TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Preamble ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Requests for Information ... ... ... ... ... 4 The Willcocks Memorial ... ... ... ... ... 4 Memorial to Col. B. H. Ryves ... ... ... ... 5 List of Contributors ... ... ... ... ... 5 Cornish Notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 Arrival and Departure of Cornish Migrants ... ... 40 Isles of Scilly Notes ... ... ... ... ... 45 Arrival and Departure of Migrants in the Isles of Scilly ... 59 The Distribution of the Cirl Bunting in Cornwall ... ... 63 The Library ... ... ... ... ... ... 67 The Society's Rules ... ... ... ... ... 69 Balance Sheet ... ... ... ... ... ... 70 List of Members ... ... ... ... ... ... 71 Committees for 1962 and 1963 ... ... ... ... 84 Index ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 85 THIRTY-SECOND REPORT OF The Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society 1962 Edited by J. E. BECKERLEGGE, A. G. PARSONS and N. R. PHILLIPS, with the kind assistance of Lt.-Col. W. E. ALMOND and Dr. R. H. BLAIR Isles of Scilly Section edited by Miss H. M. QUICK The Society's Membership is now 628. During the year, 53 joined the Society, but losses by death, resignation and removal from membership because of non-payment of subscriptions was 82. Two Executive Committee and three General Meetings were held during the year at the Museum, Truro. On February 11th, Mr. A. G. Parsons gave a talk on the identification of the diurnal birds of prey most likely to be met with in Cornwall, illustrated with drawings and film. The Annual General Meeting was held on April 14th, 1962. At this Meeting, Sir Edward Bolitho, Dr. R. H. Blair, Mr. S. A. Martyn, the Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge, Mr. N. R. Phillips and Lt.-Col. W. E. Almond were re-elected as President, Chairman, Treasurer and Joint Secretaries, respectively. Mr. A. G. Parsons was also elected a Joint Secretary. Under Rule 6, Miss Quick, Mrs. Carter, Mr. C. J. Stevens and Miss Whelan retired from the Committee. Dr. Allsop, Dr. Coombes and Mrs. Birtill were elected to the Committee. At this Meeting, Mr. R. M. Bere gave a talk on the Uganda National Parks. The Autumn Meeting was held on October 6th. Four short papers were given by members: "A Bird Watching Holiday in Sardinia," by Dr. R. H. Blair; " The Cirl Bunting's Distribution in Cornwall," by Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge; " How Scilly is Different," by Miss H. M. Quick, and " Some Observations on the Breeding Biology of the Swallow in Cornwall," by Lt.-Col. W. E. Almond. Seven successful Field Days were held during the year. 3 Several rarities occurred during the year. Among those reported were a noteworthy Crossbill invasion, Richard's Pipit, Great Grey Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Great Reed Warbler, White's Thrush, Bee Eater, breeding Hobbies, American Green-winged Teal, Cory's Shearwater, an increased number of Collared Doves, Wilson's Phalarope, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stone Curlew, Mediterranean Black- headed Gull, Sabine's Gull and Long-tailed Skua. The Society is again indebted to Mr. Wills for auditing the accounts. The Secretaries are willing to give advice to members about binoculars and telescopes. It would be much appreciated if members would please send their subscriptions to the Treasurer, and not to the Secretaries. It has, unfortunately, been found necessary to raise the annual subscription to ten shillings, as from January 1st, 1964. Junior membership remains at 2/6. Records of birds seen on the mainland should be sent, before January 15th, to the Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge, St. Crowan Vicarage, Praze, Camborne. Records of birds seen on the Scillies should be sent to Miss H. M. Quick, Priglis, St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Records should be sent in according to the Handbook Order—or, if this is impossible, under the heading of species. The mainland recorder is grateful to all who did this in 1962, and begs the few who are still wedded to diary form to change their system in time for the 1963 Report. REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION EFFECTS OF THE COLD WINTER Would members please notify Mr. Beckerlegge of the status of all species in their area, after the cold weather of January and February, and where numbers have decreased, the extent of such decrease. Information concerning all species is desired, but especially of the following:—Linnet, Goldfinch, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Cole Tit, Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Tree Creeper, Missel Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Stonechat, Wren and Woodpeckers (all species). It would be appreciated if this information could be sent in as soon as possible, to relieve pressure of work when the annual records are sent in in early January. WOODLARK ENQUIRY An enquiry into the distribution and habitat of the Woodlark in Cornwall is being made by Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge, St. Crowan Vicarage, Praze, Camborne. Would members please send him present-day and recent records of this species. A report on its distribution will eventually be published in the Annual Report of the Society. THE WILLCOCKS MEMORIAL Work on this project is held up until the question of the projected drainage work at the Amble River has been settled. 