TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Secretaries' Report ... ... ... ... 3 Treasurer's Report ... ... ... ... 4 Subscriptions, etc. ... ... ... ... ... 9 Obituaries ... ... ... ... ... 9 Predannack Nature Reserve ... ... ... 9 List of Contributors ... ... ... ... 10 Cornish Records ... ... ... ... ... 11 Corrections to 1966 Report ... ... ... ... 48 Cornish Seas ... ... ... ... ... 49 Ringing Recoveries ... ... ... 50 Isles of Scilly Records ... ... ... ... 51 Round Island ... ... ... ... ... 67 Porthgwarra Report ... ... ... ... 68 Breeding Birds of the Bodmin area ... ... 71 The Torrey Canyon Incident and Sea Birds of Cornwall 78 After the Torrey Canyon ... ... ... ... 90 Committees ... ... ... ••• ••• 130 List of Members ... ... ... ... ••• 131 Rules 147 1 THIRTY-SEVENTH REPORT OF The Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society 1967 Edited by J. E. BECKERLEGGE assisted by J. B. and S. BOTTOMLEY, A. G. PARSONS and N. R. PHILLIPS SECRETARIES' REPORT FOR 1967 On December 31st the Membership of the Society was 866. 112 new Members were elected during the year and 35 Members were lost by resignations and death, giving a net gain of 77. Two General Meetings, three Executive Committee Meetings and 10 Field Days were held. At the Annual General Meeting Mr. N. Dymond, of the British Trust for Ornithology, spoke on the work of a Bird ringing station and illustrated his talk with colour slides. At the Autumn Meeting Mr. T. O. Darke showed a film illustrating Bird life throughout the year in the Porthcothan area, near Padstow. During the year the following species of special interest were noted: White-billed Diver, Wilson's Phalarope, Long-billed Dowitcher, Roller, Orphean Warbler, Parula Warbler and American Redstart: this last being the first record for Britain. Records for Cornwall, arranged in the order of this Report, should be sent to the Reverend J. E. Beckerlegge by January 31st. The actual order of the Report is that of the 1952 B.O.U. List, to which List the numbers preceding the names of species in this Report refer. Page 4 of the 1965 Report and page 11 of this report set out the manner in which records should be made and presented. Records for the Isles of Scilly should be sent to Miss H. M. Quick by January 31st. By far the most outstanding event of the year was the avoidable grounding of the "Torrey Canyon", resulting in considerable Cornish, national and international repercussions over a very wide field of human activity. For a clear month after that fatal 18th March the western end of the Cornish peninsula buzzed with visitors concerned with various results of the oil seepage and rumbled to the sound of heavy vehicles. Perhaps the most important conclusion to which we could come shortly after the disaster was the total lack of preparedness for such an event, which was in some measure offset by the relatively small ascertain­ able damage to Cornish breeding sea-birds, together with the Heaven-sent 3 absence of easterly winds whereby the Scilly Isles were spared from what must have otherwise been unspeakable pollution. During the year a further Protection of Birds Act became law: its provisions have been incorporated into a revised edition of the Society's "Guide to the Law relating to the Protection of Birds", which latter will be distributed to all Members. Owing to the prompt reporting to the Police by one of our Members of facts suggesting an attempt to shoot sea-birds illegally the Police were able to interview the men concerned. The fact that no prosecution resulted in no way detracts from the value of the quick action taken in this matter and our thanks are due to our own Member and to the Police for their ready help. Twice during the year the Society has submitted reasoned opposition to development proposals likely to reduce important natural habitats, to the Planning Authorities concerned. The first of these concerned the western end of Hayle Estuary at Griggs Quay, a scheme which might well alter adversely the wader feeding habitat on the mud there. The second scheme was proposed for Weir Quay on the Devon side of the Tamar; but as county boundaries have no meaning to birds and as Spoonbills and Avocets have a special liking for that general area of the river it was felt that objections to such a scheme are equally valid for both the Devon and Cornish sides of the river and should be presented. Planning permission has been refused in both cases. Although at the time of the Ryves Memorial Prize being instituted publicity was given to this award; and, in consequence many copies of the Rules were distributed; it will not