 flew in during rain and fog and stayed for fifteen minutes FHCK. IK. Siblyback : the 4 present at the end of 1975 stayed until lanuary 4th AHM. GPM. SMC. Camel Estuary/Sanctuary : 5 (2 adults) February 3rd HAD. REW. 2 adults from November 24th to the end of the year SMC. FMC. REW. et al. and probably the same birds at Egloshayle December 12th SMC. Crowdy : 6 (2 adults) November 19th — December 1st but only one immature on 5th PD. SMC. HAD. et al. Torpoint : 2 flying north over H.M.S. Raleigh December 1st EG.

BUZZARD — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Certainly maintaining its numbers and increases on last year reported from the Roseland District, Bodmin Moor, and North Cornwall. The largest gatherings were : Trekeivesteps (Bodmin Moor) : 9 soaring September 14th. Near Quethiock (Liskeard) : 8 soaring above a potato field Oct. 6th. At Porthgwarra, 2 moving north May 9th were probably migrants and a beautifully marked individual present November 6th was certainly not a local bird.

27 SPARROWHAWK — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Numerous reports received from all over the county with increases noted in several areas. Singles were seen for the first time during the year at Penwethers (Truro) and Roseaddon (Manaccan). A decapitated bird was found near Goonhavern on May 1st. At Par Beach Pool, a female hid in an isolated patch of reeds on April 24th and attacked Reed Buntings when they flew in to roost. On September 3rd at the same locality a female flew over low when almost dark and attacked Swallows perched on the reeds.

GOSHAWK — Scarce passage migrant. Porthgwarra: a female April 11th DJB. LPW. DCB. males August 15th PAM. and September 26th JH. VRT. and a juvenile Sept. 19th CCB. Trevenen (Helston) : an adult October 2nd E. Grace. With at least 27 sites occupied in the country during the 1975 breeding season it is not surprising that this species is now recorded annually in Cornwall.

HONEY BUZZARD — Rare passage migrant.

Porthgwarra : one flew in off the sea July 25th and headed inland PAM. AHM. GPM. Zennor : 2 September 29th (one light phase and one medium phase). HPM. WGL. Full details received. There appears to have been a large influx of Continental birds in late September and early October.

MARSH HARRIER — Rare passage migrant.

Marazion Marsh : a female/first winter April 12th — 16th HJH. CCB. RMP. et al — it almost entered a mistnet on 15th ! BP. a female/ immature August 25th WRH.

HEN HARRIER — Scarce winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.

As usual most records came from the moors of the Land's End Peninsula. Numbers were again fairly low with a maximum of 2 (one male) in the first winter period and 3 (one male) in the second. First and last dates : a male April 2nd and 2 ringtails Nov. 20th MO. At Porthgwarra there were Ringtails February 7th, April 16th, October 11th, 23rd, and 24th, and November 13th & 14th MO. Elsewhere (ringtails unless stated otherwise) : Crowdy : one in the first winter period until March 2nd JC. SMC. PD. one from September to the end of the year GB. REW. FHCK. IK. Witney Brook (Bodmin Moor) : a male March 6th PSDJ. Near Hayle Kimbro Pool: a male March 20th PAM. BKM. Near Dozmary Pool: one April 4th PSDJ. Near Sennen : an immature male April 10th BKM. Near Skewjack : one April 10th & 11th RB. Kynance : an immature male May 8th RB. TJSP. Carbilly Tor (Bodmin Moor): a male October 16th JC. Tregarrick Tor (Siblyback) : one November 28th PSDJ. and possibly the same bird in the Upper Fowey Valley the same day PAM. BKM. RB. TJSP.

28 MONTAGU'S HARRIER — Rare passage migrant. Has deccreased in recent years. Cheesewring (Bodmin Moor) : a pair April 19th but not seen subsequently. PSDJ. Kynance : one flew up the valley May 6th per RDP. Perranuthnoe (nr. Marazion) : a female May 8th RB. TJSP. Near Dozmary Pool: a female June 13th SCH.

OSPREY — Rare passage migrant, but annual at the Camel Estuary. No spring records after four sightings in 1975. Camel Estuary : one August 8th — September 7th SMC. IAC. ADC. et al. Porthgwarra : one September 29th HPM. WGL.; one west Oct. 24th PF. NJP. PDR. HPKR. Ruan Lanihorne : one October 2nd SR.

HOBBY — Scarce passage migrant. Loe Bar — Gunwalloe : one in off the sea April 8th RA Porthgwarra : singles May 23rd MO, June 8th HPKR, July 11th PAM and August 15th AHM. GPM. Stithians : singles July 10th JEB and 28th E. Grace, TRP, August 20th E. Grace and September 22nd TJSP. Gweek : one September 4th E. Grace. A pair was present at a breeding site throughout June and July but breeding not proved.

PEREGRINE — Breeds. Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Becoming re-established as a breeding bird in recent years. In 1976 at least six pairs nested, five of which were successful, and one pair " summered." A similar pattern to 1975 with most in autumn. All records refer to singles unless stated otherwise. In the first winter period (January and February) at Porthgwarra, Marazion, Hayle Estuary, Stithians, Camel Estuary/Sanctuary, Crowdy and Siblyback (a total of 14 sightings). In March at Hayle Kimbro Pool, Camborne North Cliffs and Treweege Barton (Stithians) ; in April only at Camel Estuary on 12th. In autumn (which is taken as August — mid November) at Porthgwarra (at least 3 birds involved), Sancreed (Drift), Camborne North Cliffs, Porkellis (Wendron), Stithians, Calenick (Truro), Ruan Lanihorne (at least 2), Carlyon Bay Golf Course, Par (at least 2), Siblyback, Millbrook Lake, Cotehele, Crowdy (2), Pentire Head (2), Stepper Point (Padstow), and Camel Estuary/Sanctuary. In the second winter period (November 15th onwards) at Godrevy, Stithians, Ruan Lanihorne, Camel Estuary/Sanctuary and Siblyback. Note : there were at least four different birds in the Camel Estuary area in autumn and the second winter period SMC. " Kills ": Stithians : an immature September 29th had the effrontery to stoop at the Dowitcher but missed narrowly. Camel Estuary : on October 6th a female took a Grey Plover. Par: six partly eaten feral pigeon corpses were on the beach Nov. 9th.

29 MERLIN — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. In one area of Bodmin Moor noted in every month of the year but no indication of breeding. Elsewhere records were received from all parts of the county but there seems to have been a slight decrease on 1975 numbers. Only 8 were noted in January and February — singles at St. Buryan, Trewey, Towednack and Stithians but 2 at Siblyback and Camel Estuary. Apart from Bodmin Moor, only one record from March to August — a male near St. Blazey March 21st. As with Peregrine most sightings were in autumn, the earliest being a female at Stithians September 10th. 18 birds were noted at thirteen localities, (mainly West Cornwall) ; there were at least 3 at Porthgwarra September 26th — November 7th. In December, singles at Porthgwarra, Drift and Crowdy but 2 at Trewey and Camel Estuary.

KESTREL — Breeds. Resident. Possibly a passage migrant. Numerous breeding season records were received indicating a wide­ spread distribution in the county but the following comments are worth noting : " Appeared less common in our area — we only found one definite nest and at least one traditional site was unused." JBB & SB. (Halsetown, St. Ives). Seems to be decreasing in North Cornwall." GPS.

AMERICAN KESTREL — Very rare vagrant. A female at Bearah Tor (Bodmin Moor) lune 13th — 28th HAD. PAM. BKM. and what seemed like every ornithologist in the country. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee). This is the first record for Cornwall (including Scillies) and would have been a first for Britain had it not been pipped by one on Fair Isle May 25th — 27th (1976). " On 13th June, 1976, H. A. Deal, R. Lee and ourselves were casually walking along the hillside at Bearah Tor when BKM noticed what appeared to be a Kestrel approaching us at a distance of about 70 yards. We all raised our binoculars to watch it fly past but, as it came closer, it soon became apparent that the bird was not a Kestrel, although superficially like one. The differences were that it was paler and more agile with longer, more pointed wings and had a very distinct head pattern which did not seem to fit any of the more " usual" rare European falcons recorded in Britain i.e. Lesser Kestrel or Red-footed Falcon. The bird was kept under observation for the next hour at a range of about 75 yards through binoculars and telescopes and the following description was taken. Size and jizz : Smaller, more compact and more agile than Kestrel with proportionately longer wings and a short, square-ended tail suggested a small Hobby. When perched, the primary tips fell about an inch short of the tip of the tail. The plumage was generally bright rufous on the upperparts with whitish, lightly streaked underparts and a striking head pattern. Upperparts : Head — forehead, front of crown and supercilium to just behind the eye pale, soft grey. Top and rear of crown bright rufous with a narrow blackish streak running down the centre of the nape to the top of the mantle. Lores black, running into a short, narrow black moustachial streak ; between this and the dark nape centre was an area of yellowish wash (fading to almost white at the base) with a

30 darkish centre forming an inverted " U." The mantle, wing coverts and secondaries were all bright rufous (brighter than Kestrel) with narrow but heavy black barring. The primaries were blackish. Rump as mantle but with less streaking. Upper tail bright rufous with 10-12 narrow black bars and a broad black terminal band which blended slowly into the rufous. Underparts : Chin, throat and cheeks white. Breast and belly down to the tibia off-white, lightly streaked ginger (streaking heavier on the flanks). Lower belly and under-tail coverts off-white with no streaking. Soft Parts : Legs and cere bright pale yellow. Eye and bill dark. While studying the bird BKM and PAM both realised that they had seen a picture or photograph of a falcon with such a distinct head pattern somewhere before ; the only species which came to mind was American Kestrel. After leaving the area we drove to HAD's house and consulted the American Field Guide (Peterson) which confirmed our suspicions that the bird was an adult female " PAM. BKM.

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE — Birds released for shooting purposes may breed. Gwithian — Godrevy : one March 25th, 2 April 25th, 9 October 31st into 1977.

PARTRIDGE — Breeds. Resident. Good numbers reported during the 1976 breeding season, particularly on Bodmin Moor. Also bred at Predannack (Lizard), St. Mawes, St. Just-in-Roseland, Polperro, Trematon (Saltash) and Antony (Torpoint). The max. was 20 at Porthmizzen Farm, Trevone October 4th.

QUAIL — Scarce passage migrant. Occasionally breeds. Porthgwarra : one May 15th HPKR. Canon's Town (nr. Hayle) : one heard calling many times between June 20th and July 21st ; possibly 2 birds present on one occasion RDP. Downgate (nr. Callington) : one June 26th EG. Bearah Tor (Bodmin Moor) : one calling June 26th & 27th PDH.

PHEASANT — Breeds. Resident. Common throughout the county : had an excellent breeding season. At Porthgwarra, where rarely recorded, there were singles Sept. 22nd and October 24th.

CRANE — Very rare vagrant. 5 (4 adults in the Porthgwarra — Nanjizal area December 21st-29th and then 4 (3 adults) well into January, 1977. First seen by HPKR December 28th although local people had been watching them since the 21st! (Accepted by the Rarities Committee). 5 " probables" flew west across Mount's Bay December 27th PDR. Almost certainly the Nanjizal birds on a ' scenic flight.' The last Cranes in the county were a party of 7 at nearby St. Buryan on 6th November 1963, the year of the huge influx. 31 WATER RAIL — Breeds ? Passage migrant. Winter visitor. No reports of breeding although one " possibly summered " at Marazion Marsh. First and last dates : Swanpool: one April 18th. Redmoor (Lostwithiel) : one August 24th. Generally fewer than usual on autumn passage. At Porthgwarra, singles were noted from September 30th. At Bolingey (Perranporth), at least 30 birds were present in the second winter period.

SPOTTED CRAKE — Scarce passage migrant (mainly autumn). Treweege Barton (Stithians) : one March 1st GJ. Marazion Marsh : singles August 31st APG. September 4th & 6th BP. and September 18th (seen and heard) TJSP. St. Ives : one was found dead in late August per V. Stratton.

MOORHEN — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Breeding records from Hayle Millpond, Loe Pool, Tresemple Pool (Tresillian), Lammoran Pool, Foxhole (St. Austell), Par Beach Pool, Redmoor (Lostwithiel), Temple Pools (Bodmin Moor), Tamar Lake, Maer Lake (Bude), Crowdy and Sladesbridge. The max. was 32 at Tresemple Pool February 14th.

COOT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Bred in very low numbers at Drift, Loe Pool, Crowan, Stithians, Par Beach Pool, Redmoor (Lostwithiel), Siblyback and Crowdy. Largest numbers : Loe Pool : 125 March 6th. Stithians : 139 February 8th, 124 December 14th. Siblyback : 200 + February 1st. Maer Lake (Bude) : c.100 February 21st. Crowdy : 200 January 31st.

OYSTERCATCHER — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Bred successfully at Widemouth Bay where 2 were hatched but only one reared. Also noted in the breeding season between Porthcothan Bay and Harlyn Bay. Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne: 230 Aug. 16th, c.350 Aug. 23rd, 600+ Aug. 31st. St. John's Lake : 210 August 6th. Camel Estuary: 384 March 26th, 410 August 23rd, 312 November 13th, 250 December 19th. Inland records : Upper Tamar Reservoir : one February 28th. Drift : 5 in a field March 10th ; 11 lune 3rd. Culdrose : one with Lapwings July 21st. Siblyback : 6 August 12th.

LAPWING — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. At least 10 pairs bred on Bodmin Moor with many other birds holding territory there. One or two were also on territory in the Lizard peninsula. 32 Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 3500 January 18th, 2,400 February 15th. Camel Estuary/Walmsley Sanctuary : c.5,000 present in January increasing to c.7,000 in the third week of February ; c.4,000 Nov. 16th and Dec. 10th. Porthgwarra : 3,500 west February 1st. De Lank Water Works (Bodmin Moor) : 5,000+ December 15th. Widespread in the county during both winter periods. The total wintering population must run into many thousands.

RINGED PLOVER — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : c.120 August 23rd. Hayle Estuary : c.200 August 26th, 160 September 4th. Marazion Beach : 90-100 October 10th. Inland records : Crowdy: 5 February 15th, 2 March 3rd, 4 September 3rd, 2 November 1st, 2 December 15th. Tamar Lake : regular on spring and autumn passage. Stithians : noted July 12th — October 10th with a max. of 40 August 11th. Siblyback : noted July 28th — September 20th with a max. of ?5 August 20th. Hayle Kimbro Pool: from August 1st — 22nd with a max. of 10 on 19th. At Porthgwarra, there were singles August 29th and September 7th.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER — Uncommon passage migrant. All records were of single birds. Gannel Estuary : April 22nd PJD. Marazion Marsh : April 22nd CCB, May 8th — 12th RB, WRH, LPW, and May 22nd TJSP. Par Station Pool: April 25th EG Copperhouse Creek (Hayle) : May 3rd and 4th LPW Camel Estuary : August 5th SMC Havle Estuary : August 10th JBB, SB Stithians : August 22nd HPKR

GREY PLOVER — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Mount's Bay: 80 + on Marazion Beach and 40 + at Eastern Green January 31st. Separate parties? Hayle Estuary: 60+ January 31st, 80+ February 28th, 62 March 15th. Camel Estuary: 60 February 23rd — 26th, c.130 March 7th, 120 December 19th. Trebetherick Point: 89 December 19th and 56 on 24th. Excluding Ruan Lanihorne where recorded in every month, the first and last records were : Hayle Estuary : one May 29th. Stithians : 2 August 18th. Inland records : Drift: one lanuary 31st. Stithians : one February 10th, 2 August 18th, one September 18th. Siblyback : one in summer plumage August 27th ; in September, one on 8th and 3 on 18th. Crowdy : one September 13th. At Porthgwarra, there were 3 east January 31st and one September 18th. 33 GOLDEN PLOVER — Breeds ? Passage migrant. Winter visitor. 2 pairs possibly bred on Bodmin Moor. Although the nests were not found, their behaviour strongly suggested breeding. Maximum numbers : Camel Estuary: c.2,500 January 10th, c.2,900 February 20th, 3,000 + December 10th. Ruan Lanihorne : 1,500 January 18th. Siblvback : 800+ February 14th, 2,000+ December 19th. Stithians : c.2,000 October 27th, c.2,800 November 21st. Roche : c. 1,750 December 23rd in a recently drained field. Many records from the Bodmin area for both winter periods indicate a wintering population of many thousands. First and last records : Rosenannon Downs (St. Columb Major) : up to 8 May 9th — 16th. St. Ives : one flew west luly 20th. LESSER GOLDEN PLOVER — Vagrant. Only one record this year — a single at Stithians, September 14th JH. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee).

DOTTEREL — Scarce autumn migrant. Porthgwarra : 2 September 28th WGL, HPM, and 4 October 30th TRP et al.

TURNSTONE — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. A few * summer/ Maximum numbers : Pentire — Rock : a winter population of c.150. Hannafore (Looe) : c.150 February 28th. Creek Stephen (Gerrans Bay) : 90 + May 3rd. The only lune sighting reported was 11 at Daymer Bay (Padstow) on the 11th. Inland records : Stithians : one July 20th — 24th ; one August 18th ; 9 September 6th flying south.

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER — Rare vagrant. The wintering bird at Stithians Reservoir was last seen March 25th, by which time it had assumed partial summer plumage MO. Another was at the same locality September 22nd — 30th GJ, BKM, PAM et al. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee).

SNIPE — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Breeding season records : Bodmin Moor : at least 3 pairs bred. Crowdy : (probable breeding) ; on June 4th 2 were drumming in flight and one was calling from the ground. Upper Fowey Valley : 2 drumming June 14th. Stithians : one drumming June 20th. Maximum numbers : Siblyback : c50-100 January-March and c50-150 August-December. Egloshayle (Wadebridge) : 65 February 9th. Walmsey Sanctuary : c100 February 20th. Marazion Marsh : c60 December 4th. Maer Marsh (Bude) : cl00 December 17th.

34 JACK SNIPE — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Singles unless stated otherwise. Marazion Marsh : January 3rd & 11th ; February 21st — 22nd ; March 7th ; October 23rd ; November 27th and December 14th but 10+ January 23rd and 8 March 3rd. Egloshayle (Wadebridge) : January 8th ; 2 April 2nd. Siblyback : January 8th, 2 on 9th ; 3 February 1st, 2 on 16th ; August 22nd ; October 9th ; 7 December 12th. Drift: January 11th, 17th and 25th; March 3rd; October 31st; November 5th. Whacker (River Lynher) : January 14th — February 29th ; 2 October 3rd ; December 1st — 5th, 6 December 27th. Crowan : February 1st. Gannel Saltings : February 7th. Walmsley Sanctuary : February 17th. Tamar Lake : 2 March 10th. Upper Tamar Reservoir : March 10th. Skewjack (nr. Land's End) : April 4th. Porthgwarra : April 19th ; October 23rd — 24th. Camel Estuary : October 31st. Copperhouse (Hayle) : November 6th. Trewithian (Portscatho) : December 26th. Blagdon's Marsh (Davidstow) : 3 December 28th. WOODCOCK — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. In the first winter period, singles at Porthgwarra, Drift, Tremethick Cross (nr. Penzance), Carnsew Pool, Tehidy Woods, Pendower (Gerrans Bay) and Siblyback but 2 at Scadghill Farm (Bude). In autumn and the second winter period, singles at Rospeath (Marazion), Manaccan, Goss Moor, and Lanhydrock, 2 or 3 at Porthgwarra, 2 at Loe Pool, 2 in the Truro area and " several " at Bude. No sightings between Feb. 28th (Bude) and Oct. 27th (Porthgwarra).

CURLEW — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Breeding season records : At least 8 pairs bred in the Upper Fowey Valley and 3 pairs on Bodmin Moor (Curlews were present on other parts of the Moor but breeding was proved at only three localities). 6 pairs possibly bred at Rosenannon Downs (St. Columb). Widespread and common throughout the county in both winter periods. Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 750 January 24th, 100+ August 17th — 31st. Camel Estuary : 350+ March 26th, c.700 August 23rd. WHIMBREL — Passage migrant. A few " winter." At least one bird spent both winter periods in the Carrick Roads area. In spring, the first record was a single at Rame Head, March 20th, but most passed through between April 26th and May 12th during which time there were sightings from all over the county. The largest totals were 42 at Loe Bar April 26th and 140 flying over Marazion Marsh May 6th. Autumn passage began with 2 at Stithians July 5th and 5+ at Camel Estuary the same day (6 at Hayle Estuary, June 20th, were almost certainly " summering"). 43 at Hayle Kimbro Pool, July 13th (flying south-west) and 40+ at Ruan Lanihorne, August 31st, were the largest flocks. Migrants were noted at many localities throughout August and September. At Porthgwarra, up to 3 were recorded April 19th — May 19th. 35 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Millbrook Creek: c.70 January 11th; 100+ January 29th; c.100 November 4th. Ruan Lanihorne : 275 Jan. 18th ; 150 Aug. 29th ; 210 Oct. 10th ; 275 November 28th. Tresillian : 140 October 24th. First and last dates : A few may have summered at Ruan Lanihorne ; reports were received of 2 May 9th, one June 13th and 3 June 26th. Elsewhere : Camel Estuary : 3 May 3rd. Millbrook Lake : one July 1st. Inland records : Stithians : one March 7th and one in summer plumage July 18th. Davidstow : 5 September 16th. BAR-TAILED GODWIT — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Camel Estuary : 100+ February 26th — 27th ; c.75 November 24th. Hayle Estuary : 55 September 25th ; 56 October 3rd. First and last records : Hayle Estuary : 2 May 23rd. Camel Estuary : one July 5th (noted here in every month except June). Inland records : Upper Tamar Reservoir : one April 1st. Stithians : singles August 22nd and September 23rd. Davidstow : 2 September 16th. Culdrose : 3 September 29th. At Porthgwarra : 2 east lanuary 31st; 30 east April 30th ; one May 23rd. GREEN SANDPIPER — Passage migrant. A few " winter." First winter period (January and February) : Camel Estuary — Egloshayle : up to 3 in both months. Lower Hayle River : one February 28th — March 6th. Spring records : Cargreen : one March 3rd. Camel Estuary : one March 13th and 29th ; one April 14th — May 3rd. Egloshayle : 4 March 17th — April 17th. Ryan's Field, Hayle : one April 8th — 11th. Marazion Marsh : one April 17th. Drift : 2 April 18th but one on 30th. Devoran : one April 24th. In autumn, noted at almost all estuaries and reservoirs in small numbers, the first being one at Egloshayle, June 28th. Most were at Stithians where passage lasted from late June (one) until Sept. 25th (one) with a max of 22 August 7th. Second winter period (November and December) : Saltash : 2 November 10th. Camel Estuary — Egloshayle : 2 from November 1st remaining into 1977. Cargreen : one November 27th. Trewithian (Portscatho) : one November 25th. At Porthgwarra, there were 3 August 8th and one September 25th. WOOD SANDPIPER — Uncommon passage migrant (mainly autumn). Singles unless stated otherwise. Two spring records : Long Rock Pool: April 20th. 36 Stithians : May 25th — 27th. Autumn records : Stithians : June 20th (one) — September 8th (2) with a max. of 7 August 18th. Drift: July 3rd (one) — August 29th (3) with a max. of 7 August 13th. Hayle Kimbro Pool: July 3rd ; August 10th and 11th. Long Rock Pool: July 21st. Church Cove (Lizard) : 2 August 13th. Siblyback : 5 August 19th — 22nd ; one August 25th and September 1st. Sladesbridge : August 23rd - 26th. Tamar Lake : August 25th. Porthgwarra : 2 August 28th ; one October 4th. Ruan Lanihorne : 3 August 29th but one on 31st.

