CORNWALL BIRD-WATCHING & PRESERVATION SOCIETY SEVENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 2004 Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) The emblem of The Cornwall Bird-watching & Preservation Society HONORARY OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE 2005/06 President Steve Madge, Seawinds, Lower Trerieve, Downderry, Torpoint, PL 15 3LZ Chairman Peter Crispin, 5 Church Lea, Launceston, PL 15 8QZ Vice-Chairman Graham Sutton, Harcombe, West Park Road, Bude, EX23 8PB [email protected] General Secretary Darrell Clegg, 55 Lower Fore Street, Saltash, PL 12 6JQ [email protected] Treasurer Bob Bridges, 21 Pare Peneglos, Bells Hill, Mylor, TR11 5SL [email protected] Membership Secretary Sara McMahon, 72 Underwood Road, Plympton, PL7 1SZ [email protected] Conservation Officer Chris Mason, 3 Daniel Court, Truro, TR1 2XJ [email protected] Newsletter Editor Bob Bridges, 21 Pare Peneglos, Bells Hill, Mylor, TR11 5SL [email protected] Field Meetings Officer Terry Hasdell, 1 West Tehidy, Tolvaddon, Camborne, TR14 OHP [email protected] Public Relations Officer Vacant Honorary Solicitor Greg Adams, 2 Wendron Street, Helston, TR13 8PS Committee Members: Claire Mucklow, Rosemary Parslow $ $ The Society is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales Number 255899 The Trustees are the Honorary Officers and other Members of the Executive Committee shown above County Recorder Martin Elliot, Flat 10 Sennen Heights, Sennen Cove, TR19 7BO [email protected] Editor "Birds in Cornwall" Vacant Records Committee: Mashuq Ahmad, Greg Conway, Pete Fraser, Steve Madge, Keith Pellow, Graham Sutton & Laurie Williams Photographs Front cover: Peregrine Falcon - Gary Cockill Back cover: Green Woodpecker - Gary Cockill 2 CONTENTS Page Review of the Year 2004 Kester & Ian Wilson 4 Editorial Ian Wilson 11 Acknowledgements 11 Submission of Records 12 Submission of Rarity Reports 14 Systematic List for 2004 Kester & Ian Wilson 16 Records for which details are still required 146 First and Last Dates of Summer Migrants 147 Contributors 148 Gazetteer 150 Ringing Report 2004 Greg Conway 158 Cornwall Barn Owl Survey Report 2004 Barn Owl Trust 166 The Society's Reserves 186 Acting Chairman's Report Graham Sutton 189 Conservation Report 190 Trustees' Annual Report 2004 193 Balance Sheet and Accounts 2004 195 The Society's Rules 200 Printed by B. J. Press Ltd., Unit 29 Threemilestone Ind Estate, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9LD Copyright Cornwall Bird-watching & Preservation Society 2005 3 REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2004 Reports were received covering two hundred and eighty species, three more than last year. Two new species were recorded, Little Crake and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. This was a year which, perhaps reflecting a warmer climate and less severe conditions to the north, saw a continuation of the trend of reducing numbers of wildfowl and waders. It also saw the earliest ever reports of several migratory species. JANUARY Despite force nine, north to northwest gales on New Year's Eve, the American Robin was still at Godrevy on New Year's Day and remained until 2nd February. Several of last year's other rarities also remained in the county at the start of the year; a Great Bittern at Marazion Marsh until 2nd April and another at Par Beach Pool until 16th February, a Eurasian Spoonbill until 24th February, an American Wigeon on Hayle Estuary until 29th March, a Green-winged Teal on Hayle Estuary until 7th January, a Surf Scoter at Feock until 12th April, a Lesser Yellowlegs on Hayle Estuary until 3rd May, a Ring- billed Gull at Helston Boating Lake until 9th, a Ring-billed Gull at Par Beach Pool until 16th, eight Bearded Tits at Marazion Marsh until 28th March and two at Par Beach Pool until 25th March. The small group of Red-billed Choughs maintained their presence on the Lizard all year. The pair nested again and four young were fledged. Some of the group have moved to other parts of the far southwest. The first day of the year also saw eight Spotted Redshanks on Tresillian River and a Glaucous Gull started a four-day stay at Marazion. A Scandinavian Rock Pipit was ringed at Hannafore on 2nd, solving the problem of its identity, and six Greater White-fronted Geese at Walmsley Sanctuary was the highest count in a poor year. A Lesser Yellowlegs appeared at Egoshayle on 3rd and stayed for ten days. There were sixty-three Black-throated Divers in Veryan Bay on 4th, fifty-two Great Northern Divers in St Austell Bay, thirty-five Yellowhammers at Trevone and twenty Reed Buntings at Trevose Head. A further six Scandinavian Rock Pipits were ringed on 5th at Hannafore, one of which had a Swedish