TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Preamble 3 The Weather of 1946 5 General Bird Notes ... 6 Arrivals and Departures 35 Scilly Notes ... 37 The Walmsley Sanctuary 47 Roosting of Ravens. C. J. F. Coombs 49 Observations of nest construction by the House-Martin L. Rendell 50 Heronries of the Fal and Helford Estuaries. P. I. R Maclaren 55 Balance Sheet ... ... 57 List of Members 58 SIXTEENTH REPORT OF The Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society. 1946. Edited by B. H. RYVES, D, VALENTINE and H. M. QUICK. The year has been a satisfactory one for increase of Member­ ship, 47 new members having joined, bringing the total- to 289. The thanks of the Society are due to Mr. Stuart Martyn, who has again kindly undertaken the auditing of the accounts this year, and also to Mr. Penrose, who so kindly continues to permit us to hold our meetings at the Museum, and to prepare the lecture hall for them. The first Annual General Meeting since the war was held on March 4th, 40 members being present. The resignation of Mr. Polwhele from the position of President, which he had held since 1936, was received with much regret, and a vote of thanks passed for all he had done for the Society during his long connection with it. As a mark of appreciation, it was unanimously carried that he be appointed Honorary Vice-president for life. Col. Bolitho was then elected, with acclamation, as the new President, and the rest of the Officers were re-elected en bloc. The following new Com­ mittee members were elected to fill the vacancies which had occurred during the war years: Dr. Coombs, Mr. New, Mr. Rendell, Mr. T. J. Stephens, and Mr. C. J. Stevens. It was felt that conditions were not yet sufficiently normal to hold a second General Meeting in 1946, but two meetings of the Executive Committee were held, on March 4th, and November 11th. Bird Protection. The Walmsley Sanctuary continues to be a source of pleasure and interest to members, as well as a source of income to the Society and, we hope, a source of comfort to the birds! The protection it offers to such species as the White-fronted Goose is invaluable; nowhere else in the County can Geese be seen in such numbers or with such regularity. Unfortunately, these birds have recently been much disturbed by the constant passing of low-flying planes, which scare them out of the Sanctuary into danger. The finding of a shot Bittern just over the border of the Sanc­ tuary is a sad story, which emphasises the value of the protected property. That any " nitwit with a-gun," can with impunity shoot these protected birds suggests that some form of closer control by the authorities is desirable. Reports of Gannets as the victims of oiling have been received from two or three sources. 4 More cheering is the news that the Peregrine is trying to re­ establish itself, and has bred successfully in two sites, as well as being seen about in several districts. The Short-eared Owl has also bred again. The spread of the Fulmar continues, and we think it is safe to say that anywhere along the length of the North coast, flying Fulmars are now a normal sight. The birds have spread round the Land's End as far as Mousehole, and then, crossing Mount's Bay, have appeared on the west side of the Lizard peninsula. Breeding is recorded from five sites, and suspected at a sixth, while more than one hopeful-looking station could not be visited at the proper time owing to the bad weather. Other points of note are the very early arrival dates of Swallow and Wheatear, the wintering date of Whimbrel, and the number of Hooded Crows, Black Redstarts, Spoonbills, Phalaropes and Little Auks reported. The Hooded Crow, hitherto only twice reported in the County in fifteen years, has this year been seen at four different times and places. A Wryneck at Tintagel is the first re­ ported for the mainland, though it has once been seen in Scilly. A Sooty Shearwater is also a very unusual visitor, and Kentish Plover have again been seen on the Camel estuary. A Woodchat Shrike was the most remarkable of the visitors to Scilly. An event of interest is the discovery of a roosting place in which, in addition to Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws, up to 150 Ravens congregate during the winter months. The habit developed by Herring Gulls in Newquay, of nesting between chimney pots, and on the window ledges of Hotels, is an amusing deviation from the normal, which