COMMON SANDPIPER — Passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. In the first winter period (January and February), there were singles at Camel Estuary, Whacker (River Lynher), Saltash and Cargreen, 2 at Carne Creek (Helford) and West Looe, and 4 at Tresillian. The first spring record was one at Drift April 9th but most arrived April 20th — 27th ; the max. was 15 at Tamar Lake April 21st. In autumn, the first were 3 at Stithians June 28th and there were regular sightings in the county until mid-October. The highest numbers were 20 + at Hayle Estuary July 14th and 25 at Siblyback August 20th. As usual, autumn passage was the heavier but in both spring and autumn the species was noted at numerous localities. In the second winter period (November and December), there were singles at Ruan Lanihorne, River Fowey, Siblyback, Looe River, Millbrook Lake and Cotehele, 2 at Camel Estuary and Tamar Estuary, and 3 at Tresillian and Carne Creek (Helford). At Porthgwarra, there were 2 August 22nd and one November 6th.

REDSHANK — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Millbrook Lake : 200 + January 29th. Ruan Lanihorne : 350 Feb. 15th ; 550 July 24th ; 350 Nov. 28th. Devoran : 300+ September 19th. Camel Estuary : c.200 August 16th ; c.250 November 24th. It is impossible to state when spring migration ended and autumn passage began as there were a number of records for June. At Dinham (Camel Estuary), of 79 trapped and ringed August 9th, 11 were of the Icelandic race " robusta " — they were still retaining much of their darker breeding plumage.

SPOTTED REDSHANK — Passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. In the first winter period (January & February), at Saltash (one), Camel Estuary (2), Maer Lake, Bude (3), Ruan Lanihorne (4), St. John's Lake (7), Whacker, River Lynher (8), Truro-Tresillian (8) and Millbrook Lake (15 January 29th). On spring passage noted in small numbers at most of the estuaries and reservoirs in Cornwall. Autumn passage was heavier than spring, the largest numbers being at Ruan Lanihorne where there were 30 June 26th — July 3rd and 35 September 13th. In the second winter period (November and December), at Hayle 37 Estuary (one), Marazion Marsh (one), Camel Estuary (2), St. John's Lake (2), Saltash (2), Whacker, River Lynher (4) and Truro — Tresillian (13). Recorded in every month of 1976 : some of the May — July birds were in breeding dress.

GREENSHANK — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. In both winter periods noted in low numbers at most of the estuaries and reservoirs in the county. Truro — Tresillian played host to the highest numbers with a max. of 13 in the first winter period and 12 in the second. There was a light but well scattered spring passage until May 10th when there were 12 at Camel Estuary. Autumn passage began with one at Ruan Lanihorne, June 26th and there were many records covering the following three months. Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 25 luly 24th ; 50+ August 29th. Camel Estuary : 25 August 3rd. Stithians : 30 + August 26th, including a flock of 24. At Porthgwarra, only in August — 3 on 22nd and 2 on 28th. Probably more records were received for this species than any other.

KNOT — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Porthbean Beach (Gerrans Bay) : 500 + December 3rd — a high figure for the southern part of Cornwall. St. John's Lake : 204 December 5th. Elsewhere only small numbers in both winter periods. Spring records : Par Beach : singles April 24th and May 5th (the same bird ?) Carnsew Pool: one in summer plumage May 20th. The first for the autumn was one in summer plumage at Hayle Estuary August 9th and there was then a light passage until the end of September. The max. was 16 at Calenick Creek (Truro) September 28th. Inland records : Stithians : at least 4 different birds August 20th — September 23rd. Drift: one September 4th. Upper Tamar Reservoir : 2 September 5th. At Goonhilly Downs Radio Station one was blown into one of the "dishes" on October 11th. The only Porthgwarra sighting was 2 September 18th.

PURPLE SANDPIPER — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. The only flocks totalling more than 20 were at : Marazion Beach : 70 + February 14th. Hannafore (Looe) : 52 February 15th ; up to 40 in the second winter period. Penzance : 24 December 14th. Also noted in both winter periods at Newlyn, St. Ives, Gerrans/Veryan Bay, Par, Trebetherick and Bude, and in the first winter period at Porthgwarra, Gurnard's Head, Perranuthnoe, Lizard, Swanpool, Mevagissey and Newquay. No sightings at any additional localities in the second. First and last dates : Porthgwarra : 8 May 9th. St. Ives: one September 9th — 12th. 38 LITTLE STINT — Passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Only one record in the first winter period, the 1975 Camel Estuary bird remaining until February 20th. The only spring sighting was at the same locality March 14th and was possibly the bird that wintered. A widespread autumn passage with small numbers at most estuaries and reservoirs. The first were 3 at Stithians, July 24th and 3 at Hayle Estuary the same day. Maximum numbers : Siblyback : 5 September 1st. Copperhouse (Hayle) : 9 September 26th — 28th ; 10 October 9th. Crowdy : 7 September 29th. Second winter period : Camel Estuary : one November 19th — December 31st. Stithians : one December 26th. A bird dyed bright yellow was at Marazion Marsh September 24th, Hayle Estuary the next day and Stithians from 26th — 30th.

TEMMINCK'S STINT — Vagrant. Par Beach Pool : one April 24th PJD. Creek Stephen (Gerrans Bay) : one May 3rd GSG. Full details received.

DUNLIN — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Maximum numbers : Camel Estuary : c.1100 Jan. 9th — 10th ; c.1200 Dec. 15th — 29th. Ruan Lanihorne: 2,500 January 11th; 2,700 February 7th; 2,400 December 11th. Tresillian : 630 February 6th ; 550 March 10th. Hayle Estuary: 400 4- February 27th, c.1,000 November 27th and December 26th. Inland records : Stithians : noted on most days of 1976, the max. being 62 Sept. 4th. Crowan : up to 6 January 1st — February 18th. Tamar Lake : 4 February 8th. Drift : 3 April 22nd. Siblyback : July 21st (one) — September 18th (2) with a max. of 55 August 20th. Crowdy : August 1st (24) — September 29th (12) with a max. of 40 September 10th. Hayle Kimbro Pool : August 1st (12) — 20th (7) with a max. of 14 on 16th. Porth Reservoir : in September, 17 on 8th and 13 on 13th. Culdrose Airfield : 90 November 14th and c.400 December 5th in nearby fields.

CURLEW SANDPIPER — Uncommon passage migrant (mainly autumn). No spring records. On autumn passage : Hayle Estuary : August 21st (one) — November 7th (one) ; mainly ones and twos but 13 September 20th and 9 September 27th. Stithians : in August, one on 22nd and 3 on 3rd ; in September, singles on 5th, 14th, 15th and 23rd but 3 on 11th; in October, one on 27th. Ruan Lanihorne : August 23rd (2) — October 17th (one), the max. being 3 September 15th. Camel Estuary : singles September 1st and October 6th. 39 Siblyback : one September 5th. Looe Estuary : 2 September 26th and October 10th. Culdrose : 2 September 29th ; 3 October 3rd. St. Ives Island : one west October 15th. Upper Tamar Lake : one October 15th.

SANDERLING — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Very few records received ; it would be interesting to know its true status in the county. First and last dates : Hayle Beach : 13 May 30th. Porthleven : one July 28th. The largest numbers were at Marazion Beach — 58 April 15th and 100+ October 16th. Inland records : Stithians : one August 31st. Siblyback : one September 5th.

RUFF — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. First winter period : Camel Estuary/Walmsley Sanctuary: noted January 1st (one) — March 17th (3) ; numbers steadily increased from mid-February, reaching a peak of 12 on March 2nd. Stithians : one January 18th ; 2 February 15th. St. Clement (Truro) : one February 1st. Crowdy : 5 February 27th. Spring : Marazion Marsh : 6 March 7th. Hayle Estuary : one March 7th, 2 April 3rd — 10th. Crowdy : one March 10th. Tamar Lake : one March 10th. Loe Bar : one May 29th. A widely scattered autumn passage beginning with one at Stithians, June 30th but fewer than usual. The only large numbers were 27 at Stithians September 18th and 19 at Culdrose, September 29th. Second winter period : Stithians : one November 15th ; 2 December 26th. Camel Estuary/Sanctuary : up to 6 from November 4th into 1977. Ruan Lanihorne : 2 December 12th. At Porthgwarra, there was one September 24th.

AVOCET — Winter visitor. Rare passage migrant. Tamar Estuary : (on January 28th there was none on the Tamar but 62 on the Tavy). 58 February 8th, 56 on 22nd ; 17 March 6th. 8 November 7th, 53 on 28th ; 48 December 6th. Ruan Lanihorne : one December 12th — 27th.

GREY PHALAROPE — Uncommon passage migrant. Off Swanpool : one February 1st PAM. BKM. Par Pool: an immature October 7th and 8th but found dead on 9th SJC. Gannel Estuary : one October 17th, slightly oiled PJD, JH. Marazion Marsh : an oiled bird October 23rd PAM, BKM, TRP, SR. 40 PHALAROPE sp. St. Ives Island : one October 14th, 15 on 15th ; 3 November 2nd — all moving west MO

STONE CURLEW — Rare vagrant. Davidstow : one June 25th PD. Full details received ; the last record was 3 in December 1962.

COLLARED PRATINCOLE — Very rare vagrant. Stithians Reservoir : one July 4th SCH. TRE. JCN. et al. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee). The last was in July 1970.

GREAT SKUA — Passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor. Porthgwarra monthly totals (48 west, 14 east): Jan. 12, Mar. 3, Apr. 14, May 3, June 9, July 3, Sept. 3, Oct. 14, Nov. 1. St. Ives Island monthly totals (all flying west) : July 3, Aug. 2, Sept. 8, Oct. 207, Dec. 5. July 6th (3) — December 8th (3) with about 200 October 14th ; also 2 January 3rd. Bass Point (Lizard) monthly totals (all flying west) : May 2, June 2, July 5, Aug. 5, Sept. 13, Oct. 22. May 17th (one) — October 17th (18). Other records : Penzance Harbour : one April 12th and one off Eastern Green Beach the following day. RMV Scillonian : in September, 2 on 2nd, one on 4th, 2 on 25th ; in October, 6+ on 2nd, 2 on 9th, 14 on 22nd. Navax Point (Godrevy) : one September 9th and 37 October 15th, all moving west. Hannafore (Looe) : one September 26th. Camel Estuary : 4 near the Hide (five miles inland) October 14th but 3 different birds at Rock the same day.

POMARINE SKUA — Uncommon passage migrant. Porthleven : one flew north-west January 5th JEB. Porthgwarra : an impressive passage in May with 4 on 14th and 15th 19 on 16th, 5 on 17th and 22nd, 2 on 29th and 30th ; also one November 6th PAM. BKM. HPKR. et al. — all were flying west. Bass Point (Lizard): one May 31st; 2 July 15th; 4 October 11th, 3 October 17th — all west PMcC. St. Ives Island : one September 11th ; in October, 2 on 1st, one on 2nd, 12 on 14th and 15th — all west MO. Navax Point (Godrevy) : one west October 15th TRP.

ARCTIC SKUA — Passage migrant. Porthgwarra monthly totals (29 west, 3 east): April 1, May 6, July 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 11, Nov. 3. April 11th — November 13th (one) with a max. of 7 July 10th. St. Ives Island monthly totals (all flying west) : Aug 7, Sept. 32 + , Oct. 56. August 28th (6) — October 30th (one) with 30 October 14th. 41 Other records : Bass Point (Lizard) : 2 June 20th ; in September, 5 on 19th, one on 21st and 26th, 3 on 28th ; in October, one on 3rd, 11 on 11th, one on 16th, 17 on 27th, one on 21st. All were flying west. Penzance : one off Eastern Green Beach July 4th. Pendeen : one August 30th. Port Isaac : 2 August 30th. Navax Point (Godrevy) : 4 September 9th ; 19 October 15th. Rosemullion Head (Falmouth) : one October 17th. LONG-TAILED SKUA — Vagrant. Navax Point (Godrevy) : an immature flying west September 9th TRP. Full details received. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. 50+ pairs bred at Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) but generally few breeding reports received. Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 830 January 10th ; 223 November 27th. Helford : 300+ January 10th — 25th. A partial albino, looking piebald in flight, was seen at Copperhouse (Hayle) June 19th & 20th and another albino, whiter than the Hayle bird, was at Porthleven, September 19th. One ringed June 28th, 1975, at Mullion Island was found dead two miles off the Eddystone Lighthouse, June 15th, 1976 per NBE. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. c.5 pairs bred at Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) but few breeding reports received. Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 255 February 7th. Hayle Estuary : c.350 Feb. 8th ; 525 March 22nd ; 125 Dec. 22nd. Camel Estuary : 392 March 26th. Birds showing characteristics of the Scandinavian race " fuscus ": River Lynher : 15 February 29th. The Lizard : one November 26th. HERRING GULL — Breeds. Resident. Winter visitor. Roof-nesting still recorded at Newquay and St. Ives. 80 at Stithians June 3rd were all juveniles hatched this year. Maximum numbers : Padstow : 1,000+ October 2nd — 4th on the Bar. Gannel Estuary : c.500 August 14th ; 400-500 December 19th. Camel Estuary : c.800 November 13th. COMMON GULL — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. A few " summer." Maximum numbers : Ruan Lanihorne : 350 January 18th ; 225 February 15th ; 230 December 12th. St. John's Lake : 600 February 4th. River Fowey : 386 March 19th ; 330 November 23rd. Stithians : 450 December 23rd. Pensilva (Bodmin Moor) : a regular roost of 150-200 Nov. — Feb. The only May sighting was one at Hayle Estuary on the 2nd ; there were no June reports but 2 adults in July — one at Copperhouse (Hayle) on 20th and the other at Egloshayle on 27th. 42 GLAUCOUS GULL — Uncommon winter visitor. Loe Pool : one, possibly 2, January 3rd. Falmouth — Maenporth : a 4th winter bird Jan. 10th — Feb. 15th ; one February 15th, 1st winter. Marazion Beach : a 1st winter bird January 31st — February 8th ; a 2nd winter bird February 21st — 22nd and March 28th ; an adult March 21st ; one November 5th, 1st winter. Porthgwarra : a 1st winter bird February 7th ; one, possibly 2, March 6th, 2nd winter ; and one April 4th, also 2nd ; singles September 4th, 2nd or 3rd winter, and November 7th, 1st winter. Hayle Estuary : one February 8th, probably 3rd winter ; one March 3rd and 21st, 1st winter ; one April 16th, 2nd year. St. Just Airfield : one March 28th, 2nd year. Penzance-Newlyn : a 1st winter bird Mar. 14th — 31st ; one Mar. 23rd — April 13th, 2nd or 3rd winter ; 2 November 27th (one 2nd or 3rd winter and one sub-adult) ; one December 4th — 28th, 3rd or 4th winter ; one December 24th, 2nd winter. Bude : one May 15th. Nr. Wolf Rock : a 2nd or 3rd winter bird September 5th. Off Land's End : one December 22nd, 2nd winter.

ICELAND GULL — Scarce winter visitor. Swanpool: an adult February 6th — March 21st TJSP. PAM. BKM. DJB. et al. Presumably this is the same bird as in 1974 and 1975 (it also turned up again in 1977 !).

MEDITERRANEAN GULL — Uncommon visitor (mainly winter). Copperhouse (Hayle) : an adult in winter plumage January 1st. Hayle Estuary : a first year bird Feb. 8th ; an adult Feb. 21st — 29th ; an adult December 18th — 22nd ; a 2nd year bird December 22nd and 24th. Penzance Station-Newlyn : a sub-adult Jan. 31st; an adult Feb. 29th and March 7th ; an adult October 14th. Drift: a sub-adult January 31st (seen earlier in the day at Newlyn) ; a sub-adult December 19th. Eastern Green Beach (east of Penzance) ; one March 13th — 14th, a first year bird ; 2 March 31st, both 2nd year. Porthleven : one April 7th, 1st winter. Camel Estuary : an adult in winter plumage November 16th. Ruan Lanihorne : an adult November 22nd — December 31st. Marazion Beach : an adult in winter plumage December 14th.

LITTLE GULL — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. First winter period and spring : Penzance-Newlyn : an adult Jan. 31st and Feb. 14th ; 3 Feb. 22nd (at Eastern Green Beach). Swanpool: an immature February 6th. Hayle Estuary: 2 February 8th (one adult and one imm.) ; singles February 23rd and March 15th. Drift: an adult February 21st. Marazion : an adult March 2nd ; a first winter bird April 10th — 19th. Porthgwarra : an imm. flying west March 12th. Copperhouse (Hayle) : a second year bird April 10th. 43 Autumn records : St. Ives Island : 2 immatures June 20th ; a second year bird July 5th — 10th ; one August 30th but 3 adults on 31st; in September, 2 immatures on 2nd and 11th — 14th but one on 28th ; in October, 2 immatures on 1st but 4 (one adult) on 15th. Hayle Estuary : an immature July 14th ; an immature Sept. 12th — 14th. Stithians : singles August 12th and 17th and September 19th. Copperhouse (Hayle) : singles August 15th and September 14th, both 2nd year birds. Camel Estuary : an immature August 30th and September 5th. Towan Head (Newquay) : one September 14th. Penzance : an immature September 14th and October 6th. Loe Pool: 2 immatures September 14th but only one on 18th. Looe Estuary : an adult September 26th. St. John's Lake : an adult September 27th — 29th. Navax Point (Godrevy) : an immature flying west October 15th. Spit (Par): one October 17th — November 1st. Porthgwarra : one October 24th. Second winter period : St. Ives : an immature December 2nd — 4th. Marazion Marsh : an immature December 29th.

BLACK-HEADED GULL — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. A few " summer." Maximum numbers : St. Mawes : 1,100+ January 15th. Ruan Lanihorne : 1,500 January 18th ; 1,000 November 28th. River Fowey : 1,430 January 19th ; 1,580 October 23rd. Padstow : 2,500 + October 2nd — 4th. Camel Estuary : 4,535 November 13th. The first juveniles recorded were 3 at Copperhouse (Hayle) June 26th. 5 were noted perching in trees by Hayle Mill Pond July 17th.

SABINE'S GULL — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). St. Ives Island : an immature September 9th PAM. BKM. EG. JH.; 2 immatures October 15th NJP. VRT. All 3 were moving west. Hayle Estuary: an immature September 19th flying over Carnsew Pool TJSP. G. Jeffery. R.M.V. Scillonian : one October 8th RB. E. Grace.

KITTIWAKE — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Breeding records : Huer's Hut — Tea Cavern Cove (Newquay) : birds on ledges Jan. 17th and c.180 nests May 31st. Gorran Haven: the colony first observed in June 1973 held 200 + nests in 1975 and again large numbers in 1976. Pigeon Ogo (Kynance) : c.80 nests April 23rd. Mullion : on June 2nd 31 nests on Mullion Island and c.192 on Gull Rock and other islands. Gamper Cliffs (Land's End) : 34+ nests June 3rd. Maximum numbers : Pentire Point (Polzeath) : c.4,000 west in three hours January 3rd. St. Ives Island : c.25,000 in the bay January 11th ; in October, c.20,000 west on 14th and c.5,000 west on 15th. 44 BLACK TERN — Uncommon passage migrant. Spring records : Siblyback : 2 in summer plumage April 23rd, one April 25th. Tamar Lake : 3 April 28th ; one June 15th. Bass Point (Lizard) : 6 moving west May 31st. Autumn records : Loe Bar : singles July 26th — 27th, August 28th and September 20th but 3/4 September 25th — 26th. Stithians : in August, singles on 18th and 29th but 2 on 19th and 4 on 24th. Long Rock Pool: one August 19th — 23rd. Par Pools : singles August 20th and 30th, September 5th — 6th (an immature), September 7th — 9th (an adult) and October 12th (an adult). Copperhouse (Hayle) : one Aug. 21st — 22nd ; one Sept. 25th — 26th. Hayle Estuary : one August 24th — 28th ; in September, 7 on 20th, up to 4 from 24th — 29th but on 27th a flock of 18 were seen flying over towards the south coast ; one October 3rd. Camel Estuary : in September, one from 9th — 12th, 2 on 26th, 21 on 28th and 6 on 29th ; in October, one on 2nd and one from 6th — 22nd. St. Ives Island : one moving west September 12th. Torpoint: one September 22nd. Drift: one September 25th. Gannel Estuary : 2 September 25th. Culdrose : 4 September 27th hawking over the airfield. Bude : one September 28th ; 3 October 2nd. St. John's Lake : 2 September 29th — 30th. Penzance Harbour : 2 October 9th.

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN — Vagrant. Hayle Estuary : one in summer plumage July 18th PAM. BKM. LPW. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee). St. Ives : an immature September 29th HPM.

COMMON TERN — Passage migrant. A poor year with well below average numbers in both spring and autumn. The first was one at Marazion April 13th and the last in spring was one at Porthkidney May 23rd (the max. during this period was 9 at Loe Bar May 5th). Autumn passage was a little better, beginning with 6 at Gunwalloe, July 26th. Maximum numbers : Hayle Estuary : 29 August 28th. St. Ives Island : in September, 35 west on 11th and 60 west on 27th. The last was one at Hayle Estuary October 31st.

ARCTIC TERN — Uncommon passage migrant. Spring records : St. Ives : one April 14th. Hayle Estuary : one April 15th. Porthkidney : one May 1st. Porthgwarra : in May, 2 on 17th and 8 on 30th ; in June, one on 2nd, 3 on 3rd, one on 12th and 2 on 13th. Autumn records : Gerrans Bay : 5 July 31st. 45 Percuil River (St. Mawes) : 2 August 7th. Hayle Estuary : 5 August 9th ; one September 18th ; one October 3rd. Camel Estuary : 5 August 15th ; singles September 5th, 10th & 29th. St. Ives Island : 15+ September 11th moving west ; 4 October 1st, 2 on 15th and one on 23rd. Marazion Beach : 2 September 16th. Par Beach : 5 September 22nd. St. John's Lake : 3 September 23rd. Torpoint : 2 October 21st and one October 24th — 26th. Porthgwarra : one October 24th. ROSEATE TERN — Scarce passage migrant. Porthkidney : 3 June 6th and 13th (a late date). Clodgy (St. Ives) : one September 28th. Church Cove (Lizard) : one September 28th. An even worse year than 1975 LITTLE TERN — Uncommon passage migrant. Hayle Estuary/Carnsew Pool: one April 15th ; 2 August 15th, 4 on 25th and one August 28th — September 5th ; 2 September 20th, 3 on 25th and one on 26th ; 3 October 3rd — 4th, 2 on 10th and 16th. Marazion Beach : 2 April 22nd ; one May 23rd. Porthkidney : singles May 2nd & 23rd, August 15th and September 5th. Calenick Creek (Truro) : 2 May 5th. Par Beach : 3 April 25th ; 4 May 5th and one on 7th. Porthgwarra : 2 west May 17th ; singles east September 7th and 12th. Camel Estuary : 3 August 2nd — 13th ; singles September 26th and 28th. St. John's Lake : one August 6th — 8th. St. Ives Island : one west September 9th. Loe Bar : 2 moving south September 11th. Pentire (Polzeath) : one September 14th. Hannafore (Looe) : 6 September 26th. SANDWICH TERN — Passage migrant. First and last dates : Carrick Roads : 3 March 21st. Par Beach : one October 17th. Fairly good numbers in spring and autumn. Noted in every month between March and October and therefore difficult to specify the last spring migrant and the first on autumn passage. The largest totals were at St. Ives Island where, in September, there were 131 on 9th, 75 on 11th and 80 on 28th — all moving west. At High Street (St. Austell) several were heard calling at night on September 28th when flying overhead in thick fog. RAZORBILL — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Breeding season records : Housel Bay (Lizard) : 4 April 6th. Portquin : 12 April 10th. The Mouls (Pentire) : 8 on the sea plus 10 pairs on April 17th ; 40 June 10th. Long and Short Island (Tintagel) : at least 28 nests May 31st. The Sisters (Tintagel) : 10 May 31st. Gull Rock (Mullion) : 8 June 13th. Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) : 10-15 pairs. On passage the max. was c. 12,500 west off St. Ives Island October 15th. 46 LITTLE AUK — Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. Gurnard's Head : one in winter plumage March 26th GPW. St. Ives : one March 28th RB. (the same bird as above ?). Navax Point (Godrevy) : one flying west September 9th TRP. West Pentire (Newquay) : one west October 16th SR.