4 MEMORIAL TO Col. B. H. RYVES PRELIMINARY NOTICE The Executive Committee recommend that the Society's mem­ orial to its founder should take the form of " The Ryves Memorial Prize." A Committee was appointed—consisting of Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge, Dr. Blair, Dr. Coombs, Mr. Parsons and Dr. Turk—to prepare a detailed scheme and draw up rules. They recommend, subject to confirmation, that the prize be awarded every second year and should consist of books to the value of not less than ten guineas, and that : The prize shall be awarded to the amateur ornithologist submit­ ting the best paper on any aspect of ornithology, though preference will be given to entries dealing with the breeding biology of birds on the British list, whether of a single species or a comparative study. Alternatively, at its discretion, the Awards Committee may select from time to time a set subject for the prize. The date of the first award, the composition of the Awards Committee and the rules in detail will be published in the next Annual Report. Meanwhile, members and friends are invited to contribute to the Memorial Fund. A form will be found within.—R.H.B. LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS (With apologies for omissions) G. Allsop, W. E. Almond, R. Anderson, Miss P. Aspinall, Miss D. Hargood-Ash, J. E. Beckerlegge, Miss S. V. Benson, Miss C. Bent, R. H. Blair, Sir Edward Bolitho, P. F. Bonham, H. V. Brown, Mrs. F. E. Carter, M. Coath, E. M. Lock, Miss E. Comber, M. A. Cummins, R. M. Curber, W. H. Dady, S. J. Drew, N. B. Exelby, R. M. Fleet, Mrs. I. W. Gatiss, J. S. Gilbert, A. H. Glanville, E. Griffiths, Mrs. E. M. Guttridge, R. G. Hadden, R. A. Harper, G. J. Harris, N. Higman, W. A. Holmes, A. C. Hosking, O. D. Hunt, D. L. Johnson, Miss M. J. Jones, W. J. Julyan, Mrs. H. Rait Kerr, T. Key, R. Khan, B. King, F. J. Lawry, D. Oats, R. Palmer, A. G. Parsons, B. Pattenden, Mrs. F. M. Patton, Miss E. M. Paynter, R. D. Penhallurick, N. R. Phillips, A. W. Preston, Miss H. M. Quick, E. G. Roper, R. J. Salmon, A. C. Sawle, D. F. Smith, Miss M. Hill Smith, P. M. Solly, Mrs. B. Spenlove-Spenlove, Miss J. Spenlove-Spenlove, T. J. Stephens, C. J. Stevens, Mrs. P. Visick, G. Warner, Mrs. R. P. Weeks, Mrs. E. West, Miss E. M. Whelan, A. W. G. Wildey, P. J. Williams, R. W. E. Williams, T. R. J. Williams, Miss K. O. Wilson. 5 CORNISH NOTES 1 RAVEN. A party of four at Marazion Marsh on July 12th was an unusual occurrence. R.H.B. 13 CHOUGH. The last known pair in the County was seen throughout the year. S.J.D. 14 STARLING. A Starling ringed as a juvenile on July 7th, 1961, at Ribatschi, Kalingrad area, U.S.S.R., was recovered at St. Day on March 4th, 1962. per A.G.P. A cream-coloured Starling with black beak and eyes, and a few dark spots on the throat, at Perranporth from July 30th until the end of September. S.J.D. R.A.H. 17 GOLDEN ORIOLE. May 28th. At Boswinger, Gorran, one male. F.M.P. 21 SISKIN. November 11th. At Tresillian, a flock of about 30, and on December 6th, six at the same locality. B.P. At St. Erth Woods, 22 were seen on December 4th, seven on the 5th and 31 on the 24th. R.K. December 9th. About 10 seen near the Old Quay House, Hayle Estuary. B.P. 23/27 REDPOLL. At St. Erth Woods, four seen with Siskins on December 5th and seven on the 24th. R.K. 30 LINNET. For the second year running, female song was heard in July in my garden at Bude, but this year only two short repetitions, as song was cut short by windy and wet weather. S.V.B. 36 CROSSBILL. A considerable invasion of Cornwall took place in the summer, birds reaching even the West of the County in quite considerable numbers. June 30th—July 17th. At Week St. Mary, from two to eight birds paid daily visits to my garden. E.M.P. July 5th. A party of six at St. Tudy. A.W.G.W. At Carbis Bay, seven were seen on July 7th, 12 on the 8th, about 42 on the 9th and on July 14th two flocks of about 30 birds were present. R.K. At Redruth, seven seen on July 23rd. A.G.P. One was still present near Lelant Station on September 1st. R.K. D.F.S. 6 Cornish Notes 41 CHAFFINCH. March 2nd. A pair were feeding on the tide line in St.