appears to have become well established during the last twenty years. The Herring-Gull, already tripper-conscious, and willing to share a picnic lunch, seems becoming quite a domestic bird! The Great Black Woodpecker reported by Dr. Blair in square brackets is so very rare that it does not even appear on the list of British Birds! Readers will be interested in the description of what he saw that led him to suspect this unexpected vagrant. Members are thanked for the many and varied reports that they have sent in which, though heavily cut for reasons of space, form a useful body of evidence. Dr. Blair would like it known that the enquiry run by the British Trust for Ornithology into Nest sanitation is to be wound up at the end of this year, and he would be grateful if members would let him have their informa­ tion in good time, as he hopes to compile a report on the subject. Notes on the sanitation of Sea-birds are particularly wanted. Dr. Turk offers his thanks to those members who provided him with nest material for the study of bird parasites, and would still be glad of more material if anyone has the chance of obtaining it. Such material is best obtained about a week after the young birds have flown. Sand-Martins' nests are especially welcome. For the benefit of new members, the Editors here repeat their request, that those who send in complete annual lists of their bird records should do so in the following manner: 1. Use one side of the paper only, with a good margin at the top and left side. (The larger the paper the more convenient it is for handling). 5 2. Follow the order in the list of species, which can be sup­ plied to anyone asking for it. 3. Send not later than January 15th, after which date nothing can be accepted, to Miss Quick, Clarence Cottage, Penzance. Letters are welcome at any time from those who do not care to compile an annual record. ***** THE WEATHER OF 1946. By B. H. Ryves. The weather of 1946 can probably be correctly described as one of, if not the, worst within living memory. Certainly it was disastrous to the breeding of many species. There was abnormally little late nesting and few attempts at treble brooding were made by birds which commonly rear three broods. In a nutshell, 1946 was almost systematically wet, sunless and cool. January. There were short spells of severe frost and periods of rainy conditions. But the 13th was a wonderful spring day, when Woodlarks sang almost incessantly. On various days, song of Song-Thrushes and Wood-Pigeons was particularly noticeable. February. Mainly dull, mild and wet. The 12th was a true spring day and birds were crazy with song—Thrushes, Blackbirds and Chaffinches—and a Song-Thrush built feverishly. March. Much arctic weather, interspersed with wet days. The 27th, 30th and 31st were wonderful, hot summer days. April. Opened with almost a heat wave. Very little rain fell and crops suffered. Ended very wet. The only fairly decent month of the year. May. Cold winds prevailed during the first fortnight. Much rain in the last half of the month, including cloudbursts. June. Cold, cool and wet. An appalling month for man and beast. July. The 1st I noted as " the hottest day of the year." Warm days from 5th to 12th inclusive. The rest of the month chiefly cool, dull and wet. August. Cool and dull with a damaging gale on the 12th. Persistent rain for last half of month. September. Mainly wet and cool. October. Mainly wet. November. The wettest month for many years. December. Wet, except for a few days of frost before Christmas. 6 GENERAL BIRD NOTES FOR 1946. List of Contributors. E.A. Mrs. Aylwin, Golant. C.H.B. Capt. C. H. Bailhache, Tintagel. R.H.B. Dr. R. H. Blair, Camborne and Scilly. E.H.W.B. Lt.-Col. E. H. W. Bolitho, Madron. R.B. R. H. Brand, St. Austell. E.A.R.B. Major Burden, Trebetherick. V.M.B. Miss V. M. Bury, Looe. W.D.C. W. D. Clague, Looe. R.B.C. R. B. Clarke, Scilly. H.P.O.C. H. P. O. Cleave, Wadebridge. H.T.C. H. T. Curtis, Looe. A.D. Mrs. Darroch, Newquay. A.P.D. A. Perrin Dixon, Mylor, near Falmouth. A.A.D.S. Major Dorrien Smith, Scilly. S.J.D. S. J. Drew, Newquay. P.H.T.H. P. H. T. Hartley, St. Just in Penwith. F.H.H. Mrs. Hayman, Redruth. T.L.H. T. L. Henwood, Newquay. E.M.J. Mrs. Johnson, Mawnan, near Falmouth. C.H.L. C. J. Langham, Breague, near Helston. D.M.B.L. Miss Lethbridge, Launceston. P.I.R.M. P. I. R. Maclaren, Feock. J.M.M. J. M. Macmillan, Wadebridge. E.M.M. Mrs. Markland, Falmouth. M.J.M.