GUILLEMOT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Breeding season records : The Mouls (Pentire) : 6 May 27th. Lye Rock (Tintagel) : 14 May 29th ; 6 June 10th. Short Island (Tintagel) : 24 May 13th ; 21 June 15th. The Sisters (Tintagel): 115 June 12th. Gull Rock (Mullion) : 7 June 13th. Mullion Island : 12 June 27th. Gull Rock (Veryan Bay) : 20-25 pairs. On passage the max. was c. 1,000 west off St. Ives Island October 14th.

BLACK GUILLEMOT — Rare winter visitor. St. Ives : one in summer plumage March 28th LPW. Porthgwarra : one in summer plumage April 22nd, flying west WRH. BKM. PAM. SR. HPKR.

PUFFIN — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Breeding season records : Long and Short Island (Tintagel): 24 May 13th; 45 May 31st; 60 + June 11th ; c.50 July 8th. The Rumps (Pentire) : 22 April 6th ; 5 May 18th ; 6 June 10th. The Mouls (Pentire) : 24 April 11th ; 7 May 27th ; 16 June 21st. Lye Rock (Tintagel) : only 15 June 29th. Passage birds : Porthgwarra monthly totals (March 27th — July 19th, all flying west) : March 5, April 39, May 31, June 38, July 78. Also one east February 7th and one west December 11th ; the max. was 57 July 18th. Bass Point (Lizard) : A light spring passage, April 10th (one) — June 12th, with a max. of 12 June 12th. In autumn, only noted in July — one on 13th, 45 on 15th, 29 on 18th. All were moving west. St. Ives Island : one west September 9th and October 1st.

AUK sp. Porthgwarra : 100+ west in 45 minutes April 11th ; in May, 1,097 west on 15th and 200-300 on 16th ; 286 east October 12th. Bass Point (Lizard) : 900 west in five hours May 17th. St. Ives Island : c. 1,000 west October 14th.

STOCK DOVE — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Noted in the breeding season at Nare Head (Gerrans Bay), and at least ten areas of Bodmin Moor which is clearly the species' stronghold in the county. Autumn records : Porthgwarra : very high numbers during October — 80 on 16th, 30 on 21st, 48 on 22nd, 420 on 24th — 25th, 475 on 26th, 160 on 27th and 185 on 28th. The Lizard : c.130 October 20th ; 34 November 10th. 47 WOOD PIGEON — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Very few records received and none for the breeding season. Caerthillian (Lizard) : 28 October 13th (5 flying out to sea). Lanhydrock : a max. of 150+ during the third week of November.

TURTLE DOVE — Passage migrant. Prolonged song was heard in the Marazion area during the last week of June but no proof of breeding. The first was one at Crowan April 24th ; the species was then recorded in small numbers throughout Cornwall until October 30th when there was a single at Crean (nr. Land's End). Maximum numbers : Porthgwarra : 12 June 6th ; 10 October 9th. Crows-an-wra (nr. Land's End) : 29 October 2nd. Lizard : 10 October 9th.

COLLARED DOVE — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. The breeding population continues to increase. Probable spring migrants : St. Erth : 100+ March 28th. The Lizard : 38 April 30th. Porthgwarra : 33 May 7th ; 53 May 23rd. Unusual reports : At the Millpool, St. Hilary on April 19th one of a flock of 25 was entirely off-white except for a black base to its tail. Goldsithney : a pair mating December 11th.

CUCKOO — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Many more breeding season records than in the previous year. In particular, there were very good numbers on Bodmin Moor and the highest total for some fifteen years at St. Minver. First and last dates : St. Cleer : one April 4th. Porthgwarra : one out to sea November 7th. A Dunnock was seen feeding a young Cuckoo near Dozmary Pool, July 13th.

BARN OWL — Breeds. Resident. Bred at most of its known sites with records from 30+ areas ; now regarded as common on Bodmin Moor. Also widespread throughout the county in winter. The vast number of records received indicates that this owl, after having suffered something of a decline in the 1950s and 1960s, may now be on the increase in Cornwall.

LITTLE OWL — Breeds. Resident. Only two breeding records — a pair bred at a locality on Bodmin Moor and a pair were seen feeding a juvenile at Rame Head August 5th. There was also a pair (possibly 2) in the Porthgwarra/St. Levan area during the breeding season and a pair near Stithians Reservoir but no proof of breeding. Other sightings (all singles) : Trevone : June 6th. 48 Camel Estuary : August 12th. Nr. Housel Bay (Lizard) : September 22nd. Caerthillian (Lizard) : one October 20th and November 2nd. Dunmere (Bodmin) : November 7th. Nr. Mitchell: November 25th. As can be seen from the few records received this fine small owl seems to be very much on the decline. TAWNY OWL — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant (?). Few records received but seems to be at least holding its own — noted at about 20 localities in the breeding season in mid-Cornwall. Singles at Porthgwarra (where rarely seen) May 6th — 14th and October 13th — 27th may have been migrants. LONG-EARED OWL — Scarce passage migrant. Racecourse Downs (Bodmin) : one February 15th SMC. Feock (Truro) : one March 11th PEH. Towednack : one on a telegraph pole March 17th JBB. SB. Wadebridge : one April 3rd EG. Marazion Marsh : one found dead April 4th E. Grace, BKM. PAM. Bury Lane, Ladock : one April 25th SR. Upper Fowey Valley : May 29th (2) — December 19th (2) but 4 noted December 1st. May have bred. EG et al. Nr. Dozmary Pool : one June 13th SCH. Porthgwarra : singles October 2nd WRH and October 13th CCB, JH, WRH. Egloshayle Rubbish Dump (Wadebridge) : one Oct. 18th — Dec. 15th SMC et al. Stithians : 5 December 13th and one on 19th TRP. The Marazion bird had multiple injuries and the condition of the body suggested that it was shot after having been pole-trapped (this barbaric method of trapping is of course no longer legal in this country). Long-eared Owls were reported throughout Britain in much larger numbers than usual during the 1975/76 winter. Many Cornish observers were able to obtain splendid views in their own county of a species which is notoriously difficult to locate, it being the most nocturnal of the owls breeding in this country. It last bred in Cornwall in 1934. SHORT-EARED OWL — Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Releath (Praze) : one January 3rd. Trewey Common : one January 24th ; 3 March 22nd ; one May 27th. Brockabarrow Common — Dozmary Pool: one or 2 March 22nd ; 3 April 1st ; 2 October 13th. Stithians : one March 23rd and April 26th ; 2 December 13th. Porthgwarra: singles March 27th, May 22nd (flew in off the sea), September 27th and October 28th. Church Cove (Lizard) : one March 28th. Foxhole (St. Austell) : one April 1st — 26th. Camel Estuary : one April 3rd. Cot Valley (St. Just) : 2 April 14th. Marazion Marsh : one April 16th. Kynance (Lizard) : singles April 24th, May 9th and 17th. Camborne North Cliffs : one May 3rd. Smallacombe Downs (Bodmin Moor) : one June 12th. Trevose Head : one September 25th — 26th. St. Columb Major : one December 2nd. Twelve Men's Moor (Bodmin Moor) : one December 27th. 49 NIGHTJAR — Breeds in low numbers. Rare summer resident and passage migrant. More breeding season records received than for several years with reports from at least 8 sites, involving probably 10 pairs.

SWIFT — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first was one at Marazion Marsh, April 27th and then a general influx from May 1st — 6th. Very little information received about breeding success but the species could only have benefitted from the exceptionally dry summer. Largest flocks * Porthgwarra: c.500 May 11th and 300 on 28th; 200 June 27th; 100 August 28th. Stithians: 150+ July 12th. The last was one at Marazion Marsh October 29th.

KINGFISHER — Breeds. Scarce summer resident. Winter visitor. Bred at Tamar Lake, St. Just-in-Roseland and Latchley (River Tamar) and also noted at several other possible breeding sites during the summer months. Recorded from late July onwards at most estuaries and reservoirs in small numbers.

ROLLER — Very rare vagrant. Lanlivery (Lostwithiel) : an adult July 1st and 2nd HAD. JF. JH. Accepted by the Rarities Committee : the first since June 1967.

HOOPOE — Scarce passage migrant. All records were of single birds. Gillan (St. Anthony-in-Meneage) : March 3rd per RDP. Gwenver Beach (Sennen) : March 8th per BP. Probus : April 30th — May 2nd per RDP. Caerthillian (Lizard) : June 29th E. Grace. Cadgwith (Lizard) : August 5th — reported to have been in the area for several weeks per E. Grace. Brane/Sancreed (nr. Penzance) : August 29th APG. Trewey Common : October 23rd — 24th TRP.

GREEN WOODPECKER — Breeds. Resident. Common and widespread throughout the county in the breeding season. At Feock (Truro) one was heard hammering on a roof made of cider shingle — the occupants feared for the safety of the building !

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant (?). Numerous records received. The species seems to be increasing in the far west. Possible migrants : Porthgwarra : one April 4th and November 22nd. Bussow Moor (nr. St. Ives) : one November 22nd — 23rd. 50 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER — Breeds. Scarce resident. No evidence of breeding in 1976 although a few were seen during summer months. Malabar (Truro) : a female was noted throughout the year AHM. GPM. Kenwyn (Truro) : singles April 24th and November 9th, both drumming SR. Upper Fowey Valley : one May 29th EG. Bishop's Wood (Truro) : one August 5th PAM. Calestick (Perranporth) : one November 23rd AHM. GPM. Trewithian (Portscatho) : one December 29th GSG. Treffry Farm (Tresillian) : one December 31st SR. WRYNECK — Scarce passage migrant. Drift : one April 9th HPKR. Caerthillian (Lizard) : singles August 22nd — 23rd PMcC. Sept. 5th TJSP. and September 21st PMcC. Porthgwarra : one August 28th — 31st APG. WRH. HPKR. St. Levan (nr. Porthgwarra) : one Sept. 20th — 26th E. Grace. WRH. TJSP. WOODLARK — Breeds ? Scarce resident and passage migrant. Lanhydrock : 2 singing April 17th RS. Pillaton (nr. Callington) : a pair May 8th EG. Lerryn : noted late June and early July but no proof ot breeding HAD, Redmoor (Lostwithiel) : one July 4th HAD. Porthgwarra : in October, singles on 13th and 16th but 2 on 24th MO. Nr. Godrevy : 2 October 16th TEH. RCR. Calstock : 8 singing November 19th EG. SKYLARK — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Widespread during the breeding season. Passage birds : Padstow : many hundreds moving south in low cloud and rain Oct. 5th. Porthgwarra : a heavy passage in mid-October — 350+ on 16th, 280 on 18th and 1,000 on 24th, all moving south. Freathy (Rame Head) : 170 west in two hours October 25th. SWALLOW — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first was one at Nancledra (nr. St. Ives) March 21st but most arrived after April 11th. The last was one at Penzance December 1st. Common and widespread during the breeding season. High numbers roosting : Par reed beds : noted August 7th (500) — September 18th (30) with a max of 2,000 August 20th and 22nd. Long Rock Pool: in August, 450 on 10th, 600 on 15th and 1,000 + on 23rd. At Marazion Marsh on September 13th one was seen with a tail about six inches longer than normal. HOUSE MARTIN — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first record was 3 at Drift, April 2nd, but the main arrival was in late April. The last sighting was 4 at Porthgwarra, November 27th. Common and widespread during the breeding season. There were 52 occupied nests on the cliffs at Crinnis Beach (St. Austell) on July 1st (and 70 nests in July 1975) — this is not the same colony as the one referred to in R. D. Penhallurick's article in the 1974 Report (see page 62), being at the eastern end of the Riviera lido. 51 SAND MARTIN — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first arrived March 19th (one at Stithians) but the next day there were 10 at Loe Pool and singles at Hayle Estuary and Par Beach Pool. Most however were seen during the last few days of March. The last was one at Siblyback, November 7th, the only November record for the county. A number of breeding season records received but the species may well be declining in Cornwall.

GOLDEN ORIOLE — Scarce passage migrant. Treveal (nr. Zennor) : a female May 25th JBB. SB. Chapel Porth (St. Agnes) : one August 4th, probably a male LM.

RAVEN — Breeds. Resident. Widespread and possibly increasing as a breeding bird (one pair bred in a China Clay Pit). 20+ in the Upper Fowey Valley September 28th was by far the largest flock of 1976.

CARRION CROW — Breeds. Resident. Very common and widespread. Some interesting observations : Goldsithney: 2, roosting in a tree, were calling at 0130 and 0345 hours on April 19th. Tremail (Davidstow) : a bird with a deformed head was present all year. Camel Estuary : one October 16th feeding on a freshly dead Curlew.

ROOK —- Breeds. Resident. Very common and widespread — see article at end of Report for results of Rookery survey.

JACKDAW — Breeds. Resident. Very common and widespread.

A partial albino was seen at Helston, November 12th.

CORVIDAE sp. A large flock of mixed corvids was seen tumbling, soaring and chasing over steep fields near Bude on several mornings in September. Is this a parliament ?

Pencarrow (Bodmin) : 1,000+ mixed corvids at roost December 17th.

MAGPIE — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant ? Few records received but very common, having had a highly successful breeding season. At the Lizard two parties of 11 and 5 came in from the sea on October 20th flying very high and moving north. JAY — Breeds. Resident. Rare passage migrant.

Few records received and no obvious movements of birds on passage.

CHOUGH — Extinct. The only 1976 sightings almost certainly referred to " escapes " — it seems that the old stock has finally 5succumbed2 . GREAT TIT — Breeds, Resident. Passage migrant. Few records submitted for this very common bird but the species seems to have had a good breeding season.

BLUE TIT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. At Scadghill Farm, Bude a pair raised two broods of 10 and 8 in a nest-box. Maximum numbers : Lostwithiel area : flocks of up to 50 from June to September. Church Cove (Lizard) : 30 -f in blackthorn September 4th. Loe Pool : at least 30 November 23rd.

COAL TIT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Reported as common in mid-Cornwall, where many young birds were seen, and also in the St. Just-in-Roseland area. At Porthgwarra, where it is an infrequent visitor, there were singles January 3rd and 25th.

MARSH TIT — Breeds. Resident. Widespread in the breeding season. At Porthgwarra there was one September 16th (a migrant ? as rarely recorded at this locality).

WILLOW TIT — Breeds. Resident. c.20 pairs were reported in the Upper Fowey Valley during the breeding season. Many more breeding records were received suggesting that this species is extending its range within the county.

LONG-TAILED TIT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. At Mylor 10 were regular at a bird table, their favourite food being cheese. Penlee Point Woods : 100 + October 23rd were presumably migrants. One trapped at Tregays (Lostwithiel) August 21st had originally been ringed there on 26th August, 1973 when it was an adult — this makes it a very old Long-tailed Tit.

NUTHATCH — Breeds. Resident. Very few records received but apparently common in mid-Cornwall. One observer stated that he had been unable to find a single bird in the St. Just-in-Roseland area during the year.

TREECREEPER — Breeds. Resident. The only record received was one at Davidstow November 19th, apparently the first for this area.

WREN — Breeds. Resident. Very common. 53

DIPPER — Breeds. Resident. (More common in the east). Recorded in good numbers at its usual breeding sites. Unusual reports : 2 spent the first winter period at Constantine (see 1975 Report) and then one made a nest in the roof of a barn near the river by building up a Swallows' nest with weed from the water — no apparent breeding success. At Polwhevoral Creek (Helford) one was seen May 22nd at an old nesting site. Hayle River, St. Erth : one June 19th.

MISTLE THRUSH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Our resident birds seem to be well established and increasing (no doubt taking advantage of the recent spate of mild winters). Reported as " widespread " on Bodmin Moor. Maximum numbers : Bearah Tor (Bodmin Moor) : 22 June 13th. Trewithian (Portscatho) : 45 July 21st in one field.

FIELDFARE — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Several large movements in the first winter period (see also Redwing) : Whitsand Bay : 1,000 an hour moving west January 31st. Ventonleague (Hayle) : 425 an hour moving west February 1st. Porthgwarra : 330 east February 1st and c. 1,000 west the same day. Upper Fowey Valley : c.600 February 22nd. First and last dates : St. Hilary (Marazion) ; 9 April 29th. Siblyback : 7 October 4th. Most observers reported very low numbers on autumn passage (this was particularly evident at Porthgwarra) and in the second winter period. However, there was a very heavy passage at Goldsithney on Nov. 3rd with c.3360 noted in about three hours.

SONG THRUSH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Very few records received. The following were noted on autumn passage : Porthgwarra : c.40 October 16th. Caerthillian (Lizard) : c.40 flew in from the sea November 12th.

REDWING — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Several large movements in the first winter period (see also Fieldfare) : Whitsand Bay: 1,000 an hour moving west January 31st; also many in fields, including an albino. Hendra (Truro) : 676 moving south-west February 1st. Ventonleague (Hayle) : 435 west in one hour February 1st. Porthgwarra : c.500 east in one hour February 1st. St. Mabyn : c.700 February 7th. First and last dates : Lanhydrock : one April 22nd and 12 September 22nd, moving south­ east. Good numbers on passage in October, the max. being 350+ moving north-east at Porthgwarra October 30th. At Malpas (Truro) 676 flew north-east November 14th. 54 RING OUZEL — Uncommon passage migrant. Breeds ? Spring records : The Lizard : at least 6 (4 males) between Kynance and Church Cove, March 20th. Porthgwarra : singles April 11th and 24th. Brea Hill (Trebetherick) : a male April 15th. Cubert Common : one April 25th. Two pairs may possibly have bred on Bodmin Moor. Autumn records : Siblyback : one October 14th. Porthgwarra : noted every day between October 20th (one) and 31st (6) in low numbers, i.e. less than 7, but the exception was 30+ on 30th ; also one November 6th and 4 on 7th. Rame Head : a male October 30th. Godrevy : 2 October 31st. Caerthillian (Lizard) : 3 November 1st. Kynance (Lizard) : in November, 3 on 5th, 5 on 7th, one on 10th and 2 on 12th. A male in the Upper Fowey Valley December 5th may have been wintering (full details supplied).

BLACKBIRD — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Very common and widespread but few records received. 70 at Lanhydrock in December was an unusually high number, the norm being 20 — 30.

GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH — Very rare vagrant. One at Porthgwarra October 16th — 20th WRH. DJB. LPW. NJP et al. The first for the Cornish mainland, Scillies having claimed the first " all Cornwall " record with one two days earlier (5 occurred on the Islands between October 14th and 21st).

WHEATEAR — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first was one at Marazion Beach, March 19th, and most arrived during the next fortnight. Breeding season records : Bodmin Moor was considered to have 58 nest sites and an estimated 150 pairs. Gunwalloe : young were being fed in the nest July 8th. The first in autumn was at Porthgwarra (see below) but the normal passsage was from August onwards. The last was one at Stithians October 31st and 3 at Porthgwarra the same day. Porthgwarra : noted March 28th (10) — May 9th (one) and July 25th (one) — October 31st (3). The max. in autumn was 16+ September 18th.

GREENLAND WHEATEAR — Rare passage migrant. Birds showing characteristics of the race O. a. leucorrhoa: Marazion Marsh : 4 April 29th (2 males). Porthgwarra : one October 30th.

STONECHAT — Breeds. Resident. Common and widespread. There were at least 50 breeding sites on Bodmin Moor. 30+ were noted on Par cliffs October 30th. 55 WHINCHAT — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first were 2 males at Calandra Heights (St. Breward) April 4th : the only spring passage birds were at Porthgwarra where there was a female April 25th and a male May 9th. Noted in the breeding season only on Bodmin Moor where 120 pairs (a conservative estimate) were present. Autumn passage began with one at Porthgwarra August 8th and migrants were then recorded at a number of localities (mainly the Land's End and Lizard peninsulas), the last sighting being 2 at Marazion Marsh November 5th. Generally less than 10 were seen on any one day but 61 were counted on the cliff-tops east of Godrevy August 23rd. At Porthgwarra, recorded in autumn August 8th — October 28th (2) in very low numbers ; the max. was 10 August 15th.

REDSTART — Breeds. Uncommon summer resident. Passage migrant. Spring records : Porthgwarra : a male April 17th and 24th — 25th ; one May 7th. Mount Edgcumbe (Torpoint) : a male April 18th. Breeding season records only from Bodmin Moor — single pairs at Sharp Tor, Fox Tor, Bowda Water Works and Fernacre, 2 pairs at Notter Tor but at Bearah Tor bred at 6 sites, producing an average 5 young per nest. Autumn records : St. Cleer : a male August 8th. Goldsithney : a female August 16th. Hayle Towans : in August, a female on 22nd, a pair on 23rd and 2 females on 24th ; in September, singles on 8th and 15th but 2 on 21st (all females). Roscroggan (Camborne) : a male August 24th. Porthgwarra : singles August 31st, September 4th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 26th, October 3rd and 9th but 2 October 1st and 2nd. Lynstone (Bude) : a female September 5th. Nanjizal (nr. Porthgwarra) : a female September 18th. Crowan Vicarage : one September 18th. Nr. Dozmary Pool: 2 females September 18th. Walmsley Sanctuary : a male September 28th. Bass Point (Lizard) : one September 28th. Advent (Camelford) : a male October 2nd. Gribbin Head (Fowey) : a male October 2nd. Caerthillian (Lizard) : one October 26th.

BLACK REDSTART — Passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Sightings from at least 23 localities in the first winter period — mostly singles but 2 at Par, Downderry and Pentire (Polzeath). A widespread but thin spring passage from early March — April 19th with singles in 11 areas. A similar pattern in autumn but slightly higher numbers, the first being one at Siblyback October 19th. Again many single bird records (from 12 localities) but 2 at Four Lanes (Redruth) October 31st and a max. of 5 at Porthgwarra where noted October 25th — November 13th. Only singles in the second winter period (i.e. December) with records from 9 areas.

