CORNWALL BIRD-WATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY Fifty-Seventh Annual Report 1987 St. George Printing Works Ltd., Redruth. Tel: 217033 Officers 1988 - 89 President Dr C.J.F. Coombs, Greenwith Place, Perranwell, Truro. Chairman L.A. Smith, 21 Vicarage Meadows, Fowey. Vice Chairman N.R. Phillips, 8 The Warren, St Ives. General Secretary A.R. Pay, 13 Tregellas Road, Mullion. Treasurer and Registrar A.F. Reynolds, 33 Treworder Road, Truro. Field Meetings Officer D.L. Thomas, Mirador, Whitecross, Newquay. Conservation Officer D.S. Flumm, 52 Porthia Road, St Ives. Asst. Conservation Officer R.J. Hooton, 1 Bodieve Farm Cottages, Bodieve, Wadebridge. Newsletter Editor F.M. Couch, 29 Roman Drive, Bodmin. Officer for Youth and Education A.C. Hathway, Langurra, Meadow End, Green Lane, Crantock, Newquay. Recorder and Editor 'Birds in Cornwall' S.M. Christophers, 5 Newquay Road, St Columb Major. Asst. Editor E.J. Cook, 7 Trethewey Way, Newquay. Recorder and Editor 'Isles of Scilly Bird Report' M.J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, St Ives. Committee Members S.C. Madge (Torpoint) and B. Wilson (Lostwithiel) retire 1989; R. Butts (Mullion) and B.T. Craven (Launceston) retire 1990; J.A. Jane (Truro), J.E. Millett (Chacewater), D. Penwarden (Truro), G.P. Sutton (Bude) and B. Wotton (Newquay) retire 1991. (The positions of Minutes Secretary and Public Relations Officer remain vacant.) 2 CHAIRMANS REPORT 1988 I was honoured to be elected Chairman at the Annual General Meeting held on 16th April 1988. It is my pleasure to devote the first part of this report to recording the tremendous service that Peggy Visick has given to this Society. It was only on being elected Vice Chairman nearly three years ago that I realised the vast amount of work that she had been doing in a most professional manner. The Society had become part of her life, and the lobbying, correspondence and telephoning she was involved in was known only to a few. Peggy has been a member for many years and first joined the Executive Committee in 1952. She was elected Vice Chairman in 1969 and in 1972 succeeded Dr Coombs as Chairman. In her letter of resignation she says that it was her ambition to see the Society celebrate its 50th anniversary in 1981 - she has more than exceeded her goal. Her reminiscences of watching birds on the Scillies with the late Hilda Quick are most amusing. This was, of course, in the days before the Islands had achieved the international status that they now enjoy in birding circles. Peggy will be greatly missed as Chairman, but I am sure that we will enjoy the benefits of her wisdom, knowledge, enthusiasm and charming company for many years to come. In recognition of her outstanding services to the Society Peggy was unanimously elected an Honorary Member of the Society at the Annual General Meeting 1988. It now gives me great pleasure to record that Roy Phillips has been elected Vice Chairman. Roy has been a prominent voice on the Cornish birding scene for many years and has held a number of offices, including Recorder, Editor and most recently Assistant Conservation Officer. He has led learned bodies of ornithologists to the Middle East and elsewhere and has recently blossomed into prominence by becoming an award winning author. As I reported at the A.G.M. the Society is in good heart. We have slightly more members than we had last year and, as the Balance Sheet shows, we are financially sound. However, as the Treasurer Mr Alan Reynolds reminded members, although we ended the year with money in hand, if two proposed hides are provided, there would be no surplus next year. Subscriptions have not been increased for five years and individual membership at £5 must surely represent one of the best deals available to birdwatchers anywhere in the country. From time to time comment is made as to what members get for their money. They get two nationally acclaimed bird reports, two newsletters, two General Meetings, a number of indoor meetings and a series of field days organised by David Thomas with the cooperation of many experienced members throughout the county. These make the Society an important body of which to be a member. In recent times, special meetings have been held by the Executive Committee with regard to Society policy, and as we approach our Diamond Jubilee in 1991, it is reassuring that we are considering where we are going and what we are doing to maintain the aims and objectives set out so long ago. During the year we have had a site meeting and a field meeting at the Walmsley 3 Sanctuary. The work carried out by S.W.W. is noticeable and there has been a definite improvement