CORNWALL BIRD-WATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY Fifty-Sixth Annual Report 1986 St. George Printing Works Ltd., Redruth. Tel: 217033 Officers 1987-88 President: Dr. C. J. F. Coombs, Greenwith Place, Perranwell, Truro Chairman: Mrs M. P. Visick, Trendain, Perranwell Station, Truro Vice Chairman: L. A. Smith, 21 Vicarage Meadows, Fowey General Secretary: A. R. Pay, 13 Tregellas Road, Mullion Minutes Secretary: Vacant Treasurer and Registrar: A. F. Reynolds, 33 Treworder Road, Truro Field Meetings Officer: D. L. Thomas, Mirador, Whitecross, Nr. Newquay Conservation Officer: Vacant Assistant Conservation Officer: N. R. Phillips, 8 The Warren, St. Ives Newsletter Editor: F. M. Couch, 29 Roman Drive, Bodmin Public Relations Officer: Vacant Officer for Youth and Education: Vacant Recorder and Editor "Birds in Cornwall": S. M. Christophers, "Emberiza", 5 Newquay Rd., St. Columb Major Assistant Editor: Vacant Secretary, Recorder and Editor for the Isles of Scilly M. J. Rogers, 4 Pentland Flats, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly Committee Members: D. S. Flumm (Hayle), J. A. d'E. Miller (Liskeard), retire 1988; S. C. Madge (Torpoint), B. Wilson (Lostwithiel) retire 1989; R. Butts (Mullion), B. T. Craven (Launceston), A. C. Hathway (Crantock), R. J. Hooton (Wadebridge) retire 1990; and the officers ex-officio. 2 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 1987 It seems that some of the content of the opening paragraph in my last report remains true and constant as ever. A lot of work is repetitive, absolutely necessary, and persistance can be rewarded. The Executive and Committee work as keenly as ever. We have found it necessary to fit in extra informal meetings in order to find time to discuss at greater length special matters which have arisen. This year our Hon. Secretary and our Minutes Secretary, Mrs Diana Inch and Mr Brian Inch, resigned when they moved, but with great consideration carried on until last November by which time we had a replacement. I expressed our thanks to them both. We had the good fortune to meet and appoint Mr Andy Pay to take over the reins. Mr Pay came to Cornwall to live in Mullion with his family in 1985. He was Co-Editor of the Cheshire Bird Report and Area Recorder for the County of Cheshire. I am full of hope that he will enjoy a long, happy and absorbing time with the Society and the County of Cornwall. He is now representing our Society on the Scientific Committee of C.T.N.C. thus maintaining a good link between the Societies. Also having to resign for burgeoning business reasons, our Assistant Editor, Mr. Roger Smaldon. He has done sterling work in helping our Editor, Mr Stan Christophers produce the Annual Report over several years and he regrets having to sever these links, he had so enjoyed the association with the Society. In thanking him we wished him health and prosperity. It has given particular pleasure following an invitation twelve months ago to have two Junior Members, Mr Jonathan Jane and Mr James Millett, come first of all to meeting as observers and then to find them so keen that they were co-opted to the Committee. This interest augurs well for the future well-being of the Society. The Barn Owl Nest Box Scheme continues and it's success devolves largely on the efforts of Mr Vic Simpson and Mr Gilbert Thomas converting and delivering boxes. It would be a great help if some Members would get in touch with Mr Simpson at Blackwater, and undertake some of the delivery runs. There must be many Members who just go for a drive, but to get involved on behalf of not just the Society but also the Owls would add that little extra something to the outing. Could we aim at building up a list of Members willing to do this and, depending on where the enquiries came from, could be called on to collect and deliver. A list could be published in the Newsletter. North Cornwall District Council backed an M.S.C. scheme to make and deliver boxes in their district. We were relieved to hear this as it is always a task to cover that area. We need not have worried. Up to 26th February, 1987 and since September, 1986, they have received two hundred and ten enquiries from local farmers wishing to take part in the scheme, and seventy five nest boxes have already been situated in farm buildings. They hope that at least two hundred and fifty possible sites will have been created in the North Cornwall area. So, throughout the county if only a portion of the total numbers placed are successful, the next vital thing is to persuade landowners and the farming community to leave areas of old pasture and rough, and ungrazed and marshy ground, to maintain the sort of country over which the Owls can hunt and feed and, D.V. multiply. These beautiful birds are as much the farmers friend as binder twine; surely more. The Duchy of Cornwall Estates are certainly supporting the scheme. Incidentally, we have here at £3 per copy the excellent B.T.O. Nestbox book which covers just about everything and is full of practical ideas. 