NIGHTINGALE — Scarce passage migrant. Porthgwarra : one September 18th — 26th TJSP et al. 56 BLUETHROAT — Scarce passage migrant. Porthgwarra : one September 18th — 19th WRH et al.

ROBIN — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Very few records received. One at Porthgwarra October 19th had very white underparts.

CETTI'S WARBLER — Vagrant. Soon to be a resident breeding species ? Skewjack (nr. Land's End) : one was either seen or heard from April 4th until June 20th PAM. BKM. et al. (one was also noted in January 1977 : it seems likely that only one bird is involved and that it has been in the area from October 1975). Poldhu : one October 28th MC. Porthgwarra : one November 13th WRH. HPKR. Bolingey (Perranporth) : one December 21st and 23rd but 2 heard on 24th BKM. PAM. SR. Still extending its range and hopefully will soon breed in the county.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Scarce passage migrant. First noted May 6th when there were singles at Skewjack (nr. Land's End) and Treweege Barton (Stithians) and most arrived during the next seven days. Reported breeding in good numbers on Bodmin Moor where one new plantation held 10+ pairs. EG. thought it "more plentiful this year in all its usual places " but VRT. reports " another poor breeding year in its east coast breeding sites." Porthgwarra : one April 30th — May 12th but 2 May 8th ; one September 5th was the only September record for the county in 1976.

REED WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Uncommon passage migrant. 3 at Par Beach Pool — March 22nd and 23rd were very early HAD, the main arrival being in the last week of April. Breeding season reports from Marazion, Loe Pool, Gunwalloe, Poldhu, Par, Harlyn Bay and Sladesbridge. Porthgwarra : from August 21st until October 26th ; mainly singles but 5 September 9th, 12th and 25th. The latest sighting was at Porthgwarra.

ACROCEPHALUS sp. (i.e. either Reed or Marsh Warbler) Freathy : one October 25th. Watched for over 20 minutes feeding at top of elder bush, descending into lower parts occasionally but spending much of the time at the top. Looked odd for Reed and definitely not any other Aero. (i.e. Blyth's Reed or Paddyfield of which I have seen many abroad). All the time it was feeding it kept its tail cocked at about 45° with primaries falling below either side of base. Bill looked slimmer than Reed and head less peaked giving a different ' expression ' to front of head. Primaries not short enough for any other Aero, other than Reed or Marsh. Plumage also lacked any rufous or warmth whatsoever being more or less greyish/olive brown above of a uniform nature but sides of neck very pale and underparts also very pale whitish, washed buff on flanks 57 and under tail coverts. Legs and feet fleshy yellow. Light excellent with easterly winds. Viewed down to 15 feet. I am fairly sure that it was a Marsh Warbler, having seen several in the field in Turkey in September and a very similar bird to the Freathy one in Yorkshire in early October. However I am very loathe to claim a sight record when it could have been an eastern race of the Reed which lacks any brown in the plumage (A. s. fuscus), although this is pretty unlikely due to its southern distribution. It was no Hippo, either — undertail coverts too long, legs and feet wrong and whole jiz wrong. It struck me as being ' Marsh.' SCM. There was also a strange 1 Reed ' Warbler at Porthgwarra on Oct. 17th which I suspected may have been a ' Marsh.' Its general coloration and behaviour were identical to SCM's bird DJB.

SEDGE WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. The first individual was at Godrevy — April 7th but most arrived between April 19th and the first week of May. Well distributed throughout the county during the breeding season. Porthgwarra : 20 May 9th were the most in spring; in autumn 3 August 29th but singles October 13th, 16th and 30th. The latest sighting was at Porthgwarra.

AQUATIC WARBLER — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Marazion Marsh : noted regularly between August 10th (one) and September 26th (one) CCB. WRH. et al. Usually 2 or 3 but 8 different individuals were trapped during this period BP. 3+ unringed birds were present August 28th EG. VRT. there was also a later individual October 25th. Mrs. L. Tucker, Stithians Reservoir : a similar pattern to Marazion with sightings between August 18th (5) and September 22nd (one). BKM. PAM. et al. 8 were ringed A. Frudd but there were 3 unringed birds August 28th EG. VRT. Copperhouse (Hayle): one August 16th WRH. LPW. Gwithian : one August 23rd TRP. Loe Pool: singles September 11th and 30th E. Grace. Porthgwarra : one September 13th HPKR. Unprecedented numbers with probably at least 25 in the county but almost certainly more. Of the 8 trapped at both Marazion and Stithians 7 were juveniles. (The Marazion, Stithians and Porthgwarra records have been accepted by the Rarities Committee).

MELODIOUS WARBLER — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Porthgwarra : 2 August 15th E. Grace. PAM. BKM. and singles August 22nd BKM. HPKR., 25th APG. and September 22nd JBB. SB. Widemouth Bay : one August 16th — 20th but 3 August 21st — 26th WTL. TJD. GPS. et al. Siblyback : 2 August 25th PSDJ. Nanquidno (St. Just Airport) : one August 28th and 29th TRP. LPW. D.J.B.

ICTERINE WARBLER — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). St. Erth : one August 28th when its churring Wren — like alarm note was heard JBB. SB. Porthgwarra : one Sept. 18th WRH. HPKR. et al. and one Oct. 12th (trapped) and 13th (retrapped) NJP. PDR. et al. 58 HIPPOLAIS sp. Porthgwarra : one August 22nd did not show itself well enough to be specifically identified E. Grace.

BLACKCAP — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. A few " winter." Singles during the first winter period at Mylor, St. Just-in-Roseland, Lanhydrock and Lostwithiel but a pair at Kenwyn (Truro). The main arrival seems to have been from mid to late April. Breeding reports received from most parts of the county. Two observers stated that it was more common this year. Widespread on autumn migration. At Porthgwarra from July 25th (2) until October 31st (one) with a maximum of 15 on October 29th. December records from Porthgwarra, Hayle, Feock (2) and St. Just-in-Roseland.

BARRED WARBLER — Rare passage migrant (autumn). Only at Porthgwarra where noted September 18th — 25th PAM. BKM. RB. et al. and October 2nd — 10th NJP. PDR. WRH. et al. All sightings were of singles apart from 2 October 9th, one of which was quite small being nearer the size of Garden Warbler DJB. Probably only 3 birds were involved : all were juveniles.

GARDEN WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Uncommon passage migrant. No April records. The first was at Golant May 11th and most arrived during the next fortnight. Few specific breeding records received but one observer thought the species was " very plentiful this year " EG, Singing males were heard at nine localities on Bodmin Moor. Scarce on autumn passage. Most sightings were at Porthgwarra where noted from August 24th (2) until October 30th (one), the latest record in the county this year. The max. was 3 September 19th.

WHITETHROAT — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. First seen April 25th when there were 2 at Porthgwarra and one at Pendower (Gerrans Bay). The main influx was May 6th — 9th : over 50 were at Porthgwarra on the 8th. An excellent breeding season (for both broods). Numerous reports of nesting success from all over the county. On this showing, the species should be back to its pre-1969 numbers in 1977. On autumn passage mainly noted in the Lizard and Land's End areas. The max. was 30+ at Porthgwarra August 29th. The latest was at Godrevy October 27th TRP., this in fact being the only October record.

LESSER WHITETHROAT — Scarce passage migrant. Porthcurno : a singing male May 9th E. Grace. Porthgwarra : a singing male May 9th RB. E. Grace et al. ; one September 25th PAM. and one October 17th — 20th DJB. WRH. et al. Lamelgate (Upper Fowey Valley) : a singing male May 22nd PSDJ. Stithians : one August 23rd E. Grace. Nanjizal (nr. Porthgwarra) : one August 28th PAM. 59 DARTFORD WARBLER — Rare passage migrant. Full details were received of a male on March 10th in what appeared to be a suitable breeding site. It was not seen again but this may have been because a large part of the habitat was damaged by fires during the spring. Alternatively, of course, it may have been just passing through on migration.

WILLOW WARBLER — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Early records were one at Carnmenellis (Stithians) April 5th and 2 at Skewjack (Land's End) on 6th but the main arrival was April 19th — 26th. On 26th there were 50+ at Porthgwarra and 30+ at Rame Head. Abundant in most areas during the breeding season. Last seen : one at Porthgwarra October 18th (the only October record).

CHIFFCHAFF — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. Some " winter." Difficult to pinpoint the first sighting because of possible confusion with wintering birds but the first Porthgwarra record (it rarely winters there) was on April 4th. Most migrants appear to have arrived during the following week. Common during the breeding season. One at Garrow Tor Wood June 8th was the only record from high on Bodmin Moor SMC. This species seems to be revelling in the recent spate of mild winters. Noted from Bude to Marazion in the first winter period, the most being at Hayle where there were 5 February 29th. However, large numbers were present during the second winter period : Marazion : at least 10. St. Erth Sewage Farm : a maximum of 37 + December 29th. Helston Sewage Farm : 12 December 8th — 13th. (Some birds seen at Marazion and St. Erth showed characteristics of the eastern races, " abietinus " or " tristis "). One perched in a Christmas tree outside a grocer's shop in Bodmin's main street December 20th SMC. was clearly under the impression that it was a ' Fairy ' Tern ! (Ed.).

WOOD WARBLER — Breeds. Uncommon summer resident. Scarce passage migrant. Noted in the breeding season at Lanhydrock, Hustyn, Golitha Woods, Cotehele and Marsland Valley (Morwenstow). Full details were received of a pair with a juvenile at Loe Pool July 27th JSC but there was no proof of breeding at this locality which is outside the species' normal range within the county. Only at Porthgwarra in the autumn — one Oct. 9th WRH. DJB. et al.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER — Rare passage migrant (autumn). One at Porthgwarra September 28th was the only record HPKR.

GOLDCREST — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Although very few records were received, there seems no reason to suspect a change in status. " Common and widespread in all suitable habitat in mid Cornwall " SMC. Noted at Porthgwarra on autumn passage throughout October, the most being 15 on 9th. 60 FIRECREST — Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor. First winter period (singles unless stated otherwise) : In January at Swanpool on 10th, West Looe on 13th, St. Just-in-Roseland on 14th and Respryn on 27th (2). In February at St. Erth Woods on 9th, St. Just-in-Roseland on 13th (2), Mylor on 15th (2), Pencalenick (Truro), on 16th and Marazion Marsh on 22nd. In March at Joppa (Hayle), on 5th and Treveal (Zennor) on 23rd. At Porthgwarra, noted from September 24th (4) until November 9th (one) in low numbers, the max. being 7 September 25th. Elsewhere in autumn at St. Ives, Loe Pool, The Lizard (at least 3), Portscatho, Malpas (Truro) and Penlee Point (Rame). In the second winter period singles at Carbis Bay, November 27th, Loe Pool, December 4th, and Copperhouse (Hayle) December 12th.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER — Breeds. Summer resident. Passage migrant. First seen at Malpas May 9th but most arrived May 15th — 29th. Well distributed in most parts during the breeding season but the following comment was received about east and south-east areas : " A very poor year : a big drop in breeding birds " EG. VRT. Porthgwarra : in spring, singles on May 15th, 23rd and 24th but 3 on 22nd ; in autumn, from August 7th (one) until October 11th (one) with a max. of 20 August 15th — a relatively light passage. Not such a common autumn migrant as in previous years. Nearly all were seen in the Lizard and Land's End Peninsulas between August 15th and September 26th, the highest number being 20+ at Nanquidno (St. Just Airport) August 28th. Apart from at Porthgwarra, the only other October record was one at St. Ives on 2nd.

PIED FLYCATCHER — Breeds ? Summer resident at one locality. Passage migrant. The first was a male at Lanhydrock May 5th. It was last noted June 14th but no females were seen. The species was not recorded from any other area during the breeding season. There was one other May sighting — a single at the Lizard on 6th. Unusually common on autumn passage ; many more " Pieds" than " Spotteds " were recorded in the county. The main migration occurred between August 13th and August 29th. At Porthgwarra noted from August 14th (one) until October 8th (one) with a max. of 20+ August 15th and 29th. Not seen anywhere else in October.

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER — Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Tamar Lake : one August 22nd TJD. Porthgwarra : one October 12th (when trapped) and 13th PF. NJP. PDR. et al. Full details received.

DUNNOCK —- Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Very common in most parts of Cornwall. Some evidence of migration at Porthgwarra where, in October, there were c.20 on 7th and 21st, 29 on 22nd, c.25 on 24th, c.35 on 25th, c.25 on 26th, and c.24 on 27th. 61 RICHARD'S PIPIT —- Scarce passage migrant (autumn). Hot Point (Lizard) : one September 28th PMcC. Porthgwarra : one October 9th WRH. and one October 29th JH. Full details received. TAWNY PIPIT — Scarce passage migrant (spring and autumn). Porthgwarra : one October 9th NJP. DIB. A " Probable " October 23rd and 28th PF. NJP. PDR.

MEADOW PIPIT — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Common. The highest numbers in autumn were : Stithians : 100+ September 16th. Marazion Marsh : 100+ September 25th. Porthgwarra: in October, 150+ on 2nd, 300+ on 3rd, 582 east on 8th (in two hours).

TREE PIPIT — Breeds. Summer resident. Uncommon passage migrant. First seen at Porkellis Moor (Helston) April 16th (one) but very few were noted in spring away from the breeding areas. The species appears to have had a very successful breeding season, particularly on Bodmin Moor which is undoubtedly its stronghold. PSDI. comments on the Bodmin Moor population "... a very noticeable increase and spread. In at least four new areas where absent in 1975." Most autumn records were from the Stithians, Lizard and Land's End areas. Apart from at Porthgwarra there were very low numbers between August 16th and October 6th. At Porthgwarra noted between Aug. 15th (15 — 20) and October 18th (1 — 2) with a max. of 20+ August 29th (also singles here in spring — on April 19th and May 6th).

ROCK PIPIT — Breeds. Resident. Scarce passage migrant(?). Well distributed where there is suitable habitat. Unusual reports : Porthgwarra : a partial albino April 17th with a white forehead and partial white collar. Hayle Harbour : a partial albino August 30th (the description received indicates it could well have been the Porthgwarra bird). Siblyback : 3 during a large influx of Meadow pipits September 5th.

WATER PIPIT (A. s. spinoletta) — Uncommon winter visitor and spring passage migrant. A sub-species from the mountain regions of central and southern Europe. Marazion Marsh: 2 January 11th; one February 1st — 21st; one March 22nd. Stithians : 2 March 19th and singles March 21st and April 8th ; one November 11th — December 23rd. Gwithian : 2 March 22nd — 25th. Porthgwarra : one October 29th.

PIED/WHITE WAGTAIL — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. " Pied " is common in the county and seems to have had a successful breeding season. A few flocks in excess of 100 reported on autumn passage: it is 62 probable that most of these are " Whites." Siblyback : several 100 + flocks throughout August, the majority being immatures. Par Pool: 168 August 18th. Copperhouse (Hayle): 170+ west September 8th. At Porthgwarra, " Whites" were noted throughout October but the max. was 10 September 5th. (A point of interest is that at this locality Pieds" tend to stay in the valley whereas " Whites" invariably frequent the moorland and cliff-tops). In winter up to 150 roost on the ironwork of storage tanks at Foxhole (St. Austell). There was a max. of 136 (including a few Grey Wagtails) at the Cathedral Lane, Truro, roost December 23rd.

GREY WAGTAIL — Breeds. Resident. Uncommon passage migrant. " Many pairs recorded during the breeding season in mid Cornwall, especially on the higher reaches of rivers and streams on Bodmin Moor" SMC. Autumn migrants : Loe Pool: 10 flew in off the sea September 30th. Porthgwarra : in October, 6 on 9th and 10th, 8 on 24th.

YELLOW WAGTAIL — Passage migrant. Has not bred in recent years. One at Marazion Marsh April 16th, was the first and up to 2 were seen until May 8th. The only other spring records were singles at Bowda Water Works (Bodmin Moor) April 17th — May 9th and Porthgwarra April 25th and May 22nd, but a max. of 13 at Par where noted April 24th — May 5th. Recorded throughout the county in autumn mainly during the period August 22nd — September 3rd. Usually low numbers but 40 near Godrevy August 23rd, 61 at Par August 24th, and 100+ at Caerthillian (Lizard) September 3rd. At Porthgwarra, autumn passage lasted from July 24th (one) until October 22nd (one) with a max. of 50 August 22nd. Recorded only at this locality during October.

BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL (M. f. flava) — Uncommon passage migrant. A sub-species noted annually in the county in small numbers. Copperhouse (Hayle) : a male May 16th PAR. Stithians : one May 17th BKM. Marazion Marsh : a male September 12th — 24th JBB. SB. CCB. WRH.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE — Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. Ninestones Bridge (Upper Fowey Valley) : one Jan. 24th — Apr. 2nd SMC. FMC. HAD. Tamar Lake : one February 14th TJD. Bissoe Valley : one February 23rd RB and probably the same bird near Chacewater February 28th PAM. BKM.

WOODCHAT SHRIKE — Vagrant. An immature at the Lizard August 29th B. Cave. PMcC. Full details received. RED-BACKED SHRIKE — Uncommon passage migrant. Padstow area : a pair June 2nd per. HL.(not seen subsequently). Porthgwarra : an adult female September 20th — 22nd TRP. HPKR. WRH.

STARLING — Breeds Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Highest totals during the year : Lanivet : an estimated 100,000 left the roost at dawn March 1st. Davidstow : an estimated 3,000,000 flew over the airfield between 16.15 and 17.00 hours November 19th. Birds converge at the north end of the plantation and fly on towards Wilsey Down. They do not appear to use Davidstow as a roost SMC. Congdon's Shop (Bodmin Moor) : 10,000+ December 12th. Marazion : c. 13,590 flew towards the Marazion Marsh roost from Goldsithney in half an hour December 22nd. Autumn migration was particularly in evidence at Porthgwarra where, in October, there were 1,000 on 20th, 700 on 21st, 2,000 on 22nd, 1,500 on 24th, 2,500 on 26th, 2,000 on 27th and 15,000 on 28th. One flew west off St. Ives Island December 8th. Ringing recoveries : A female ringed at Mullion January 2nd, 1972 was controlled at Steenwerck, (Nord) France February 19th, 1976 per. NBE. A female found dying at Canon's Town (Hayle) February 27th, 1976, had been ringed at Castricum, Noord, Holland November 11th, 1972 (the year it was hatched) per. RDP. A female ringed at Mullion, December 8th, 1974 was found dead at Synogac, Piotrkow, (Bydgoszcz), Poland April 20th, 1976 per. NBE.

GREENFINCH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Largest flocks : Gannel Estuary : 100+ January 1st ; 60 — 70 December. 12th. Pendower (Gerrans Bay) : 100 + January 24th. Ruan Lanihorne : 200 + March 28th. At Porthgwarra autumn passage birds were noted Oct. 10th — Nov. 7th. The max. was 800 October 24th but there were more than 200 on seven " bird " days. Other large autumn movements : Freathy (Rame Head) : 60 flew west in two hours October 25th. Nanquidno (St. Just Airport) : c.300 October 29th.

GOLDFINCH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Passage birds (or possibly post-breeding flocks) were recorded August 8th — October 9th. There were more than 100 at eight localities, the largest gatherings being 180 at Walmsley Sanctuary September 5th and 275 at Menzies Down (Bodmin Moor) September 26th. At Porthgwarra there were low numbers throughout October with usually 10 — 20 on any one day. The max. was 50 on 24th.

SISKIN — Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Very low numbers after the excesses of 1975. Malpas (Truro) : 8 January 11th. Lamorran Woods (Ruan Lanihorne) : 4+ January 15th. Helston : 6 — 8 January 29th — February 16th. 64 Swanpool : in February, one on 21st, 2 on 28th. Marazion : one March 14th. Tamar Lake : 6 October 27th. Porthgwarra : one October 30th. Lizard : one east November 10th. LINNET — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Largest flocks : Pentire (Polzeath) : 500 + January 3rd. Stithians: 300 September 2nd and 5th, 1,000+ on 29th; 500 Oct. 3rd, 700 October 21st. Sennen : c.2,000 September 7th. Noted at Porthgwarra September 25th — October 31st in numbers less than 100 apart from 160 October 24th. REDPOLL — Breeds. Resident in low number. Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. At least 25 pairs bred on Bodmin Moor PSDI. where there was a noticeable increase in summer flocks, but not reported breeding at any other localities. Other records : Pendower (Gerrans Bay) : 3 April 19th. Davidstow : one June 4th. Drift : one June 6th. Marazion : one October 27th. Porthgwarra : 2 October 28th. Malpas (Truro) : several heard flying over October 29th. BULLFINCH — Breeds. Resident. Scarce passage migrant. Apparently had an excellent breeding season with very good numbers of young birds seen throughout mid Cornwall. A few autumn passage birds : Caerthillian (Lizard) : in October, 7 flew in from the sea on 20th ; 9 were present on 28th. Porthgwarra : some migration occurred during October, the max. being 20 on 24th. SCARLET ROSEFINCH — Very rare vagrant. An adult female or first year male at Porthgwarra September 18th and 19th WRH. PAM. BKM. HPKR. LPW. et al. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee). The second Cornish mainland record : the first was in 1945 when one remained at Golant (Fowey) from February 6th until November 15th. However the 1976 sighting was not entirely unexpected as this species has been occurring in the British Isles with increasing frequency in recent years after having been regarded a ' Fair Isle Special' for so long. CHAFFINCH — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Largest winter flocks : Lanivet : c.500 used this roost in both winter periods. Pentire (Polzeath) : 400+ January 3rd. Portscatho : 210+ January 22nd. During autumn, only at Porthgwarra in large numbers, migrants being noted from October 16th until November 7th. The max. were 1100 October 24th and 300 November 5th. 65 BRAMBLING — Passage migrant. Winter visitor. (Uncommon during some years). First winter period (January — March) : Up to 3 at Drift, Nancledra (St. Ives), Roscroggan (Camborne), Newbridge (Truro), St. Just-in-Roseland, Portscatho, and St. John's Lake. 10 — 30 at Crowan (17 + ), Tolvaddon (Camborne) (30 + ), Tregatillian (St. Columb Major) (20 + ), Tregantle (Whitsand Bay) (20), Siblyback (30) and St. Neot (21). Higher numbers : Stithians: January 14th — February 28th with a max. of 70 + January 25th. Ruan Lanihorne : 75 March 28th. Lanivet: 200+ March 13th. St. Clement (Truro) : January 16th — February 24th with a max. of 275 February 6th. Pendower (Gerrans Bay) : 750 January 24th ; 42 February 7th. At Porthgwarra, one January 3rd ; in October, one on 18th, 3 on 25th, 4 on 26th, 3 on 28th and one on 30th. Elsewhere in autumn (October and November) in very low numbers. Noted at five localities, the largest numbers being 5 at Caerthillian (Lizard) November 13th and 5 at Culdrose, November 23rd. In December, only at Bodmin Road Station (one on 11th) and Kelly Bray (Callington) (5 on 27th). A complete reversal after fantastic numbers during the first three months of 1976.