be known until November, 1968, what entries will be received. TREASURER'S REPORT 1967 was a very successful year financially for the Society. Income was up by no less than £220 on the previous year and amounted to £795 which enabled us not only to pay for the Willcocks Memorial hide at Burniere out of income but to transfer a balance of £138 to the Accumulated Fund as well. General expenses were up £76 due mainly to the increase (about one-third) in the size of the Annual Report for 1965 and sundry expenses incurred in connection with the Torrey Canyon disaster. All items of income, except for a small drop in the sale of Annual Reports, were up, the most significant increases occurring in subscriptions, donations and repayment of income tax. Subscriptions were up £35 due to a net increase of 77 in the member­ ship. Donations increased by £135 due to the generosity of members and sympathisers after the Torrey Canyon disaster; to relatives and friends 4 of two respected members who died during the year; to contributors to the Willcocks Memorial fund; and to His Honour Judge Chope who very kindly opened his gardens at Carclew House during the spring for the benefit of our funds. The Society would like to thank all members and friends who contributed in these different ways. Repayment of income tax increased from £15 to £53 due to an increasing number of members covenanting their subscriptions, for which we are also most grateful. The balance sheet shows that the amounts of the Memorial Funds have been transferred to the Accumulated Fund, the Willcocks Memorial having been completed and the Ryves Memorial having commenced to operate. The total assets now stand at £2440.13s.Id., less the outstanding liability to the Cornwall River Authority of £724.3s.l0d. Finally the Society's thanks are due to Mr. Kenneth W. M. Bawden for kindly auditing the account for us. 5 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1967 EXPENDITURE £ s. d. £ s. d. INCOME £ s. d. £ s. d. Subscriptions to Societies British Trust for Ornithology 2 10 0 Subscriptions Paid in Advance 9 0 6 Council for Nature 1 1 0 Royal Institution of Cornwall 6 6 0 Subscriptions for 1967 407 3 6 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 2 2 0 South Western Naturalists' Union ... 2 15 0 Donations 138 12 11 Wildfowl Trust 1 1 0 15 15 0 Sale of Annual Reports 11 10 6 Printing and Stationery, etc. Typing and Duplicating 32 7 3 Sale of Badges 12 8 0 Printing and Stationery 51 5 10 Annual Reports 1966 (800) 182 2 0 Rent of Walmsley Sanctuary 52 0 0 265 15 1 Postages and Secretarial Expenses, etc. Repayment of Income Tax 53 10 1 Postages 55 5 1 Stamping of Deeds of Covenant 1 8 8 Interest on Investments Advertising 7 8 0 Defence Bonds ... 33 15 0 Bank charges and cheque book 6 5 6 Development Bonds ... 30 0 0 Expenses 23 18 1 War Loan ... 31 11 6 Hire of equipment for AGM (1966)... 6 6 0 95 6 6 Insurance 10 0 0 110 11 4 Bank Interest Hayle Estuary Deposit Account ... 15 8 1 Rent of Shooting Rights 1 0 0 15 8 1 Notice Boards and erecting 31 7 6 32 7 6 Walmsley Sanctuary Contribution to Cornwall River Authority 100 0 0 100 0 0 Willcocks Memorial Hide Solicitors' Charges 13 8 0 Cost of keys 3 0 0 Cost of fencing 11 15 6 Cost of Hide 102 13 0 130 16 6 Refund of Subscriptions Overpaid 1 0 0 1 0 0 Excess of Income over Expenditure Carried to Accumulated Fund 138 14 8 138 14 8 £795 0 1 £795 0 1 BALANCE SHEET—31st DECEMBER, 1967 LIABILITIES £ s. d. £ s. d. ASSETS £ s. d. £ s. d. Accumulated Fund Investments Balance at 31.12.1966 980 17 7 £902.4s.l0d. 3.5% War Loan at current Add: Memorial Funds 127 3 4 market price at 31.12.67 445 10 0 Add: Excess income for year to date 138 14 8 4i.5 Defence Bonds at cost 750 0 0 5% Development Bonds at cost 600 0 0 1246 15 7 1795 10 0 Deduct: Depreciation on War Loan 27 10 0 Balances at Bank 1219 5 7 Current Account 156 5 4 Deposit Account 486 17 3 Legacies Fund 643 2 7 Balance at 31.12.1966 1214 2 0 Petty Cash in Hand Nil 1214 2 0 Postage Stock 2 0 6 2 0 6 Current Liabilities Subscriptions paid in advance 7 5 6 7 5 6 £2440 13 1 £2400 13 1 Outstanding Liability in respect of the Walmsley Sanctuary (Signed) W. J. GODDARD, Honorary Treasurer. (River Amble Improvement Scheme) payable to Cornwall River Authority £724 3 10 REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CORNWALL BIRD-WATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY. I have examined the above Balance Sheet dated 31st December, 1967, together with the Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended that date, with the books of the Society and hereby certify the same to be in accordance therewith.