ring, and twenty-one Eurasian Siskins were at Wadebridge. Then following day there were twenty Red Knots on the Camel Estuary. Eight Common Goldeneyes were at Stithians Reservoir on 7th and seventy Long-tailed Tits were at St Austell Sewage Works. A Bonaparte's Gull started a one-week stay on the Gannel Estuary on 8th, eight hundred and two Great Black-backed Gulls were on the Camel Estuary and one hundred and twenty Common Chiffchaffs at St Austell Sewage Works. A Great Bittern visited Westerlake Farm on 9th, there were one hundred and twenty-two Common Pochards and six Greater Scaups at Loe Pool, and one hundred and ten Bramblings at Argal Reservoir. An American Wigeon at Crowdy Reservoir on 10th remained until 25th, there were three hundred and ninety-four Pied Avocets on the Upper Tamar Estuary, a Lesser Yellowlegs paid a visit to Clapper Bridge, two thousand four hundred Northern Lapwings were present on Walmsley Sanctuary, two thousand one hundred and ten Dunlins at St John's Lake and eight thousand Black-headed Gulls were on the Camel Estuary. Eighty-seven Balearic Shearwaters passed Trevose Head on 11th and a Ring-billed Gull was on the Gannel Estuary. Fifty-three Ruddy Turnstones were at Hannafore on 13th and, on 15th, six Jack Snipe were at Land's End. Five hundred and fifty Chaffinches were at Trevose Head on 17th. On 22nd, there were five hundred and fifty Eurasian Curlews on Hayle Estuary. The 23rd saw eleven Goosanders on Lower Tamar Lake. There were ninety-seven Black- tailed Godwits on Truro River on 24th, four hundred and eighty Mew Gulls in Harlyn Bay, a Glaucous Gull on Hayle Estuary and a Little Auk passed Trevose Head. Seventy-one Red-breasted Mergansers in the Carrick Roads on 25th was the highest count of the year. There were twenty Gadwalls at Drift Reservoir on 26th. On 27th there were fifty-one Purple Sandpipers at Penzance. Seven hundred and sixty-eight Common Guillemots passed Porthgwarra on 30th. FEBRUARY A Bonaparte's Gull was at Hayle Estuary on 2nd and fourteen Water Pipits at Nanjizal. Fifteen Red-throated Divers were in Harlyn Bay on 6th. A Red-rumped Swallow was at Church Cove on 8th before moving to Coverack the following day and remaining for five days. On 9th there was a count of twenty-four Slavonian Grebes off Pendower Beach. Seventy-six Common Moorhens were at Marazion Marsh on 1 Oth, a Ring-billed Gull started a two-day stay on Hayle Estuary and forty Black-billed Magpies were at Marazion Marsh. A Little Auk passed Porthgwarra on 11th. Three Ruddy Ducks arrived on Dozmary Pool on 12th and remained for two months. Whitsand Bay had sixteen Slavonian Grebes on 14th. Twenty-two Red-throated Divers were in Whitesand Bay on 16th, a Ring-billed Gull was on Helston Boating Lake and one hundred and ten Pied Wagtails were at Chiverton Cross. On 21st a Great Bittern appeared at Poldhu Cove. The 22nd saw thirty-seven Black-throated Divers in Gerrans Bay, a Great Bittern was at Loe Pool, one hundred and twenty- seven Tufted Ducks were on Swanpool, one hundred and forty-nine Grey Plovers were on the Camel Estuary, Maer Lake held two hundred and seventy-four Common Snipe and there were seventy-two Bar-tailed Godwits on the Camel Estuary. A Hume's Leaf Warbler started a three-day stay at Carnon Downs on 24th. There were seven Common Eiders off Charlestown on 25th -26th. On 28th five Hen Harriers were at Men-an-Tol. MARCH An Iceland Gull was on Hayle estuary on 5th and was still present the following day. A Eurasian Spoonbill arrived on the Camel Estuary on 7th and remained for a further three days, and a Glaucous Gull was on the Camel Estuary. There was a Ring-billed Gull on the Camel Estuary on 9th and a Glaucous Gull was at St Buryan. A White Stork visited Ladock on 12th, having previously been seen in Devon, a Hoopoe was at Botallack and fifteen Lapland Longspurs started a two-day stay at Trevose Head where fifty-five Corn Buntings were present. A Bonaparte's Gull was on Marazion Beach on 13th and stayed until the next day, and an Alpine Swift commenced a two-day stay at Marazion. An Iceland Gull was on the Camel Estuary on 15th and one thousand seven hundred Northern Fulmars passed Sennen Cove on 19th. A Hawfinch was at Porthgwarra on 28th and a Ring-billed Gull was on Hayle Estuary on 30th. APRIL A Ring-billed Gull was on Hayle Estuary on 2nd and seven Wood Nuthatches were seen around Cotehele House. The 4th saw a Green-winged Teal at Porthpean. The passage of Manx Shearwaters at Sennen Cove on 5th was estimated at seven thousand. On 9th a Bonaparte's Gull was on Marazion Beach. A Ring-billed Gull was on Helston Boating Lake on 11th and seven Common Redstarts were at Lizard Point. There was a Ring-billed Gull on the Camel Estuary on 14th.