CORN BUNTING — Breeds. Resident. Scarce passage migrant. Breeding season records from Porthleven, Mullion, Lizard, Trevalga (Tintagel), Pentire (Polzeath), Padstow — Trevone (at least 14 singing males in mid May), St. Agnes and Camborne North Cliffs. JEB. comments that he cannot find it now in the upland areas of Crowan Parish where it used to breed. Unusual reports : Stithians : one singing at the north end of the Reservoir July 20th — " my only record for this locality " JEB. Siblyback : one October 19th during a large influx of Reed Buntings. The largest flock by far was 26 at West Pentire (Newquay) October 16th. At Porthgwarra singles October 24th, 26th and 27th but 4 on 28th.

YELLOWHAMMER — Breeds. Resident. Scarce passage migrant ? This seems to be very much a declining species in the county. " Generally scarce during the breeding season " SMC. " Has decreased considerably in the Crowan and Stithians areas during the last decade " JEB. " Though still a relatively common breeding species on Bodmin Moor, it would appear to have decreased in numbers over the past few years" PSDJ. The only flock of over 30 was at Blackpool China Clay Pit where there were at least 144 November 19th feeding on a recently seeded area, plus many more on downland fields SJC. Possibly some migrants at Porthgwarra in October, where numbers increased to 30 on 24th, but these were more likely to have been local breeding birds flocking. 66 BLACK-HEADED BUNTING — Very rare vagrant. A female at Porthgwarra September 19th BKM. LPW. HPKR et al. The first Cornish mainland record although three have occurred on the Scillies.

CIRL BUNTING — Breeds. Scarce resident. Bolingey (Perranporth) : the only locality where observed regularly in 1976 with a max. of 4 (one male) March 14th PAM. BKM. Padstow : a singing male May 11th RS. Truro Golf Course : a male May 28th and 29th AHM. GPM. Porthgwarra : a male October 24th and 25th PAM. HPKR. et al (the first record here). Blackpool China Clay Works Tip : a pair November 7th but only the male on 24th SJC. A relapse following 15 breeding season reports in 1975.

ORTOLAN BUNTING — Scarce passage migrant. Nanquidno (St. Just Airport) : a female September 5th PAM. BKM. Full details received.

REED BUNTING — Breeds. Resident. Passage migrant. Winter visitor. Autumn passage noted only at Porthgwarra. Numbers built up to 40 — 50 September 30th and then there were lower numbers until c.100 October 24th. 40+ at Camel Estuary November 13th and 30 at Upper Tamar Reservoir December 12th were the largest winter period flocks.

LAPLAND BUNTING — Scarce passage migrant. Loe Bar : one September 25th flew in from the sea calling E. Grace. Marazion Marsh : an immature Sept. 27th — Oct. 9th WRH. CCB. West Pentire (Newquay) : one October 16th SR. Whitsand Bay : one October 30th EG.

SNOW BUNTING — Uncommon passage migrant. First winter period : East Pentire (Newquay) : 4 January 17th. Porth Beach (Gerrans Bay) : one February 22nd. Par Beach Pool: a male March 22nd. A good autumn passage — September 22nd until November 22nd — with records from Loe Bar (3), Caerthillian (4), Stithians (14 east November 8th). Portscatho (one), Blackpool Clay Works Tip (2), Hannafore (one), Upper Tamar Reservoir (3), Bude (one), The Rumps (one), Newquay Headland (2), West Pentire (5), Navax Point (one) and St. Ives Island (2). Noted at Porthgwarra September 22nd — November 9th. At least 3 birds were involved. No December Records.

HOUSE SPARROW — Breeds. Resident. " A colony at a farm near Nancledra fed regularly and persistently throughout late summer on honey bees caught as they emerged from a nest under the eaves of a house " JB & SB. 67 TREE SPARROW — Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. Porthgwarra : one June 2nd ; in October, 6 on 18th, 60 east on 24th, 5 on 25th, 3 on 26th, 6 on 27th and 13 on 28th MO. Near Cargreen : 3 in a root field with finches and Reed Buntings, November 9th BC. Egloshayle Rubbish Dump (Wadebridge) : Nov. 13th — Dec. 2nd with a max of 14 November 28th SMC. et al. Wendron (Helston) : one November 21st E. Grace. Wadebridge : at least 7 December 11th — 18th feeding cn grain RS. (perhaps some of the Egloshayle birds ?). Even better numbers than in 1975 of a species which is normally quite rare in Cornwall.

' EXOTICA'

WHITE PELICAN : One, which had been recorded at Tamar Lake in late 1975 remained until February 1st.

FLAMINGO : One at Tamar Lake until March 10th — it was first seen in late 1975. Chilean ?

CAROLINA DUCK : One at Priory Pool, Bodmin throughout the year.

MANDARIN DUCK : At Amble Marshes 2 females March 16th, 3 (one drake) April 16th. A female with Teal at Walmsley Sanctuary September 5th. A female at Dinham Creek (Camel Estuary) December 9th. BRENT GOOSE : The tame bird at Copperhouse Creek (Hayle) in December, 1975 stayed until January 17th.

CANADA GOOSE : A tame bird which constantly accompanied Mute Swans was seen at various sites. It began the year at Hayle, stayed briefly at Marazion in early June, moved to Helston Park Pool until the end of July, and then returned to Hayle.

CHOUGH: Singles at Par Pool September 29th, October 2nd (a different bird) and November 1st seem virtually certain to have been escapes.

MILITARY MACAW : Usually 4, but sometimes 5, at Copperhouse (Hayle) from April into 1977 ; a nest-hole was excavated but apparently breeding did not take place. 68 ADDITIONS TO PREVIOUS REPORTS

1966 WILSON'S PHALAROPE: One at Hayle Estuary September 4th SCM. EG. LPW. (This record has now been accepted by the Rarities Committee after being resubmitted). 1971 REDWING : One ringed at Rospeath (Marazion) October 26th, 1971 was shot November 14th, 1971 at Mondragon (Guipuzcoa), Spain per BP.

1972 VELVET SCOTER : A drake north of Porthleven April 1st RA. 1974 CORY'S SHEARWATER : The July record has been accepted by the Rarities Committee.

1975 LITTLE SHEARWATER : One off Land's End September 11th M.I. Harvey. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee). STEPPE BUZZARD : One showing characteristics of this distinctive sub-species (B. b. vulpinus) at Towednack (St. Ives) October 27th and November 2nd P. Pearce, V. A. Stratton. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee. The first record for Cornwall — including Scillies — and only the third for Britain). LITTLE GULL : An immature off Albert Pier, Penzance, October 21st. WOODLARK: One at Porthgwarra, October 13th PDR. RING OUZEL : 6 at Porthgwarra, October 7th. BLACK REDSTART : One at Stithians Reservoir, November 29th. AQUATIC WARBLER : There were at least 6 immatures at Marazion Marsh in Aug. — Sept. (Accepted by the Rarities Committee). Other 1975 records accepted by the Rarities Committee too late to be included in the last Report : Glossy Ibis at Marazion. 2 Long-billed Dowitchers at Stithians. Lesser Yellowlegs at Truro. Subalpine Warbler at Porthgwarra. Serin at Porthgwarra. 69 Notes

GREY HERON WITH PINK LEGS. An adult at Tresillian River on June 22nd had quite bright salmon-pink legs and an orange bill. I have often seen Herons with pink bills — a temporary phenomenon, usually to be seen in the breeding season — but I have never before seen a bird with pink legs, nor have I found any reference to this in literature. The bird was seen in good light conditions, and other Herons in the area had typical rather dull brown legs. Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge. SCOTER SEA-PASSAGE AT ROSEMULLION HEAD, FALMOUTH AND BASS POINT, THE LIZARD. R. D. Penhallurick wrote (in Birds of the Cornish Coast) " Scoter have been seen in every month of the year, although very rarely in May or June . . . autumn migration . . . usually commences about mid-July. Movement continues well into November ..." I have summerised the 1970-76 observations for Rosemullion and Bass below and it will be seen that the pattern is quite different. Movement is nearly always southerly at Rosemullion and westerly at the Lizard, rates of passage when quoted being the mean number per hour flying west past Bass. There have been no records for January and only one a day in early February, up to 5 a day in late February, with maxima of 13 for March and 7 for April. Even though May has been well covered there have been no more than 3 a day, all records falling in the last seven days of the month. The rate of passage is only 0.1 over 44 hours. In June, 20 or more a day have been seen in 3 years with the rate jumping to 1.4, but July has even larger numbers with 50 or more a day in 3 years and a rate of 3.2 over 32 hours. The record daily passages at Rosemullion of 105 and at Bass of 50 have both occurred in this month. In August numbers are declining, the maximum is only 36 and the rate drops to 1.4, while September and October have only a few records of small parties, two days with more than 10 and a maximum of 22. The rate is down to about 0.5. November has only one record of a party of 9 and December has none at all. This pattern of occurrence is very similar to that at Cape Clear in the south-west of Ireland which has a peak from late June to early August. P. McCartney. KESTRELS FLOCKING. At Tregarrick Tor, near Siblyback, on August 5th there was a flock of at least 10 but probably 12 (all adults). They were not seen to feed but seemed content to hover and stoop at each other. Of 10 seen together, 6 were adult males. They were NOT Lesser Kestrels ! P. S. D. Jones. KESTREL TAKING STARLING. On December 24th a female took a Starling in front of the Hide at the Camel Estuary. It settled on the ground with its prey and started to pluck the feathers from the latter's breast. It was then joined by a Magpie which immediately lunged at the Starling and repeated this exercise half a dozen times. The Kestrel, which had continued plucking between the lunges, attempted to drive off the intruder. In doing so, it relaxed its grip on the Starling, which took advantage of the predator's lapse and flew off. 70 ANALYSIS OF LONG-EARED OWL PELLETS. Pellet analysis of 17 pellets from the Egloshayle bird showed that each contained at least one Field Vole. One pellet also contained Pigmy Shrew and only one contained Coleoptera sp. The average size of 10 pellets was 34.1mm by 21.25mm with maxima of 44mm long and 23.5mm wide. Also found at its roost were feathers of what appeared to be a Tree Sparrow of which there were a few in the area. S. M. Christophers.

SWALLOW'S NESTS. A nest built House Martin fashion against a flat surface with little or no support must have been usual before the Swallow adapted to a man-made environment and acquired the habit of nesting on top of beams. Nests built against the side of a beam are probably scarce now but one such nest was found in a lean-to at Penberthy, St. Hilary in May, The beam, supporting a sloping roof, was inclined from the vertical, thus giving a little support to the untidy half-cup nest. A similar nest, against the side of a perfectly horizontal beam, was found in June inside the dovecote at St. Allen vicarage. Even more unusual was the discovery in June by Alan Green of Ashton, of a pair of Swallows nesting down the Lady Gwendoline mine shaft. The nest was about 35 ft. down, below the concrete collar to the shaft, and not visible from the surface. The nest of a second brood was photographed on the 11th August by Mr. Richard Barstow, an experienced miner, who was lowered down a ' rope ' ladder. Two nests, side by side, were built on the irregular surface of the killas (clay-slate) which gave some basal support to them. Unfortunately the birds would not enter the nest when R. B. was down the shaft, and it was technically impossible to photograph the birds swooping down the shaft. This is the first occasion I have found proof of nesting down a mine-shaft, as distinct from nesting in a cave or mine-adit. General works on ornithology frequently mention occasional nesting down mine-shafts but never cite specific dates or places ; all would seem to derive from Sharpe and Wyatt (A Monograph of the Hirundinidae, 1885-94) who themselves refer only to occasional nests down a well or an old mine. R. D. Penhallurick.

CHIFFCHAFFS AT SEWAGE FARMS. Wintering numbers may well have been underestimated greatly in West Cornwall for some years. As a result of a survey begun on 24th December, large numbers were found on the filter beds of sewage farms. With the approval of the South West Water Authority, all sewage farms west of Truro were visited early in January 1977, but only at the sites seen in December were large numbers encountered. By the end of the month, the most counted were 37 at St. Erth, 18 at Angarrack, and 20 at Helston. All these sites were on low ground close to the sea ; further inland all sites supported few or no Chiffchaffs. (Thus there were only two at Praze and none at Nancegollan). St. Erth and Helston adjoin Treloweth Wood and the 1 bottoms ' at the top end of Loe Pool respectively, both traditional locations for wintering Chiffchaffs because of their comparative warmth and abundant food supply. The numbers at Angarrack, however, are surprising as the filter beds are surrounded by low hedges and open fields ; in short a rather bleak site. The bacteriological oxidisation filters consist of beds (usually circular) of chippings over which the fluid is sprayed by revolving arms. The surface of the filters is rich in bacteria and other forms of minute life, but it is unlikely that Chiffchaffs take advantage of this food supply 71 except in west and south Cornwall and south Devon. Studies over many years of sewage farms in Midland counties (e.g. Boyd and Raines, British Birds, 1957, and Glue and Bodenham, Bird Study, 1974) make no mention of Warblers, while the only published record I can find from the south-west is of six Chiffchaffs on the filter beds of Galmptcn, South Devon on 15th December, 1975 (Devon Bird Report, 1975). R. D. Penhallurick.

YELLOW WAGTAILS AT PAR BEACH POOL. (1975). On August 26th, 1975, at 20.00 hrs. I had just arrived at Par Pool when I noticed several Yellow Wagtails fly in from the sea. They alighted on the tops of the reeds, remained in view for only a minute or so and then made their way quickly down the reed stems and out of sight. During the next few minutes a total of 37 were seen to arrive and with equal urgency sought the shelter of the reeds. Although there was still plenty of daylight left, the birds did not reappear and no other Yellow Wagtails were seen to fly in. This behaviour is very different from that of the Pied Wagtails I have observed at the roost on Goverseth China Clay Refining Plant at Foxhole. These tend to gather on trees, telephone wires and buildings and engage in a lot of chasing and general activity until it is almost dark. They then discreetly drop into the dwarf willows, 5 or 6 at a time, where they roost. Suddenly one realizes they have all gone. Having witnessed the arrival of what I considered to be a fair number of Yellow Wagtails at Par, I concluded there was every possibility that many more had flown into the reed bed earlier. I therefore returned to the area at 05.30 hrs. the following morning, August 27th It was still quite dark but already Swallows, which had been roosting in the reeds, were singing loudly. It was not until 06.10 hrs. that the first Yellow Wagtails began to leave the reeds and fly south-west. By now it was light, the Swallows had long since left and the few Pied Wagtails that had roosted there were feeding at the edge of the pool and on the beach. Over the next few minutes groups of 20 — 30 Yellow Wagtails left various parts of the reed bed until I had counted more than 200. (From my previous observations I noted that Pied Wagtails leave their roost in smaller parties of 5 or 6). The Yellow Wagtails' smaller size and more delicate build, plus the distinctive call note, made them readily distinguishable from Pied or Grey Wagtails. At 08.00 hrs. I searched the Golf Course above Crinnis Beach, St. Austell in the hope of finding some of the birds feeding there and I saw Two parties of 5 and 6 Yellow Wagtails on the greens. Subsequent visits to Par Pool were less spectacular, with 21 seen arriving at the roost on August 31st, 6 leaving the roost on September 6th and none noted on September 13th. S. J. Cole.

72 BOOK REVIEW

PEREGRINE the private life of the Peregrine Falcon R. B. Treleaven 160 pages, numerous black and white illustrations. Hardback £4, Paperback £1.60 published by The Headland Publishers, Bread Street, Penzance. R. B. Treleaven has been a member of the Cornwall Bird-Watching and preservation Society since 1948 and needs little introduction to Cornish ornithologists. This bock recounts nearly thirty years cf observation of the Peregrine in the West Country, and provides a fascinating glimpse into the private lives of the Peregrines he has known that will appeal to both layman and ornithologist alike. It is profusely illustrated by the author's own line drawings. The reviewer can do no better than quote the Sunday Times "... a minor masterpiece of dedicated observation, lit with the elation of a man immersed in the passion of his subject " and the Western Morning News " A must for lovers of the wild life scene .... he portrays vividly and with affectionate understanding.

NOTES ON THE BREEDING SUCCESS OF THE SHAG POPULATION OF A CORNISH SEABIRD COLONY IN 1976 By G. A. Wright

1. Introduction. The colony concerned is that at Rinsey Cliffs, grid ref. SW 591 269. The birds occupy the three sides of a large recess in the cliffs. Each side is about 20 yards long and the cliff top is about 60 feet above mean sea level. The sites are near vertical with many ledges of various sizes and the colony is open to the south. Nearby is a very popular beach and as the coastal path passes close to the cliff top, the colony is therefore subjected to considerable disturbance during the holiday season. The Shags share the cliffs with large numbers ol Kittiwakes and Herring Gulls and a few Fulmars. The colony was watched regularly from January to July and these notes summarise the observations made during that time. 2. Nest building (a) Site. The nest sites of the Shags were concentrated in the north-eastern corner and the eastern side. The sites were usually flat ledges 18 inches to 2 feet square and there was usually some form of protection in the form of an overhang or a rock wall on two or more sides. One nest was built down in a pothole and could only be seen from directly above. The best sites were occupied early and the birds starting later had to choose smaller, more exposed sites. The heights of the sites varied from about 20 to 40 feet above mean sea level. (b) Material. The nests were built of local vegetation with odd bits of seaweed and rubbish. The main building material was a mesembryanthemum, Disphyma Crassifolium which is a native to South Africa but has become naturalised in this area and the Scillies. It covers large areas of the cliffs around Rinsey Head and some nests were composed entirely of it. The nest itself was usually about 18 inches across at the base and about 8 inches high. There was a cup for the eggs, usually lined with dry grass. 73 (c) Building dates. The nest sites were occupied through December into January by pairs or individuals. The first sign of nest building was observed on January 11th when single sprigs of gorse were seen on 2 sites. By January 23rd there were signs of building on 8 sites, one nest being half built. Following a gale on 28/29th January, 4 nests were seen to have been destroyed and the others damaged. Rebuilding started straight away and by March 7th there were 10 nests and the first eggs were appearing. Further nests were started on March 13th, 15th, April 4th, 12th, and May 14th. On 2 sites it was not possible to record the date of commencement. Nest building started on a total of 17 sites. 3. Egg laying. The first eggs were observed on March 7th when a nest which was started on January 23rd was seen to contain 3 eggs. On March 10th a nest started on January 11th was seen to contain 1 egg, and on March 13th, 2 eggs. Eggs were first detected in other nests on the following dates :— March 15 — 1 nest April 11 — 1 nest 20 — 3 nests 12 — 2 nests April 4 — 1 nest May 14 — 1 nest 8 — 1 nest The date for first egg was not observed for 2 nests but was assessed as early May from the hatching date. Eggs were not laid in 3 nests. The interval between eggs was usually 2 days and all nests laid in had either 2 or 3 eggs. A total of 39 eggs are known to have been laid and there may have been 2 more. 4. Incubation. Incubation started with the first egg. Both birds took turns and they used their bill to turn the eggs, at frequent intervals. The first egg hatched after about 33 days and, of the 39 eggs known to have been laid, 37 are known to have hatched. 5. Chick survival. The chicks were watched and the progress of each brood was monitored. Losses were recorded and tabulated for each week after the first hatching :— Number lost in 1st week after hatching 3 number surviving 34 2nd 5 „ „ 29 3rd 2 „ „ 27 4th 4 „ „ 23 5th 1 „ „ 22 The number surviving in each brood is as follows : 3 chicks surviving — 2 broods 2 — 5 1 — 6 0 — 1 In the brood where none of the chicks survived, the parents deserted them while they were still alive and they died as a result. The reasons for the other deaths are not known ; however, with large numbers of Herring Gulls and Jackdaws in the area, predation could be a cause. After 6 or 7 weeks the young left the nest sites but remained in the vicinity of the colony. 74 6. Results of individual nest sites. The results for each site where nesting was attempted are listed below. They are in the order in which eggs were first observed. Nest Date building Date eggs Number of Number ot Number number first recorded first observed eggs laid eggs hatched Hedged 1 Jan. 23 Mar. 7 3 3 2 2 Jan. 11 Mar. 10 3 3 3 3 N/k Mar. 15 3 3 2 4 Jan. 11 Mar. 20 3 2/3 1 5 Jan. 23 Mar. 20 3 3 3 6 Mar. 7 Mar. 20 3 3 2 7 Mar. 7 Apl. 4 3 3 0 8 Jan. 23 Apl. 8 3 3 1 9 N/k Apl. 11 3 3 1 10 Jan. 23 Apl. 12 3 3 2 11 Mar. 13 Apl. 12 3 3 1 12 Jan. 23 May 14 2 2 2 13 Jan. 23 N/k (May) 2/3 2/3 1 14 Mar. 15 N/k (May) 2/3 2 1 15 Apl. 4 — 0 0 0 16 Apl. 12 — 0 0 0 17 May 14 — 0 0 0 Notes : 1. " Number fledged " indicates those birds seen alive and well and in a potentially flyable state after their fifth week. 2. Nest No. 7 — Deserted May 29th, 3 chicks in nest. 15 — Deserted June 6th, nest almost completed. 16 — Deserted May 7th, nest 1/2 built. 17 — Deserted June 6th, nest 1/2 built. Overall results

Numbers (a) No. nests started 17 (b) No. nests laid in 14 (c) No. eggs laid 39 (d) No. eggs hatched 37 (e) No. young believed fledged 22 Percentages (a) % nests laid in 82% (b) % eggs hatched 95% (c) % young fledged 59% Averages (a) Average clutch size 2.78 eggs (b) Average number fledged per nest 1.29 young (c) Average number fledged per clutch 1.57 young (d) Average number fledged per clutch laid in March 2.17 young (e) Average number fledged per clutch laid in April/May 1.13 young 75 8. Conclusions. There is a significant difference between the success of those clutches laid during March and those laid in April and May. This difference amounts to about one extra fledged per clutch. Those birds which started nest building early, and had an early choice of nest site, did not necessarily lay early and rear a large brood. Out of 8 nests started in January, 2 were not laid in until April and 2 were laid in in May. For this reason the choice of an unsuitable nest site is not considered to be a significant cause of mortality in later broods. However, the lack of a suitable site could well be a major factor in the desertion of the last 3 nests and the maximum number of suitable sites may be 14. The reason for the higher mortality may have been connected with a failure in the food supply or with disease. As none of the dead chicks were recovered, a full analysis cannot be made. There are 2 other possible explanations : (a) Disturbance. The young from eggs laid in March would hatch out in April and leave the nest in May or early June. The young from later clutches would be in the nest during June and July when the holidaymakers are about in force. The young would be subjected to rather more disturbance from people on the beach, the rocks and the cliffs above. (b) Herring Gulls. The large number of Herring Gulls which breed in the colony would have their young in the nest during June and July. Consequently their food requirement would reach a peak at this time and this could lead to an increase in predation, or at least in disturbance.