in the volume of standing water on the Sanctuary in winter. We are awaiting planning permission for a hide overlooking the area. A further hide is planned near the Golden Lion at Stithians Reservoir and this will augment the two hides already in use in the area. The Management Plans requested by S.W.W. have been formulated in committee and forwarded for approval. We are conscious of the need for vigilance regarding the preservation of habitat within the county and we have been represented at meetings held in respect of the change of use of Copperhouse Pool at Hayle and shooting on the Camel Estuary. Despite the fact that the Society took a responsible attitude in the latter discussions, we have been told by the landowner that we have to move the very successful Tregunna hide from his land. Every effort has been made to ensure that the hide remained but no response has been received to our letters and representations. This is particularly disappointing but we hope to erect on another site on the Camel Trail. In preparing this report at very short notice, it will be inevitable that I have omitted to thank some of those who have worked hard to make the Society run smoothly. However I must make particular mention of our Secretary, Andy Pay, our prudent Treasurer Alan Reynolds and our Newsletter Editor Francis Couch. Finally, and most importantly to Stan Christophers and Mike Rogers, for their work as Recorders and for preparing their impressive Bird Reports for Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly respectively. Les Smith 4 CONTENTS Page Officers for 1988/89 2 Chairmans Report 3 Treasurers Report 6 Editorial and Review of the Year 8 Contributors 12 Exotica 112 B.B.R.C. Decisions 113 Breeding Seabirds Survey 1987 114 The Red-necked Grebe in Cornwall 122 Chukars 125 The birds of Little Nanteague and Allet Bog 127 Ringing Report 1987 133 Systematic List for 1987 136 The Society's Rules 140 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1987 1986 £ £ P £ P INCOME Subscriptions 3,739 Annual Membership 1987 3,567.00 300 Life membership 544 Tax refund on covenanted subscriptions - 1987 542.44 4,583 4,109.44 211 Donations 221.30 350 Rent, Walmsley Sanctuary 350.00 Interest 32 31.56 105 Cornwall County Council Bonds . 52.50 1,387 N.S.B. Investment Account 1,734.11 443 Charities deposit fund 389.62 53 Bank Deposit Account 28.18 2,020 2,235.97 Other Income 1,525 Sale of Annual Reports — Scilly 1,067.37 265 — Mainland 368.85 356 Other Sales and income 158.20 2,146 1,594.42 9,310 8,511.13 Less: EXPENDITURE Printing, Stationery and Postages Annual Reports, 1986: 1,975 Mainland 1,760.00 1,346 Scilly 1,410.00 303 News Letters 280.00 301 Other Printing and Stationery ... 270.63 754 Postages 673.37 132 Rents and licences 57.00 140 Insurances 143.42 66 Hire of rooms for meetings 66.95 95 Hide expenses 19.00 Subscriptions and donations 46 to Societies 127.80 71 Goods for resale 12.26 _ Stithians improvements 378.46 185 Miscellaneous 437.73 5,414 5,636.62 3,896 2,874.51 Less: Contributions and Donations - CTNC Bird Surveys 250.00 150 Swanpool 50 Millook Woods - 250 Chough Research - 75 Royal Institution Bird Exhibits 120.00- 525 370.00 £3,371 EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE £2,504.51 6 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER, 1987 1986 £ £ P £ p INVESTMENTS £902.24 3±°/o War Loan at market price at 315 31st December, 1987 339.47 Cornwall County Council Bonds:— 1,000 10±°7o Repayable 31st March, 1987 - 1,315 339.47 98 DEBTORS 147.74 180 STOCK at cost 335.00 BANK BALANCES 13,795 N.S.B. Investment Account 18,529.64 3,500 Charities Deposit Fund 3,000.00 674 Bank Deposit Account 152.34 389 Current Account 155.00 - Cash in Hand - 18,358 21,836.98 19,951 22,659.19 Less: LIABILITIES 192 Subscriptions received in advance 378.50 16 Sundry Creditors 8.21 208 386.71 £19,743 NET ASSETS £22,272.48 ACCUMULATED FUNDS Balance at 31st December, 1986 19,743.15 Add: Excess of Income over Expenditure for year 2,504.51 22,247.66 Add: Increase in Market Value of War Loan 24.82 £19,743 £22,272.48 NOTE: The Society also owns land at Trethias Island and Walmsley Sanctuary in addition to the assets shown in this Balance Sheet. REPORT OF THE AUDITORS TO CORNWALL BIRDWATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY We have audited the above Balance Sheet and attached Income and Expenditure Account in accordance with approved auditing standards. In our opinion, the above Balance Sheet and attached Income and Expenditure Account give a true and fair view of the state of the Society's affairs at 31st December 1987, and of its surplus Income over Expenditure for the year then ended.