3 Last year I reported that we had submitted the outline of a project to the World Wildlife Organisation who were funding schemes throughout the U.K. to help restore and improve the diminished wetland areas. Our aim was to bring back our Walmesley Sanctuary at Trewornan Bridge to it's original state before the winding course of the River Amble was straightened by the Water Board over twenty five years ago, leading to a lowering of the water table and a general drying out of the areas. We had approached our tenant, Mr John Menhinick of Burniere Farm, and he had no objection. Quite the contrary, he was very encouraging. The application to W.W.O. failed to bring any response, so we decided to go it alone. Our Newsletter Editor Mr Francis Couch took over getting the operation under way. Following consultation with the South West Authority, we had the most immediate response, with work only held up for awhile by excessive rain. To quote Mr Couch; 'Mr John Woods of S.W.W.A. bent over backwards to help us to the full. The digger driver did everything possible that we requested and that he could do with his machine and, not forgetting the bank supervisor, who did the final skilled touches to the big bank. If ever we need to do any work at a later date in the Sanctuary and could have the same team, it would be ideal.' It was all finished before Christmas and is settling to it's new look. Old water courses have been dug out and cleared, banks and pools created, small sluices installed and crossing made so that at any time in the future maintenance vehicles can gain access. Mr Menhinick has not only kept a watching brief but has offered us a site to erect a Hide, with access, so that the area can be overlooked from a height without causing any disturbance to birds which may be in the Sanctuary. Francis Couch deserves not only our thanks and congratulations for doing such a splendid job but for being an excellent P.R. man. We hope that the White-fronts may return. Mr Anthony Polglase of Middle Amble Farm has seen small parties drop in for a few days, as in 1985, but they have not stayed as they did just a few years ago when we had one hundred and twenty or so wintering there until March. It casts a shadow to record that about last Christmas two Greylag Geese turned up but by New Years Day they were shot over the River Camel. Your Field Day Calender shows that we plan to have a Field Day to look over the Sanctuary on Saturday 20th June. Our greatest anxiety came late in the year 1986 when we received a copy of proposals from S.W.W.A. outlining plans the Authority were considering to review all the recreational uses to which our reservoirs could be put with a view to making them a more viable proposition. Almost all the ideas would be destructive for conservation, not just for birds, far from it, but for both flora and fauna, the lot. We were able to arrange a meeting with Mr Stuart Bray the S.W.W.A. Recreation Officer on 13th December. I felt he had an unenviable task, but so did we in putting our views for the necessity to retain some of the most important wintering as well as breeding habitat in the County. Naturalists are not a strident body, but are concerned for the countryside and the future and it will be a bleak day were they to be ignored, and compromises can be difficult. We have submitted a complete Schedule of recorded species to S.W.W.A. Throughout the year we have requests from organisations and individuals for support by way of donations which we must consider and the Committee are not slow in putting their views either for or against and our Treasurer, Mr Alan Reynolds, duly records and reports. Following reports of damage at sea caused by the miles of monofilament nets around all coasts trapping diving brids, the R.S.P.C.A. continues to note that birds brought to their hospital at Perranporth are plump birds, which have drowned. We shall never be able to monitor their losses but I fear they are very great. One Member has especially requested that we help, where it seems practical, to resite at higher levels the nest of Mute Swans which get regularly washed away when unusually high tides occur.