76 Field Days in Dorset By Peter J. Dwyer

At seven o'clock in the morning of Saturday, 14th February, 1976 a coach left Newquay to pick up birdwatchers from all over Cornwall. A casual conversation between Mrs. Peggy Visick, Chairman of the Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society, and Mr. Peter Marriott, Treasurer of the Society until he left the county to take up residence in Dorset a couple of years ago, resulted in an invitation from Mr. Marriott to members of the Society to come and see some cf the birds of Dorset. So there we were, forty three of us, from Penzance in the west to Saltash in the east, on our way in glorious sunshine on a crisp and frosty Cornish morning, watching the Lapwings, Rooks, Starlings and Thrushes flighting over the landscape on their way to find their daily sustenance, while we congratulated ourselves on being so lucky with the weather. What did we do right ? The answer must be, everything ! From the time (the previous autumn) when we had chosen a date in the middle of February for our weekend visit to Dorset, our luck held all the way. Our coach was comfortable and our driver most obliging and co­ operative. When we booked into our hotel at Swanage it was to find real old fashioned hospitality with every comfort and first class food and service. But that is getting ahead of our story. By ten o'clock we had made our final pick up in Saltash and Cornwall was vanishing into the distance. In the warmth of the coach we enjoyed the scenery of Devon and Dorset and amused ourselves by totting up the species of birds we spotted on our journey. One alert member even caught the jewel like flash of a Kingfisher as we sped past a meandering river. Soon after one o'clock we drove through Weymouth to Ferrybridge on the edge of Portland Harbour at the eastern end of the Chesil Bank which runs north westwards for about six miles in a near straight line, almost to Abbotsbury with its famous swannery. Peter Marriott was waiting for us, having carried out a reconnaissance of the area during the morning. After an al fresco lunch we walked a short way along the inside of Chesil Beach to see the birds on the Fleet, the long, narrow fresh water lagoon which lies between Chesil Bank and the coast proper. This area holds good numbers of waders and wildfowl, including Brent geese, during the winter and is a good area for migrants during the spring and autumn, many of which are trapped and ringed at the nearby observatory on Portland Island. Walking over the pebbles we were glad we were not walking to the swannery, but the sight of Red-breasted Mergansers feeding took our minds off the pebbles. Soon the male Long-tailed Duck which Peter had reported as being present was sighted and we all enjoyed good views of this wintering sea duck. Mergansers are also found in Cornwall at this time of the year but most of us had not enjoyed such close views before. Anyway it was nice to see the species in a different setting and this was vastly different from one of the Cornish creeks of the Fal estuary where I 77 Back in the coach we moved on to Radipole Lake which is a back water of the Wey estuary and has been maintained as a Sanctuarv since 1948. With stretches of open water and large areas of phragmites reed beds a Nature Trail has been established. The main lake area close to the town is more like a park and the many wildfowl wintering there are used to being fed by visitors, making them very tame and approachable. Among the Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Mute Swans we had close views of a completely unconcerned Black-necked Grebe feeding. Over in a bay in the reed bed hundreds of gulls rested on a sandbank while Teal and Shoveler swam around the edges of the reeds. A pleasant bonus here was the presence of two Avocets. These dainty black and white waders with their delicate recurved bills are a familiar sight to Devon and Cornwall ornithologists, who have recorded flocks of them wintering on the Tamar River since the early 1950's. In recent years wintering birds have also been found on the River Tavy. Here at Radipole they are not so common and for most of our party these were the best views they had had of avocets. In the reed beds, which hold Sedge and Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings in the breeding season, we hoped to see Bearded Tits, or reedlings. These tit-like birds have bred at Radipole since the species irrupted after the 1972 breeding season. In 1965 and 1972 when irruptions occurred they were found in nearly every reed bed in Cornwall, but none stayed to breed. In recent years Cornish records have mainly been of small numbers wintering on Marazion Marsh. Today they proved elusive and we were not to see them, though their distinctive pinging call was heard two or three times. On now to Swanage, with striking views of the Purbeck Hills and Corfe Castle on the way. After dinner Mr. J. Rees Cox, the head warden of Studland Nature Reserve, gave us a talk on the area, introducing us to some of the interesting plants, insects, reptiles and birds of the reserve with his own colour slides. This was particularly appreciated by us all, since Mr. Cox was still recovering from a bout of ' flu.' Sunday was a rather grey day at first, but dry and still and good for birding. On Studland Reserve we met up with Peter, his wife and family who were joining us for the day. We first walked to Goathorn, a point looking across Poole Harbour to Brownsea Island and Sandbanks. On the way we saw many Shelduck and waders on the mud banks, but the birds which delighted us most were the Brent Geese. These lovely little geese with their black heads and necks and white sterns were seen in small parties feeding on the mud and swimming or flying about the harbour area. From Goathorn we saw more mergansers and Goldeneye, and over on the beach of Brownsea Island we saw some Canada Geese and heard them honking across the water. Back at the Nature Conservancy Hide someone spotted a Great Grey Shrike just as everyone had started their picnic lunch. There was a rush for binoculars, but the bird was not seen again. One of the attractions of this trip was the possibility of seeing the Dartford Warbler. This bird is at the northern limit of its breeding range in southern England. Last recorded as possibly breeding in Cornwall in the mid 1930's (The Handbook of British Birds, Witherby) it is now a rare bird in the Duchy. Since the severe winter of 1962-63, when the British breeding stock became almost extinct, the Dartford warbler has increased to about 560 pairs with its main stronghold in 78 Devon and Dorset (C. J. Bibby and C. R. Tubbs, 1975). Today the weather was not ideal for seeing this rather skulking bird and, though we kept a sharp lookout throughout the day, we had no luck. Apart from severe winters the main threat to this species in England appears to be the disappearance, in various ways, of its preferred habitat of gorse heathland. However, with the present expansion of its range, if we have a few more mild winters, who knows, we could see Cornish breeding birds again ! Lunch over, our coach took us down to the ferry landing opposite Sandbanks to find another Long-tailed Duck, this time a female which lacks the long tail of the male. Now the afternoon was wearing on, so somewhat reluctantly we made our way back to Dorchester. Here we said our thank yous and goodbyes to Peter and his family. We were well into Devon before the weather broke and we had some rain but we had had a foretaste of spring and we returned to Cornwall happy with the success of our weekend.

A SURVEY OF ACROCEPHALUS WARBLERS AT MARAZION MARSH, 1972-1976 by B. Pattenden

To further our knowledge of the breeding success and movements of Reed and Sedge Warblers, the British Trust for Ornithology encouraged a ringing programme of the species in reed-beds throughout Britain. Reed-bed sites along the south coast of England include Filsham and Chichester Harbour, Sussex ; Farlington, Christchurch and Titchfield Haven, Hampshire ; Radipole, Dorset ; Slapton Ley and South Milton Ley, Devon ; and Marazion Marsh, Cornwall. The following paper is a summary of the results of trapping Acrocephalus warblers at Marazion Marsh as part of this study. Marazion marsh is an important habitat as it is the largest reed- bed in Cornwall. It is also the most westerly breeding location in Britain for Reed Warblers apart from two or three pairs breeding in the Isles of Scilly; it is therefore right on the edge of the species' breeding range in Europe. This makes it extra interesting to monitor the fortunes of these birds on a yearly basis and can give a good guide for comparison with results of other reed-beds in Britain. Every care is taken to ensure as little disturbance as possible to breeding birds. Little trapping was carried cut in May or June when birds are settling in, nest building and laying eggs. Most trapping was confined to the most westerly reed-bed at Long Rock. At first light Reed and Sedge Warblers move from the reeds to nearby willows to feed on midges and other minute insects and there­ fore trapping commences at this time until about 09.00 hours when they move back into the reeds to skulk until the evening when a similar feeding foray takes place. Details of the weather was noted each morning, including cloud cover and wind strength and direction. No ringing was attempted in rain or strong winds. 79 On average one hundred and sixty feet of mistnet was used to catch the birds. During the five years about nine hundred hours of trapping effort was carried out. The following table gives the numbers of adults and juveniles of each species trapped and also the number of birds which returned from Africa, having been ringed in previous years at the marsh as an adult or a juvenile.

Returned Birds April May June July Aug. Sept. Total Adult Juv. 1972 Sedge Ad. 2 1 3 Sedge Juv. 5 33 30 68 1973 Sedge Ad. — 3 — 3 6 Sedge Juv. 10 23 1 34 1974 Sedge Ad. — 5 — 5 1 Sedge Juv. 22 64 2 88 1975 Sedge Ad. 3 2 3 7 13 28 1 Sedge Juv. 33 53 15 101 1976 Sedge Ad. — 10 4 16 19 49 2 1 Sedge Juv. 9 107 138 21 275 1972 Reed Ad. — 2 6 7 1 16 Reed Juv. 3 28 16 47 1973 Reed Ad. — 1 — 14 5 20 2 Reed Juv. 5 17 1 23 1974 Reed Ad. — 5 2 8 7 22 3 3 Reed Juv. 2 18 29 3 52 1975 Reed Ad. — — 4 11 6 21 7 5 Reed Juv. 3 45 33 7 88 1976 Reed Ad. — 11 9 25 6 51 9 4 Reed Juv. 7 72 91 13 183 It must be remembered that the above figures reflect the total numbers of birds trapped in relation to the weather suitable for trapping, i.e. no gales or rain. They, to a certain extent, reflect breeding success. It is important to remember also that fewer Sedge Warblers are trapped on return from Africa as they are not so re­ stricted to the reed-bed. I have noted this species in Spring with rings, but being in the willow area they were not trapped. In July, one can safely assume that less movement of birds to or from the marsh is taking place and therefore an estimate of the breed­ ing population of Reed Warblers can be made. Twenty-five adults were ringed in the Long Rock reed-bed in July 1976 and, using this number 80 as guide for the other two reed-beds of similar size below the Cheshire Home and across the railway on the Marazion side of the marsh, it is probable that at least thirty-seven pairs were present on the main marsh during the summer. No such estimate can be made for the Sedge Warbler. They breed in scrub as well as the reed-bed and since the nets are set in reeds only, it is unlikely that most adults are trapped. Therefore totals trapped do not assist as a guide to the population total. The years 1972-74 had cold wet Springs and Summers and poor breeding results caused by this weather show up in the table. However, 1975 was a sunny year and 1976 a year of prolonged drought. This settled weather caused good breeding results as can be seen in the figures. In relation to breeding success, it is only safe to consider the July total, since migration during August and September through Marazion, especially for Sedge Warblers, inflates the totals. It will be noted that only a very small number of birds were re-trapped on their return from Africa. There are two reasons for this. The first is the heavy mortality which occurs on passage. Adverse weather, predation and shooting and trapping in Europe and North Africa must kill great numbers. The second reason is that only one reed-bed was consistently worked and therefore birds could have returned to other parts of the marsh. However, there is evidence that not only do birds return to the same marsh but even to the particular area in the reed-bed where they had been ringed in a previous year. It should be noted that a similar situation occurs in the winter quarters in Africa with the warblers overwintering in the same area in successive winters. The maximum age limit to date is a Reed Warbler juvenile ringed on 25th July, 1971, at the Long Rock site during a trial period and re-trapped four years and a month later on the Marazion side of the marsh on 23rd August, 1975.

LENGTH OF STAY

During August some idea of how long the warblers stayed in the reed-bed could be obtained from birds re-trapped. The following details are for the 1976 season only. Reed Warbler July August September Adults trapped 25 6 re-trapped — — July August September Juveniles trapped 72 91 13 re-trapped — 26 2 Maximum interval 21 days (juvenile bird) August only. Average 10 days. Minimum interval 3 days (3 juvenile birds) August only. 81 Sedge Warbler July August September Adults trapped 16 19 — re-trapped — 2 — July August September Juveniles trapped 107 138 21 re-trapped — 13 1 Maximum interval 14 days (juvenile bird) August only. Average 6.5 days. Minimum interval 2 days (one adult, three juveniles) August only. From the above it can be seen that during August the migrants pass through very quickly with very few being trapped again after initial ringing. Some allowance must be made, of course, for birds still being present in other parts of the marsh, but all evidence points to a very short stay.

WEIGHTS For a number of years it has been known that migrants build up stores of fat for what is considered to be a long non-stop migration flight to Africa. During the five years of this study most warblers were weighed to the nearest tenth of a gram and only a very small number were found with heavy weight gains. The following are the average weights of warblers trapped in 1976. Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Adult Juvenile Adult Juvenile July 11.0 gms. 10.5 gms. 11.5 gms. 10.9 gms. August 12.4 gms. 11.0 gms. 11.7 gms. 11.0 gms. September — 13.0 gms. — 11.3 gms. The heaviest birds trapped are as follows :- Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler 12th Sept. 71 Juvenile 15.5 gms. 23rd Aug. 72 Juvenile 16.5 gms. 23rd Aug. 72 Juvenile 15.0 gms. 16th Sept. 74 Juvenile 15.0 gms. 25th Aug. 72 Adult 16.0 gms. 27th Aug. 72 Juvenile 16.0 gms. 1st Sept. 72 Juvenile 18.0 gms. 26th Aug. 74 Juvenile 16.5 gms. 10th Aug. 75 Adult 15.2 gms. at 07.00 hours 19th Aug. 76 Adult 18.9 gms. 24th Aug. 76 Adult 15.3 gms. 24th Aug. 76 Adult 17.3 gms. 28th Aug. 76 Juvenile 15.2 gms. 7th Sept. 76 Juvenile 15.6 gms. 21st Sept. 76 Juvenile 17.7 gms. In the five year period, 1180 warblers have been trapped at the Long Rock site and the extremely small number cf heavy weights listed above seems to show that most birds must migrate south without a great increase in weight. It is known that birds can put on weight in a very short space of time but it would appear to be only a minority 82 which do this. The density of insects present is most likely the main factor involved. The lightest birds trapped are as follows :- Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler 21st Aug. 73 Juvenile 8.5 gms. Five adults and one at 07.00 hours juvenile each weighed 12th Aug. 76 Juvenile 8.9 gms. 9.5 gms. 1972/76. at 06.00 hours

RECOVERIES AND CONTROLS Evidence was obtained of the grounding of Sedge Warblers occuring on 18th August, 1974, and 10th August, 1975, following thunderstorms over West Cornwall immediately prior to these dates. No such increase in the numbers of Reed Warblers was noted. It is of interest how many Sedge Warblers moved Southwest from their point of ringing in Britain. The few Reed Warbler controls do not compare in relation to this. (A control is a bird trapped and released again with its ring).

SEDGE WARBLER Age Date Ringed Location Adult 9th June, 1972 Fair Isle, Shetland Controlled 23rd August, 1972 Long Rock 1075 kms SSW Juvenile 23rd August, 1972 Long Rock Controlled 25th May, 1973 Svenner (Island), Stavern (Vestfold) Norway These two records of birds controlled and ringed at Long Rock on the same day in August give some evidence of continental birds migrating southwest through Britain. Juvenile 15th July, 1972 Marazion Controlled 27th July, 1972 Blaxton Marsh, Bere Ferrers, Devon 100 kms ENE Juvenile 18th August, 1974 Long Rock Controlled 22nd August, 1974 Countess Wear, Exeter, Devon 155 kms ENE Juvenile 16th August, 1975 Marazion Controlled 2nd September, 1975 Radipole, Weymouth, Dorset 215 kms ENE Juvenile 24th July, 1976 Long Rock Controlled 27th July, 1976 Radipole, Weymouth, Dorset 215 kms ENE

Juvenile 15th August, 1973 South Milton Ley, Thurlestone, Devon Controlled 6th May, 1974 Long Rock 115 kms W Perhaps a migrant south through Devon, returning from Africa the following Spring through Cornwall. Juvenile 7th August, 1974 Long Rock Controlled 15th August, 1974 Etang de Kergalan, Ploneour (Finistere) France This bird did not do the long non-stop flight to Africa after putting on weight in this country. The weight when ringed was 12.0 grains at 17.00 hours and when controlled 11.0 grams (? time). 83 Juvenile 17th August, 1974 Brandon, Coventry, Warwicks) Controlled 26th August, 1974 Long Rock 375 kms SW Juvenile 18th August, 1974 Madjeston, Gillingham, Dorset Controlled 22nd August, 1974 Long Rock 245 kms WSW Both birds were grounded at Long Rock by thunderstorms. Juvenile 6th August, 1976 Silverdale, Carnforth, Lancashire Controlled 14th August, 1976 Long Rock 485 kms SSW

This bird was controlled at Long Rock in anticyclonic weather.

Reed Warbler Juvenile 22nd August, 1975 Hoeke, West Flanders, Belgium Controlled 9th September, 1975 Marazion A movement which is difficult to evaluate. It seems strange that a bird from Belgium should move so far to the southwest of Britain before migrating South to Africa. Perhaps a bird displaced by the mainly easterly winds at this time of year. Juvenile 18th July, 1975 Long Rock Controlled 9th August, 1975 Chew Valley Lake, Somerset 240 kms NE A random movement before migrating south. Juvenile 12th August, 1975 Long Rock Controlled 23rd June & South Milton Ley, Thurlestone, 28th July, 1976 Devon 115 kms ENE Perhaps a migrant south through Cornwall returned the following year to Devon, maybe to breed. See Sedge Warbler controlled Long Rock, 6th May, 1974. Adult 13th July, 1976 Countess Wear, Exeter, Devon Controlled 17th July, 1976 Long Rock 155 kms WSW This bird took the same number of days for its journey along the south coast as the Sedge Warbler of the 18th August, 1974. A nest failure could have caused the reed-bed change in July or the bird may have been un-mated. Adult 22nd July, 1976 Long Rock Hit Glass 1st September, 1976 Etang de Leon, Landes, France Door A movement southeast of a bird which met a tragic end just north of the French Pyrenees. Juvenile 23rd July, 1976 Long Rock. Weight at 06.00 hours 10.9 grams. Controlled 11th August, 1976 Passay, Lac de Grand Lieu (Loire Atlantique) France Weight at 08.00 hours 11.1 grams, This bird shows further evidence of very little weight gain on its way south to Africa. A Sedge Warbler ringed 7th May, 1976, at Long Rock was found stunned on the road on 1st July, 1976, and flew off later. I found two Sedge Warblers ringed May 75 and 76, killed by traffic, August 75 and July 76 respectively. All birds trapped appeared to be in good condition. No warblers were found to have mite lesions affecting the legs which causes them to swell, as had been noted at other reed-bed sites. Parasites were common on all the warblers trapped, especially a species of Flat Fly. In the drought summer of 1976 they were very numerous. 84 A Reed Warbler trapped on 7th May, 1974 had a pale grey tick near its gape. The bird appeared healthy and weighed 12.5 grams at 07.00 hours which is a good weight for the time of day. No attempt was made to remove the parasite which was slightly smaller than the bird's eye. Quite remarkably this bird was re-trapped at Long Rock two years later, on the 8th August, 1975, but no tick was noted on this occasion. Three Sedge Warblers trapped during the five years survey had all their tail feathers missing and it was considered that this might present a hazard to a migrating bird. The weights were as follows bearing in mind 11.5 grams for a healthy bird. Juvenile 21st August, 1974 11.0 grams. Juvenile 24th August, 1975 10.1 grams. Adult 26th August, 1975 12.3 grams. Acrocephalus warblers migrate at night and no birds have been seen to arrive or leave the reed-bed on this journey at any time. However, they have been seen to come out of the willows and dart across the road into the reeds or willows in another reed-bed. This usually occurs soon after dawn. Sedge Warblers were often seen foraging on the ground among weeds on the railway bank and also on the edges around the marsh. Possible feeding competition was noted with warblers chasing one another from the willows across the top of the reed-bed chattering their 'tuc' note. It was noted that near the end of the season in September the warblers became much more skulking in their habits and this was proved by the greater proportion of birds which were trapped in the lowest panel of a mistnet, even in quite calm weather.

Aquatic Warbler Aquatic Warbler is the third member of the genus Acrocephalus recorded at Marazion Marsh during the survey. The breeding area cf this species is a patchy distribution of central and eastern Europe. This species was once considered to be a rare vagrant but mainly due to the large scale reed-bed ringing that has occured in recent years it is now considered an autumn migrant in very small numbers. At Marazion it may well be under-recorded in view of the fact that very few are re-trapped after initial ringing. This means that the length of stay at the marsh is very brief. The most favoured area appears to be the south side of the marsh. Here a broad edge of Rush, juncus Sp., borders the reeds and this habitat is probably more suited to the species. The birds appear to be rather more common during summers with strong anticyclonic winds from the east. My records show that 1974 was a year of Atlantic depressions during the autumn and the dearth of Aquatics at Marazion is noticable.

Birds Trapped Birds seen and not trapped 1971 1971 Two immatures 18th September One immature 10th September One immature 19th September One immature 19th September 85 1972 1972 Three immatures 23rd August One immature 24th August Three immatures 29th August One immature 21st September One 2nd September 1973 One immature 18th August 1973 One Adult 17th August Two immatures 26th/27 August One Adult & 1974 two immatures 5th September One 7th September 1974 1975 One 3rd October One 17th October Two immatures 26th August 1975 One immature 5th September One immature 22nd September 1976 One immature 17th/18th Sept. One immature 11th August One immature 13th August Three immatures 15th August 1976 One immature 16th August One immature 24th August Three 28th August One Adult 24th August One 25th October

At the Long Rock ringing site no Aquatic Warblers have been re-trapped following initial ringing and at the Marazion site only one or two have been re-trapped. To date no recoveries or controls have been recorded. This is not unexpected in view of the fact that on average with small warblers, one hundred and fifty must be ringed per year to obtain information of one movement! Grateful thanks to Lord St. Levan for permission to trap and study birds at Marazion Marsh, also to Robert Spencer of the British Trust for Ornithology for his help, and Phillip Round who assisted with the ringing.

86 THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY'S NATIONAL CENSUS OF ROOKERIES, 1975-1976 — THE CORNISH RESULTS R. D. Penhallurick

Introduction. All those who read the summary of the 1975 census in the last report of this Society, will be aware that it was necessary to repeat field-work in 1976 because large areas of the county had been inade­ quately surveyed. It was my hope, as organiser in 1976, to have commenced this summary with a resounding pat on the back for the prodigious help of a stampede of bird-watchers, to have reported on an avalanche of enthusiasm of the intensity seen on Scilly and at Porth- gwarra following the news that some American passerine had had the misfortune to be blown over the Atlantic. Alas! The majority of bird­ watchers slumbered in the spring of 76 just as they had done in the spring cf 75, dreaming no doubt of autumn rarities to come. Support for the rookery survey was comparable to the summer's water supply; what there was was scarce but sweet and taken full advantage of. Reading through the lists of these who offered help and did not, who could not or would not, was a disconcerting and soul- destroying experience. My heart bleeds for those members of the Society now trying to muster support for more ambitious projects in the county. However, I am pleased to offer my most sincere thanks to those members of the Society (less than ten per cent) and non-members who helped in 1975 and to the following who contributed additional valuable material in 1976. Rev'd. J. E. Beckerlegge Miss D. F. Metcalfe G. W. M. Bernau T. Matthews Dr. C. J. F. Coombs S. Preece Mrs. P. Davies R. D. Penhallurick P. Dwyer W. F. Rowe B. Evenden Col. E. G. Roper D. Gendall R. Smaldon P. F. Goodfellow E. Thomas P. M. Hambly Mr. & Mrs. A. Tomlin Mrs. J. A. Harvey R. B. Treleaven K. Hodges Miss. I. Turpitt Helston Grammar School B. Webb E. G. Ing Mrs. E. West Liskeard Grammar School P. S. D. Jones, County Organiser, 1976 Summary of Results. The greater part of Cornwall is now considered to have been well surveyed. There are two main areas where coverage was poor and where results are 50 per cent or less of the assumed total: 1. The area north and west of Launceston bounded by Davidstow (SX 1587), Poundstock (SX 2099) and North Tamerton (SX 3197). 2. The area bounded by Fowey (SX 1252), Bodmin (SX 0567), Liskeard (SX 2564), and St. Dominick (SX 4067). Many parts of south-east Cornwall have the appearance of fine rookery country, and if coverage had been as good as in the Truro area for example, densities of 500, 600 or more per 10-km. square might be expected. However, the Rame peninsula south-east of St. 87 Germans and the parish of Gimnislake were well-surveyed and here rookeries appear to be thinly distributed. The elm is as popular as the beech as a venue for rooks, and while the Cornish elm appears less susceptible to Dutch elm disease than the English elm (about seven per cent of Cornish elms are believed to be affected at present), many stands are badly affected, as in the Rame peninsula for example. The effects on Cornish rookeries are difficult to assess at present, but one result of the dispersal of rooks from dying elms is the establishment of a larger number of very small rookeries so easily overlooked in areas of poor census work. The birds' social organisation is unlikely to allow rooks from one colony to join on to another old-established site. Coverage of the county west of a line from about Newquay to Veryan Bay is good and certainly exceeds 90 per cent in much of the area. In SW85, for example, no additional rookeries could be found in 1976 and it is very probable that Mr. and Mrs. A. Tomlin missed none at all in their 1975 season. It is clear that many trees were wrongly identified in 1975-76 and it would be dangerous to draw conclusions from all the data submitted. In SW84 and 85, identification was more reliable : Deciduous Trees, per cent Evergreen Trees, per cent Cornish and hybrid elms 18.3 Monteray pine 30.0 Beech 18.5 Scots pine 3.7 Ash 11.7 Monteray cypress 1.6 Sycamore 2.0 Evergreen oak 8.8 Oak 0.1 Unidentified pines 2.0 Unidentified deciduous 3.3 46.1 53.9 The percentage of evergreens (and of evergreen oak in particular) is above the average for the county, while the percentage of elms is believed to be below average even allowing for misidentifications. For Cornwall as a whole, 64.4 per cent of rookeries are entirely in deciduous trees, 21.4 per cent entirely in evergreens, and 14.2 per cent in mixed trees. Differences between west Cornwall (SW squares) and east Cornwall (SX abd SS squares) are not statistically significant. What is interesting is that the totals for the county correspond very closely with those for Devon where over 35 per cent of rookeries are also entirely or partly in evergreens (M. Morley, Devon Birds, May 1976). In Cornwall the Monteray pine is unquestionably the dominant species; in Devon it is said to be the Scots pine, though one should be careful here as many bird-watchers too readily assume that all tall open pines are Scots. No bird-watcher can afford to be without Alan Mitchell's A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe (1974), arguably the finest Field Guide in Collins' magnificent series. The total number of rookeries for Cornwall is 618 with 13938 nests. Allowing for those overlooked and some - principally in conifers - underestimated, the true total must be nearer 700 with at least 15000 nests. The mean average size of those counted is 22.6 nests per rookery, though the model average is smaller as 58 per cent contain nineteen nests or less. Only nine rookeries were more than 100 strong. At Tresillian Barton the nests were in three groups more than 100 metres apart and thus regarded as separate under the census rules, though they are clearly one colony. Tucoyse (SW 72) 105 — 1 in sycamore, rest in Monteray pine and other conifers. 88 Rosemundy (SW 75) 102 — 56 in Monteray pine, 27 in Scots pine, 14 in 'evergreen', 5 in deciduous. Park Farm (SW 84) 101 —- Monteray pine. Tresillian Barton (SW 85) 249 — 44 in evergreen oak, 1 in conifer, 190 in beech, 3 in ash. Withiel House (SW 96) 148 — 1 in conifer, rest in beech. Wadebridge (SW 97) 100+ — c. 15 in conifers, rest in deciduous. Charlestown (SX 05) 123 — Beech and pine. Rosecraddock (SX 26) 112 — Beech. Tregeare (SX 28) 128 — Beech. The rookery at St. Mabyn (SX 07) probably holds over 100 nests; 97 plus were counted, mostly in beech and pine. A map pinpointing all rookeries and distinguishing those with less than 30 nests, those with 30 to 99 nests, and those with 100 and over, has been prepared but is too large for adequate reproduction in a journal of this format. It will be published in R. D. Penhallurick's The Birds of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (in press) along with other historical data on Cornish rookeries, including evidence for a decline in size using data collected by Dr. C. J. F. Coombs in the Perran-ar-Worthal area since 1943. P. S. D. Jones and R. D. Penhallurick, County Organisers.

A Checklist of Cornish Rookeries, 1975-76. In the column marked No of Nests, figures in brackets refer to rookeries known to exist but not counted; the figure is either the county average (rounded up to 23) or the average for that particular 10 km. square, whichever is the smaller. In the column marked Trees, D = deciduous, E is evergreen; the number of nests in one or other category is given when relevant. The result of any previous count, and the year, is given in brackets at the end of each line.

Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft.) Nests SW 32 1 379 221 St. Levan 150 9iv75 25 D 2 365 243 Skewjack 250 25iv76 70 E 3 384 227 Porthcurno 200 iv76 15 + E SW33 1 379 311 St. Just vicarage 200 23iii75 27 D 2 365 305 Cot Manor 250 23iii75 31 D21, E9 SW 42 1 447 245 Lamorna 150 19iii75 24 D 2 412 256 St. Buryan vicarage 350 20iii75 2 E 3 461 283 Newlyn 300 8iii75 25 E 4 454 282 Higher Faugan 350 12iii75 5 E 5 460 295 Tolcarne 200 15iii75 18 E 6 463 296 Lariggan 175 10iv75 26 E 7 419 294 Sancreed 470 9iv75 47 D 8 437 252 Trewoofe 200 (21) ? SW 43 1 445 315 Trengwainton 400 15iii75 59 D39, E20 2 458 316 Poltair Hospital 250 iv75 55 D E 3 469 318 Boskenwyn 250 23iii75 30 D E 4 495 364 Chypons 450 15iii75 18 D (c.30; 20iv74) 89 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft.) Nests SW 52 1 581 283 Pengersick 100 lv75 31 D 2 583 285 Pengersick 200 lv75 19 D 3 579 285 Pengersick 100 lv75 21 D SW 53 1 567 345 Tregenhorne 200 9iv75 50 D 2 553 343 Tremellin 100 25iv76 22 D 3 544 348 Tredrea 50 19iii75 8 D 4 555 366 Hayle 100 22iii75 15 E 5 548 372 Lelant Station 10 15iii75 16 D 6 540 362 Griggs 100 10iv75 16 + E 7 528 360 Treva Croft Wood 200 10iv75 80 D 8 536 352 Canon's Town 100 10iv75 16 D 9 504 329 Ludgvan Rectory 250 22iv75 38 E 10 526 345 Whitecross 150 10iv75 10 D 11 524 346 Whitecross 225 22iv75 7 D 12 573 384 Penmear 20 20iv75 8 D 13 567 319 Relubbus 100 28iv75 5 D 14 568 323 Gurlyn 150 20iv76 c.25 D 15 595 373 Gwinear churchyard 250 25iv76 34 D 16 591 393 Connor Downs 200 20iv75 8 D 17 589 391 Connor Downs 200 20iv75 4 D 18 524 398 Trelyon 250 15iv75 9 E(14;1974) 19 518 398 Tregenna Wood 250 15iv75 22 D(15;1974) 20 523 393 Manor Drive, Carbis Bay 300 15iv75 49 E(30;1974) 21 564 358 Tolroy 200 25iv76 33 E 22 551 351 St. Erth churchyard 20 19iv76 7 D 23 541 335 Tregethes 100 19iv76 8 D(16+; 1975) 24 555 330 Penberthy 100 19iv76 18 D 25 558 332 Trannack Mill 50 19iv76 4 D 26 548 325 South Treveneague 120 19iv76 5 D 27 547 326 North Treveneague 100 19iv76 4 D 28 553 318 Kestal 150 19iv76 6 D 29 564 300 Colenso 200 19iv76 25 D 30 599 319 Godolphin 200 19iv76 c.59 D 31 584 333 Kerthen Wood 200 19iv76 16 + D SW 54 1 514 403 Stennack, St. Ives 200 13iv75 6 D 2 586 413 Gwithian churchyard 75 29iii75 23 D SW 61 1 673 193 Meres 125 5iv75 21 D 2 677 187 Pare Venton 150 5iv75 45 D, E3 3 669 168 Predannack Wartha 250 5iv75 16 D 4 673 184 Trenance 150 26iv75 7 D 5 698 192 Nr. Penhale 250 16iv76 2 D SW 62 1 673 249 Culdrose 200 iv75 15 ? 2 665 272 Coronation Park 50 16iv76 7 E 3 666 265 Helston Hospital 275 16iv76 51 E 4 680 275 Nr. Pollard 125 16iv76 26 7 5 691 294 Trussall 300 16iv76 10 7 6 662 264 Degibna Lane 175 iv76 40 ? 7 682 223 Nantithet 100 16iv76 6 D 8 682 235 Marris 200 16iv76 22 D 9 676 283 Trelill 200 16iv76 25 D 10 647 267 Penventon 200 16iv76 14 + E 90 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft) Nests 11 642 262 Higher Lanner 175 16iv76 20 + E 12 627 270 Treeza 25 26iv76 c.40 E 13 661 280 Helston Grammar School 250 16iv76 20 E 14 630 262 Porthleven vicarage 100 16iv76 21 E 15 663 268 Helston cemetery 200 16iv76 9 E 16 617 282 Breage vicarage 275 26iv76 c.40 E, D4 + 17 625 264 Methleigh 50 16iv76 21 D 18 673 216 Sowanna 150 16iv76 6 + E 19 673 209 Gwills 150 16iv76 24 D 20 694 210 Nr. Bochym Lodge 200 16iv76 30 E 21 638 279 Antron 250 16iv76 7 D 22 653 272 Pare Venton 50 16iv76 6 E 23 656 276 Penhillis 25 16iv76 4 D 24 658 274 Helston 50 16iv76 13 D 25 687 296 Trevenen 325 26iv76 104 D 26 689 284 Grambla 260 26iv76 16 D 27 673 272 Tregarrick 180 26iv76 c.18 E, D2 28 644 264 Drytree Cottage 225 26iv76 4 + E 29 639 260 Penrose Hill 150 26iv76 c.10 E SW 63 1 643 356 Praze-an-Beeble School 450 25iv76 6 D 2 625 354 Praze/Leedstown road 300 29iii75 2 D 3 628 354 Praze/Leedstown road 300 29iii75 20 D 4 632 355 Praze/Leedstown road 300 29iii75 40 D 5 616 396 Roseworthy 100 25iv76 29 E 6 615 389 Roseworthy 200 25iv76 19 D 7 651 379 Treslothan 400 20iv75 50 D, E6 8 683 315 Wendron Forge 400 20iv75 37 E 9 693 328 Lower Porkellis 450 20iv75 9 D 10 628 398 Polstrong 225 24iv75 32 D 11 651 395 Trevu Road, Camborne 425 24iv75 32 D 12 644 399 Rectory Road, Camborne 425 25iv75 28 D 13 657 377 Stennack, Troon 500 28iv76 26 D 14 610 370 Rosewarne, Gwinear 250 25iv76 12 D 15 616 392 Roseworthy 150 25iv76 11 D 16 604 379 Lanyon, Gwinear 230 25iv76 31 D 17 602 383 Trenowin 175 25iv76 4 D 18 642 383 Vellyn Saundry 270 25iv76 21 D 19 653 361 Higher Peloe 520 25iv76 7 D 20 681 347 Burras 475 25iv76 23 D 21 665 326 Vellenewson 410 25iv76 3 D 22 644 327 Pengelly, Crowan 400 25iv76 2 D 23 645 329 Pengelly, Crowan 400 25iv76 18 D 24 638 331 Skewes 300 25iv76 16 D 25 640 325 Nr. Trelabnas 330 25iv76 c.10 D 26 630 331 Nr. Lower Crenver 300 25iv76 c.15 E 27 622 337 Great Drym 200 25iv76 23 D 28 609 313 Godolphin churchyard 200 26iv76 14 D 29 626 318 Higher Pengwedna 320 26iv76 20 D 30 642 304 Trevarno 200 26iv76 2 E 31 644 303 Trevarno 225 26iv76 c.20 D 32 646 303 Trevarno 250 26iv76 38 D, E2 33 646 346 Crowan churchyard 440 15iv76 12 E, D2 34 643 344 Crowan old vicarage 350 15iv76 6 D 35 638 348 Clowance Lodge 300 15iv76 3 D 36 673 379 Bolenowe 530 25iv76 7 D 37 630 329 Little Pengwedna 250 16iv76 22 E 91 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft.) Nests 38 616 301 Carleen 300 16iv76 8 E SW 64 1 687 417 Barncoose Hospital 300 lv75 c.21 E, Dl 2 657 406 Tuckingmill churchyard 325 lv75 11 E, D2 3 692 413 Redruth churchyard 375 4v75 62 D, E3 (59;1974) 4 648 435 Tehidy Hospital 150 7iv75 31 E16, D15 5 692 419 St. Joseph's Convent 375 3iv75 10 D 6 694 418 Parkhenver, Redruth 320 iv75 22 D 7 627 403 Polstrong drive 275 iv76 5 D 8 672 440 Illogan churchyard 250 iv76 15 D 9 697 474 Porthtowan 100 1i77 3 D SW 71 1 712 127 Landewednack churchyard 200 12iv75 26 D 2 722 147 Cadgwith 150 16iv76 43 D (29;1975) 3 719 169 Kingey, Poltesco 225 13iv75 3 D 4 705 174 Hendra, Ruan Major 250 13iv75 27 D 5 711 179 Erisey 240 13iv75 34 D 6 731 171 Gwendreath 150 6iv75 3 D 7 741 179 Gwenter 200 6iv75 14 D 8 745 189 Trelan 275 6iv75 25 E 9 784 182 Coverack 75 6iv75 12 E 10 745 175 Carnpassack 260 10iv75 12 D 11 776 187 Polcoverack 250 10iv75 10 + E 12 783 186 North Corner, Coverack 100 10iv75 2 E 13 704 164 Nr. Ruan Major church 250 iv75 15 D 14 757 197 Trelanvean 300 v75 3 D 15 728 166 Tinkers Valley, Kuggar 125 16iv76 30 D SW 72 1 733 237 St. Martin's Green 250 iv76 17 D 2 737 235 St. Martin's Green 250 liv75 5 D 3 744 214 Traboe 275 liv75 4 D 4 745 200 Roscrowgey 300 liv75 45 E 5 748 209 Rosuic 250 liv75 29 D, E 6 793 246 Lestowder 125 29iii75 39 D 7 799 225 Park-an-Tidno 150 3iv75 12 D 8 798 226 Rose Cottage 150 3iv75 14 D 9 788 220 Treleague 150 3iv75 25 D 10 787 217 Trenoweth 250 3iv75 3 E 11 772 225 Tregowris 275 29iii75 20 D 12 766 207 Lanarth 300 29iii75 8 + E 13 713 292 Tucoyse 300 llv75 105 E, Dl 14 795 215 Rosenithon 250 iii75 6 D 15 710 251 Mawgan churchyard 150 lliii75 31 ? 16 709 249 Mawgan 150 lliii75 7 ? 17 705 255 Nr. Mawgan 100 lliii75 2 7 18 705 265 Gweek 50 lliii75 9 ? 19 701 242 Garras 200 lliii75 2 7 20 729 242 Nr. St. Martin's Green 240 lliii75 11 ? 21 730 238 Nr. St. Martin's Green 225 11iii75 5 ? 22 759 260 Helford 50 20iii75 36 ? 23 752 243 Nr. Choon 200 25iii75 1 ? 24 715 268 Little Bonallack 100 16iv75 9 D 25 730 226 Trezise 200 16iv76 15 D 26 729 225 Trezise 200 16iv76 25 D 27 723 283 Carwythenack 200 16iii76 12 ? 92 Grid Rcf. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft.) Nests 28 703 239 Garras 200 16iv76 25 E 29 767 256 Bosahan Lodge 225 16iv76 10 E 30 790 296 Maenporth 150 iv76 13 E 31 777 284 Meudon, Mawnan 200 iv76 29 E SW 73 1 766 335 Antron, Mabe 250 iv75 35 ? 2 743 358 Trevales 500 20iv75 85 D, E2 3 732 370 Crellow 450 9iv75 25 D, El 4 731 371 Stithians vicarage 450 15iv75 11 D 5 799 320 Marlborough Ave., Fal'th 50 19iv75 11 D 6 743 370 Little Trebarveth 400 20iv75 14 D 7 745 370 Kennal Vale 400 20iv75 12 D 8 746 370 Kennal Vale 400 20iv75 7 D 9 703 357 Carnmenellis vicarage 600 20iv75 23 E, D8 10 775 387 Tredrea, Perran-ar-Wort'l 100 6iv75 91 E, D28 11 727 363 Tretheague 450 9iv75 6 D 12 774 349 Tremough 250 9iv75 25 D, E8 13 741 395 Burncoose 300 5iv75 77 E, D28 14 739 386 Gilly 300 9iv75 27 D 15 730 398 Trevisky 250 9iv75 14 D 16 783 398 Perranwell Station 150 6iv75 22 E 17 774 399 Perranwell 200 6iv75 6 E 18 700 338 Little Halwyn 80 20iv75 7 D 19 758 306 Bosawsack 350 75 9 D, El 20 752 303 Bosvathick 160 12v75 20 E SW 74 1 773 433 Baldhu churchyard 350 13iv75 45 E (95;1945) 2 795 451 Chapel, Treliske 250 lv75 16 E 3 744 433 Upton, Chacewater 250 lv75 48 E 4 718 472 Mount Hawke 400 24iv75 7 E 5 713 467 Mount Hawke 370 iv75 18 E, D5 6 722 469 Mount Hawke 400 iv75 9 E 7 778 475 Causilgey 250 26iv75 1 E 8 776 479 Carvinack 275 26iv75 8 D 9 774 473 Nr. Causilgey 200 26iv75 10 E 10 747 498 Park Hoskyn 260 14iv75 5 D 11 764 489 Pendale 350 iv75 c.7 D 12 758 495 Nr. Penwartha 300 iv75 12 D (12;1974) 13 745 480 Silverwell Chapel 350 iv75 4 D 14 738 478 Tywarnhayle 400 10iv76 52 ? 15 725 442 Scorrier Chapel 350 10iv76 35 7 16 704 435 Treleigh churchyard 375 iv76 5 E, D2 17 798 453 Treliske School 300 25iv75 12 E SW 75 1 799 503 Marazanvose 250 12iv75 5 D 2 722 503 Rosemundy, St. Agnes 325 29iv75 102 E, D4 3 721 508 Stippy Stappy, St. Agnes 350 29iii75 63 E, D8 4 798 581 Trenissick 200 23iv75 29 D 5 776 503 Callestick 150 iv75 c.30 D 6 767 527 Cocks 50 30iv75 63 D (68;1974) 7 770 521 Perranzabuloe churchyard 230 iv75 c. 12 E (12;1974) 8 745 505 Mithian 300 iv75 34 D 9 756 505 Little Park Hoskyn 250 iv75 8 D 93 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft.) Nests 10 767 510 Penhallow 300 iv75 1 ? 11 755 533 Perran Coombe 200 30iv75 12 D 12 756 542 Perranporth 20 75 4 ? SW 76 1 799 600 Trevella, Crantock 200 23iv75 19 D SW 82 1 801 220 Trenance, St. Keverne 100 10iv75 20 D 2 801 211 Rosenithon 150 v75 7 ? SW 83 1 847 332 St. Mawes 75 26iv75 34 D 2 859 345 Nancerras 25 15iv75 25 D 3 860 351 Trethem Creek 50 15iv75 8 E 4 852 363 Tregorland 175 16iv75 50 E 5 848 356 St. Just rectory 100 17iv75 40 E 6 848 358 St. Just churchyard 25 17iv75 37 E 7 875 342 Nr. Treloan, Gerrans 75 23iv75 48 D 8 876 367 Mothers Collyn 100 12iv75 (23) D 9 882 372 Nr. Trewithian 200 21iv75 5 D 10 883 392 Nr. Treworthal 200 75 5 D 11 879 363 Rosevine Hotel 100 75 11 E 12 874 377 Trewithian 200 75 8 D 13 880 374 Trewithian 200 75 4 D 14 840 395 Trelissick, Feock 75 iv75 86 D, E21 (130;1945) 15 824 398 Sanders, Feock 250 9iv75 34 E 16 818 322 Falmouth 50 iv76 6 D, El SW 84 1 883 433 Gare 250 27iii75 48 E 2 886 434 Gare (plantation) 310 22iii75 39 E 3 879 468 Tregothnan Lodge 10 21iv75 c.50 E 4 873 474 Nr. Tregurno viaduct 50 27iv75 8 D 5 857 453 Pencalenick 75 24iv75 71 E 6 842 428 Park Farm 200 24iv75 101 E (105;1974) 7 843 445 Nr. Nance Farm 75 24iv75 15 E 8 820 459 Kenwyn churchyard 200 12iv75 33 E, D3 9 851 438 St. Clement 150 lv75 c.30 E 10 836 457 Uplands Park, Truro 100 26iv75 5 D, El 11 847 498 St. Erme rectory 320 6v75 6 D 12 817 458 Kenwyn, by Memorial 250 13iv75 9 E, D3 13 879 474 Nr. Geen Mill 75 23iv75 7 D 14 815 493 Gwarnick Mill 150 13iv75 8 D 15 805 494 Killivose 200 29iv75 11 D 16 812 493 Penare, St. Allen 200 29iv75 4 D 17 810 484 Trevellan 200 29iv75 9 D 18 805 409 Killiganoon 300 10iv75 28 E 19 897 477 Nr. Probus churchyard 250 iv75 14 E 20 899 496 Treworgans quarry 200 22iv75 7 D 21 822 475 Idless 100 23iii75 15 D 22 867 471 Tregeagle 75 iv75 27 D 23 880 405 Ardevora 30 iv75 1 D 24 815 482 Gwarnick Wood 150 26v75 9 D 25 892 479 Tresowgar Lane, Probus 150 22iv75 9 D 26 883 484 Trethowa 250 iv75 3 ? SW 85 1 823 506 St. Allen churchyard 280 13iv75 35 D 2 837 510 Truthan 270 17iv75 36 D 94 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees Nests 3 849 509 Trevella 300 15iv75 58 D, El 4 869 515 Boswiddle 200 15iv75 13 D (17; ;1974) 5 801 503 Nancarrow 250 iv76 29 D 6 805 511 Merton plantation 300 16iv75 14 E, D3 7 815 521 Trevalso 250 16iv75 29 D 8 803 537 Lanteague 250 16iv75 11 D 9 817 544 Shepherds 300 16iv75 4 D 10 875 533 Higher Trelassick 420 18iv75 79 D, E2 11 892 569 St. Enoder churchyard 325 18iv75 90 E 12 857 584 Tresillian House 225 18iv75 100 E, D45 13 855 583 Tresillian House 225 18iv75 105 D, El 14 855 854 Tresillian House 225 18iv75 44 D 15 871 572 Goonhoskyn 300 18iv75 54 E. D17 16 876 564 Carvynick 300 18iv75 6 D 17 829 564 Newlyn East churchyard 300 22iv75 31 D, E14 18 832 599 Lower Trevilly 200 22iv75 35 D 19 830 520 Trenerry Farm 300 23iv75 6 D 20 800 599 Trevella 150 23iv75 50 D 21 839 573 Nr. Benny Mill 100 23iv75 25 E, D9 22 890 504 Forgue 100 28iv75 30 D 23 894 510 Ladock ch'yard & rectory 150 28iv75 10 D5, E5 24 806 515 Bowling Green, Zelah 270 29iv75 29 E, Dl 25 815 556 Treludderow 250 29iv75 1 D 26 836 511 Truthan 250 30iv75 8 E 27 870 507 Tregear 200 19iii75 9 D 28 890 519 Ladock Wood 175 27iv75 24 D SW 86 1 861 668 Gluvian 50 16iv75 13 D 2 871 659 Long Lane, St. Mawgan 100 16iv75 76 D, E26 3 875 659 St. Mawgan churchyard 50 16iv75 78 E 4 872 663 St. Mawgan 150 16iv75 25 E 5 834 600 Hendra Holiday Camp 200 22iv75 24 D 6 887 647 Nanskeval 200 23iv75 43 E 7 875 665 Trevedras 200 v75 6 D 8 816 612 Trenance, Newquay 75 4iv75 16 D 9 816 611 Trenance, Newquay 50 4iv75 22 Dll, Ell 10 841 623 St. Columb Minor 150 4iv75 29 D 11 868 612 Colan churchyard 200 12v75 18 D 12 866 611 Colan 200 iv75 79 D 13 879 609 Bosoughan 250 4iv75 4 D 14 850 619 Rialton 100 lv75 7 D? 15 821 608 Treninnick, Newquay 130 17iv76 7 D SW 87 1 872 752 Harlyn 100 22iv75 i 51 + D, E10 + 2 877 753 Harlyn Bay 50 13v76 10 D SW 93 1 917 397 Veryan vicarage 100 7v75 19 D SW 94 1 929 450 Penlee House, Tregony 200 26iv75 47 D, E 2 925 480 Bartliver 200 18iii75 15 D 3 929 452 Nr. Cuby church 200 23iii75 18 E 4 970 444 Tregilgas 300 iii75 20 D 5 947 439 Polsue 250 iii75 16 D? 6 915 448 Nr. Grogoth Wallas 100 19iii76 19 D 26;1975) 7 987 419 Treveor 300 iv75 10 D 95 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft.) Nests 8 945 424 Nr. Trevilveth 250 29iv75 15 D 9 950 439 Trelucky 130 1974 9 D 10 964 416 Caerhays Castle 250 1974 20 E 11 916 479 Trewithen 275 17iv76 50 + D 12 937 473 Creed vicarage 150 iv75 71 E 13 935 487 Grampound Mill 150 iv75 3 ? SW 95 1 998 518 St. Mewan churchyard 250 16iv75 16 E, D4 2 944 528 St. Stephen's sch. & rect'y 350 30iv76 47 D, El (29;1975) 3 912 597 St. Columb Road 280 liv75 14 D, El 4 978 530 Lanjeath 420 iv75 23 E 5 955 532 Gwendra 250 26v75 11 D 6 937 535 Terras 200 26v75 21 D 7 905 545 Brighton crossroads 200 30iii75 15 + D 8 915 506 Grampound Road 250 4iv75 18 D 9 932 502 Trevan Wood 200 7v75 16 D 10 946 536 St. Stephen 200 75 20 + D 11 987 597 Roche churchyard 550 75 19 D 12 948 579 St. Dennis rectory 500 5v76 17 D (5;1975) 13 944 578 Carsella 430 iv75 9 ? 14 948 532 St. Stephen 225 iv75 7 E 15 939 535 Creak-a-Vose, St. Stephen 200 17iv76 24 D 16 950 534 St. Stephen 300 17iv76 12 D SW 96 1 917 642 St. Columb Major 250 liv75 7 D 2 922 642 Lanhainsworth 275 liv75 13 D 3 922 651 Trevornick 420 liv75 3 D 4 908 635 Bosvolpans 250 5v75 c.10 D? 5 995 654 Withiel (Nr. church) 350 20iv75 148 D, El 6 924 631 Tregatillian 300 4iv75 10 D 7 914 635 St. Columb Major 300 4iv75 14 D 8 915 639 Bridge, St. Columb 200 4iv75 8 D 9 926 645 Tregameer 260 liv75 4 D? 10 932 673 Nine Maidens Wood 540 29iii76 20 D 11 914 649 North Trewan 350 29iii76 14 D 12 901 658 Whitewater 310 29iii76 5 + E 13 968 648 St. Wenn rectory 450 17v76 35 D SW 97 1 995 727 Wadebridge 100 16iv75 100 + D, E15 2 937 785 Polzeath 50 8iv75 40 + E 3 966 761 St. Minver vicarage 200 19iv75 48 E 4 995 754 Penpont, St. Kew 20 iv75 6 D 5 921 717 Melingey, St. Issey 50 12v75 17 D 6 915 723 Tregonna 100 75 c.30 E, Dl 7 914 755 Prideaux deer park 100 75 34 E ( + D?) 8 915 756 Prideaux deer park 150 75 47 E ( + D?) 9 995 745 Nr. Tregorden 50 12v76 23 D 10 951 717 Carthew, St. Issey 350 8v76 20 D 11 918 722 Little Petherick 75 lv76 12 E 12 992 726 Wadebridge 150 25iii76 36 D? SX 04 1 018 474 Pentewan 50 75 11 E 2 017 467 Pentewan (camp site) 100 75 10 D 3 020 472 Pentewan 20 75 10 D 4 016 430 Bodrugan, St. Goran 150 75 5 D 96 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft) Nests SX 05 1 083 544 Tywardreath 100 17iv75 2 D 2 057 536 Biscovey CP. School 100 75 18 E, D2 3 093 553 Tywardreath 75 28iv75 84 ? 4 094 527 Kilmarth 250 24iv75 15 E 5 093 591 Crewell 350 76 69 D, El 6 068 548 St. Blazey churchyard 25 4iv75 6 D 7 015 525 St. Austell railway st'n. 275 75 6 D 8 004 521 St. Austell, Truro Road 250 75 10 E 9 020 535 Menacuddle Lane 200 75 15 E 10 018 539 Bojea 650 75 3 D 11 015 570 Treverbyn vicarage 550 75 17 D 12 013 511 Nr. London Apprentice 100 8iv75 8 D 13 080 591 Lanlivery churchyard 250 (23) ? 14 053 582 Luxulyan churchyard 400 (23) ? 15 Oil 525 Belfield, St. Austell 200 iv76 9 E 16 016 523 Eastbourne Rd, St.Austell 225 iv76 2 D 17 007 522 Truro Road, St. Austell 200 iv76 12 E 18 059 537 St. Blazey Gate rectory 200 28iv76 14 D 19 044 518 Charlestown 225 17iv76 123 E, D SX 06 1 078 667 Bodmin 400 12iv75 21 E 2 014 647 Tremore 450 75 57 D, El 3 078 649 Nr. Little Halgavar 230 29iii75 16 D 4 082 638 Lanhydrock (entrance) 100 29iii75 32 D 5 096 637 Newton, Lanhydrock 100 29iii75 38 D 6 055 669 St. Lawrence, Bodmin 300 75 25 E, D 7 058 670 St. Lawrence, Bodmin 325 75 10 E 8 041 642 Lanivet 300 12iv75 42 E, Dl SX 07 1 017 788 Treharrock Wood 350 16iv75 60 + D 2 088 737 Tregaddick 250 31iii75 c.50 E 3 074 767 Hengar, Lodge gates 400 31iii75 23 E, D2 4 081 781 Michaelstow churchyard 500 31iii75 18 D 5 028 749 Benbole 225 75 68 E 6 044 728 St. Mabyn rectory 300 75 97 +-D, E 7 066 762 St. Tudy rectory 325 31iii75 72 E 8 079 731 Spittal 400 31iii75 29 D 9 098 774 St. Breward 700 lv75 8 D, El 10 039 714 Pencarrow 225 lv75 50 E 11 032 710 Park, Egloshayle 200 lv75 10 D 12 029 708 Park, Egloshayle 200 29iii76 20 D (16;197 13 028 717 Croan 275 lv75 25 E 14 029 771 Trequite 200 8v75 11 D 15 031 763 Tipton 200 8v75 4 D 16 024 770 Skisdon 100 8v75 7 E 17 006 758 Carclaze, St. Kew 75 8v75 25 D 18 022 753 Hendra, St. Kew 150 8v75 20 D, E5 19 004 741 Tregorden 125 8v75 21 D 20 063 716 Tredethy 250 lv75 16 D 21 066 735 Penwine 400 lv75 6 D 22 028 797 Pendoggett 500 lv75 15 E 23 024 711 Treveigan 250 29iii76 16 D SX 08 1 063 884 Tintagel rectory 320 75 48 ? 2 086 825 Lanteglos-by-Camelford 450 75 16 D 97 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of: Trees (It) Nests 3 089 824 Nr. Lanteglos church 450 75 35 D 4 078 822 Trewalder 400 75 4 ? 5 063 807 St. Teath 370 75 4 ? SX 09 1 098 907 Boscastle 250 75 10 D SX 15 1 186 570 Lanreath 430 iv75 23 D12, Ell 2 193 571 Woodsaws 250 25iii75 30 +D 3 102 515 Menabilly 200 24iv75 53 E 4 105 505 Menabilly 100 24iv75 37 D 5 109 523 Menabilly 200 24iv75 26 D 6 125 516 Fowey Hall 200 12v76 43 E, D 7 139 516 Lerryn 50 (23) ? 8 105 598 The Parade, Lostwithiel 25 (23) ? 9 122 538 Saw Mills Wood 200 (23) 7 10 125 522 Rawlings Lane, Fowey 100 75 12 E 11 126 516 Place House, Fowey 100 12v76 27 E SX 16 1 199 649 Doublebois 350 75 18 D 2 162 621 Nr. Broadoak church 525 75 11 ? 3 157 691 Warleggan churchyard 650 iv75 72 D SX 17 1 111 708 Higher Carblake 650 75 5 D 2 181 766 Nr. Jamaica Inn 900 75 46 D 3 100 731 Blisland 400 (23) ? SX 18 1 114 843 Camelford 750 liv75 11 D 2 162 880 Tregeen 850 75 40 D 3 120 833 Parkwalls 750 29iv75 48 D 4 121 836 Greylake Barton 750 29iv75 7 D 5 132 835 Roughtor Farm 920 29iv75 45 E 6 155 866 Treworra 850 liv75 41 D 7 152 873 Davidstow churchyard 850 3iv75 12 D 8 107 861 Worthyvale Manor 750 75 47 D, E 9 107 843 Camelford park 650 75 18 D, E 10 112 839 Camelford 700 75 12 ? 11 156 886 Davidstow Woods 850 75 14 E 12 191 842 Treraven 550 16iv76 6 D SX 19 1 105 905 Treforda Water 375 iv75 40 D (10;1972) 2 199 959 Jacobstow vicarage 350 iv75 25 D (20;1972) 3 161 947 Wooda, St. Gennys 500 iv75 15 D 4 189 934 Trengune 450 iv75 10 D (15;1972) 5 137 904 Trewannion 650 iv75 42 D (15;1972) 6 187 903 Trelash, Warbstow 700 iv75 14 D SX 25 1 205 553 Hall Barton, Pelynt 450 2iv75 9 ? 2 219 537 Trelawne 250 iv76 66 D (478;1848) 3 242 552 Trenant Park, Duloe 250 iv76 4 D 4 253 536 West Looe 100 16iv76 32 D 5 277 588 Polgover 450 25iv76 28 D 6 241 596 Nr. Windsor Wood, Duloe 250 12iii76 6 D 98 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft) Nests 7 256 535 Barbican Hill, East Looe 225 20iv76 14 D 8 257 526 Hannafore 50 3v76 32 E SX 26 1 239 666 Treworgey 400 27iii75 55 E 2 234 648 Looemills 450 4iv75 22 D 3 236 643 Moorswater 200 20iv75 19 D 4 288 629 Menheniot churchyard 350 30iii75 7 D 5 242 608 St. Keyne churchyard 400 28iii76 20 D 6 215 637 Nr. Bosent 400 30iii75 8 D 7 222 641 Penhale, Liskeard 400 30iii75 6 D 8 206 666 Bokenna Wood 500 30iii75 8 D 9 240 695 Common Moor 750 30iii75 2 D 10 254 649 Liskeard (junct. B3254) 500 29iii75 8 D 11 265 675 Rosecraddock 500 76 112 D, E 12 236 695 Common Moor 750 28iii75 7 D 13 253 651 Nr. Old Park, Liskeard 490 4iv75 6 D 14 281 613 Nr. Clicker Tor quarry 350 5iv75 15 ? 15 262 603 Treheer 325 9iii76 12 D 16 237 644 Moorswater 225 28iii76 6 E 17 246 636 Pencubitt, Lamellion 325 28iii76 8 E 18 248 682 St. Cleer churchyard 800 25iv76 1 D SX 27 1 297 739 Rillaton 475 29iv75 22 D 2 282 714 Pendowry, Nr. Upton C'ss 650 6v75 7 D 3 299 796 Trekelland 450 4iv75 5 E 4 297 760 Tremollett 550 23iii75 12 D 5 272 767 North Hill churchyard 525 28iii75 18 D 6 260 790 Nr. Trevadlock 550 28iii75 3 D 7 280 786 Congdon's Shop 600 28iii75 22 D 8 218 732 Carkeet 800 28iii75 4 D 9 213 723 Lower Langdon 800 28iii75 20 D 10 288 708 Tokenbury 550 28iii75 30 D 11 296 700 Pensilva 600 31iii75 9 D 12 214 738 Ninestones, St. Cleer 650 75 5 D 13 260 784 Trevadlock 475 16iv76 13 D 14 264 773 Trebartha 450 16iv76 12 D 15 232 726 Siblyback Wood 775 25iv76 16 D 16 234 724 Siblyback 800 25iv76 33 D SX 28 1 261 805 Kelly's House, Lewannick 600 28iii75 32 E 2 273 821 Nr. Polyphant 450 28iii75 8 D, El 3 269 836 Menheniot 650 28iv76 27 D 4 277 864 Egloskerry 400 30iii76 12 D 5 243 867 Tregeare, Egloskerry 575 30iii76 128 D 6 282 822 Treguddick 500 31iii76 40 E, D18 7 228 841 Laneast vicarage 650 16iv76 5 E 8 205 844 St. Clether churchyard 700 16iv76 17 D 9 223 812 Altarnun vicarage 600 16iv76 18 D, E6 SX 29 1 202 995 Poundstock churchyard 200 iv75 36 D (26;1972 2 266 989 Bennetts, Whitstone 475 iv75 17 D (4;1972 SX 35 1 384 537 Blerrick 200 13iv75 24 D 2 331 546 Triffle 450 3iv76 c.86 E 3 349 569 Polbathic 25 3iv76 4 D 99 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft.) Nests 4 348 567 Polbathic 25 3iv76 1 D 5 356 574 St. Germans 150 20iii76 6 E 6 392 587 Burell, drive entrance 250 26iv76 19 D SX 36 1 373 683 Westcott 550 10iv75 57 D, E12 2 398 678 St. Dominick churchyard 350 iv75 15 D 3 322 681 Nr. Appledore, St. Ive 500 29iii75 1 D 4 355 686 Nr. Pencrebar 450 29iii75 15 D 5 350 680 Nr. Newbridge 200 29iii75 3 D 6 353 681 Nr. Pencrebar 250 29iii75 2 D 7 346 683 Nr. Newbridge 200 29iii75 3 D 8 326 683 Nr. Appledore, St. Ive 300 29iii75 15 D 9 315 695 Bicton Manor 500 29iii75 3 D 10 313 670 St. Ive 550 29iii75 4 D 11 347 697 Haye, Callington 250 liv76 37 D, E18 12 362 692 Callington 550 29iii75 2 D 13 377 684 Nr. Ashton, St. Dominick 570 29iii75 1 D 14 380 683 Nr. Ashton 550 13iv76 38 D 15 300 620 Nr. Coldrenick 350 30iii75 5 D 16 312 620 Trehawke 350 30iii75 4 D 17 330 618 Tilland 100 30iii75 2 D 18 374 605 Landrake 300 30iii75 4 D 19 397 624 Hatt, Botusfleming 250 30iii75 30 D 20 382 608 Notter Bridge 150 19iv76 6 ? 21 386 699 West Harrowbarrow 400 12iv76 19 D 22 384 699 Nr. Mount Lodge 400 12iv76 26 D SX 37 1 319 735 Linkinhorne 400 75 59 E, D3 2 371 744 Mearfield 400 10iv75 24 D 3 383 737 Trowse, Luckett 250 14iv75 20 D 4 397 754 Bridge Farm 75 20iv75 42 D 5 355 744 Duchy Home Farm 400 18iv75 44 E 6 317 754 Higher Trelabe 575 7v75 6 D 7 324 757 Exwell 450 8v75 11 D 8 327 762 Trerefters 450 8v75 20 + E 9 327 765 Nr. Trerefters 400 8v75 10 + D 10 325 752 Lanhargy 450 10v75 16 + D 11 305 725 Nr. Browda 250 30iv75 26 D 12 308 720 Browda 250 30iv75 13 E 13 312 735 Ch'chtown Farm, L'horne 400 30iv75 58 E 14 302 797 Trekelland 400 4iv75 53 D 15 327 712 Golberdon, South Hill 375 75 5 D? 16 374 750 Pempwell 425 18iv76 13 D 17 356 734 Whiteford 400 30iii76 32 E 18 350 786 Carvoda, Lezant 200 30iii76 32 D 19 350 792 Penscombe 225 30iii76 25 D 20 350 796 Landue 225 30iii76 40 D, E15 21 344 793 Penscombe Cross 275 30iii76 7 D 22 338 791 Lezant rectory 300 30iii76 44 E, D14 SX 38 1 312 838 Trebursye 550 12iv75 8 E 2 309 819 S'th Petherwin churchy'd 550 4iv75 18 D 3 356 820 Lawhitton 350 18iv76 38 E, D3 SX 39 1 312 973 North Tamerton 400 iv75 19 D SX 44 1 425 499 Trehill 250 lv75 11 D 100 Grid Ref. Locality Height Date No. of Trees (ft.) Nests 2 425 492 Rame Barton 350 7iv76 1 D 3 426 496 Rame Barton 300 7iv76 15 D 4 427 492 Nr. Rame rectory 350 7iv76 1 D SX 45 1 434 504 War Memorial, Cawsand 100 13iv75 65 D 2 423 548 Millbrook 75 13iv75 4 D 3 402 541 Wolsdon House 250 16iv75 30 D 4 416 583 St. Stephens-by-Saltash 200 12iv76 1 ? 5 402 566 Ince Castle 50 18iv76 43 D SX 46 1 432 615 Landulph churchyard 30 75 c.8 ? 2 422 632 Wayton 150 29iii76 10 D SX 47 1 404 719 Coxpark 650 19iv76 12 D 2 419 714 Hingston House 700 22iv76 22 E SS 20 1 263 090 Rhude Farm 460 19iv75 7 D 2 266 083 Venn, Stratton 475 19iv75 14 D 3 229 088 Crockwood 375 19iv75 18 D 4 222 078 Poughill Churchtown 200 20iv75 51 D, E24 5 232 066 The Glebe, Stratton 200 20iv75 21 D (18;1972) 6 237 066 Diddies, Stratton 200 20iv75 3 D 7 238 064 Diddies Lane 160 20iv75 4 D 8 208 053 Lynstone 75 20iv75 13 D 9 219 050 Thorn, Stratton 100 20iv75 23 D (15;1972) 10 231 048 Cann Orchard Farm 140 20iv75 16 D (8;1972) 11 245 042 Hobbacott 290 20iv75 7 D 12 222 038 Marhamchurch 150 20iv75 10 D 13 213 025 Creathorne 160 20iv75 10 D 14 225 021 Woolstone 120 20iv75 8 D (12;1972) 15 233 019 Trelay 100 20iv75 25 D 16 267 009 Bevill's Hill 400 20iv75 75 D, E10 17 230 051 Grove Park 150 20iv75 7 D 18 242 009 Marhayes 175 20iv75 16 D (6;1972) 19 215 073 Foster Melliers, Bude 75 75 c.10 E 20 206 010 Nr. Widemouth Farm 200 10iv76 c.25 D SS21 1 217 168 Marsland Mouth 400 iv75 2 D 2 230 163 Gooseham 450 iv75 6 D 3 237 146 Yaffles 600 iv75 13 D 4 209 146 Tonacombe 430 20iv75 54 D, E3 (30;1972) 5 219 141 Darzle 475 20iv75 38 D 6 209 122 Ovis Farm, Cleeve 300 20iv75 14 D 7 246 110 Penstowe 500 20iv75 19 E (19;1972) 8 286 110 Thurdon 530 8iv75 6 D 9 256 117 Kilkhampton Churchtown 530 iv75 3 D

101 SUMMARY OF STATISTICS

Rookeries Nests Rookeries Nests SW 32 3 110 SX 04 4 36 33 2 58 05 19 459 42 8 168 06 8 211 43 4 162 07 23 671 52 3 71 08 5 107 53 31 628 09 1 10 54 2 29 15 11 320 61 5 91 16 3 101 62 29 535 17 3 74 63 38 678 18 12 301 64 9 180 19 6 146 71 15 259 25 8 191 72 31 574 26 18 322 73 20 527 27 16 231 74 17 294 28 9 287 75 12 363 29 2 53 76 1 19 35 6 140 82 2 27 36 22 292 83 16 424 37 22 600 84 26 567 38 3 64 85 28 965 39 1 19 86 15 447 44 4 28 87 2 61 45 5 143 93 1 19 46 2 18 94 13 313 47 2 34 95 16 289 96 13 291 SS 20 20 363 97 12 413 21 9 155 Rookeries Nests Average nests per rookery SW 374 8562 22.89 SX 215 4858 22.59 ss 29 518 17.86

618 13938 22.55

102 THE SOCIETY'S RULES (Current from 26th March, 1977)

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

Rule 2. (Objects) The objects of the Society shall be :— (a) To further the study of birds in the field. (b) To assist in their preservation.

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

Rule 4. No person shall become a member of the Society until he declares in writing that he will not take the eggs or skins of any birds protected by law and any member proved to the satisfaction of a General Meeting of the Society to have taken or incited any other person to take the eggs or skins of such birds shall forthwith cease to be a member of the Society 103 Rule 5. (Subscription)

The Subscription shall be £1 for Full Members : 50p for each additional member of the same family sharing the same literature : and 50p for Junior Members, payable on election and thereafter on the 1st January. But any member who both signs the declaration form and pays the first subscription after 30th September in any year, shall not be liable to pay a further subscription until the close of the following year. A Junior Member, on attaining his or her 18th birthday shall not be liable to pay a Full Member's subscription until after the close of the current year.

Rule 6. (Management)

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

Rule 7. (Meetings)

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

Rule 8. (Alteration of Rules)

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

Rule 9.

This Society shall neither be dissolved, nor amalgamated with, nor subordinated to any other body without the consent of two-thirds of the Members, at a General Meeting at which business is transacted, and in respect of which dissolution, amalgamation or subordination, prior notice must have been given under Rule8. For the purpose of this Rule, Members may vote by post. 104