Newsletter of Cornwall Birds (the CBWPS) No 67 ‐ Summer 2018 News from the board The Cornish Your Board last met in June at Allet and discussions included: *Arrangements for the recruitment of a new Grey Partridge Membership Secretary (as mentioned below). *The latest news on the Seabirds Survey, Project which is going well and giving very good The Cornish Grey Partridge Project coverage of the county’s breeding sites. (CGPP), aims to help the recovery of this *The possibility of establishing an official declining gamebird. Led by the Cornwall CBWPS archive, bringing together various County Group of the Game & Wildlife documents (dating back to 1928) currently Conservation Trust (GWCT) and supported ‘Hungary for Birds’ at held informally in several places. More by the RSPB and Natural England, the 5 details in the autumn Palores. year project launched in 2016 aims to help this year’s AGM? *An update on improvement work at Wind- reverse the rapid decline of native Grey mill Farm, including the possibility of an Partridges in Britain. Their numbers have By Phil McVey extension to the reserve that is being looked plummeted from millions to just over Don’t miss this year’s Cornwall Birds at by CWT. 65,000 breeding pairs over the past 50 *Approval of the Society’s accounts for Annual General Meeting, which will be years. Research has shown that two factors held at Lanhydrock Memorial Hall on 2017, which will be presented at the forth- have contributed to the fall in numbers. th coming AGM. Wednesday 15 August. First, intensification of farming has reduced The official CBWPS business will the numbers of be followed by “Hungary for Birds” – a Are you a people (as insects avail- presentation by renowned local photogra- able in our phers David Chapman and Adrian Lang- well as birds) person? fields, where don. Both Dave and Adrian are well known chicks are for their superb photos of birds and other taken to forage After ten years of superb service Angela wildlife and this talk will showcase their for food mean- Moore (pictured) has decided to step down recent trip to Hungary with its wealth of ing that they as our Membership Secretary. We will say birdlife. All members and guests are wel- may well starve goodbye in proper fashion nearer Angie’s come, and this is a rare opportunity to get a departure date, which is May 2019. to death. free showing of the work of two of our best In the meantime, we would love to Second, these photographers, with a fair bit of humour hear from anyone who would be interested ground-nesting thrown in. in becoming our next Membership Secre- birds are vulnerable to predators such as The AGM starts at 7.00pm (full tary. As such, you’ll be the first point of crows and foxes. details on the back page of this Palores) contact for prospective and new members, Cornwall has been badly affected and Lanhydrock Memorial Hall is easily keeping in touch by phone and email and by this decline and until the start of this accessible as it is five minutes from the ensuring new applications are smoothly project, had lost the species as a breeding A30 and between Bodmin and St Austell. handled. You’ll also be in regular contact bird. But research by the GWCT has shown No excuse not to be there! with existing members, updating records that, with the right habitat management and and keeping them up to date about member- a careful programme of reintroduction of ship information birds and their protection from predation, and subscriptions. particularly in the breeding season, popula- You are also an tions can be restored. important source In the autumn of 2016, the Corn- of information for wall Group released five family groups the Board of Trus- onto Charlie Watson Smyth’s farm at tees, providing Tregirls on the Prideaux-Brune estate near them with regular Padstow. The following spring count reports and keep- showed a minimum of eight breeding pairs ing them in touch had survived the winter. This year, despite with membership it being the wettest March since 1998 and trends. Over the next couple of years, not having three consecutive dry days since July, there were still 5 to 10 breeding pairs Bee-eater (above) and Red-necked Grebe we’re looking to introduce new ways of photographed by Adrian Langdon joining Cornwall Birds, especially to attract recorded in the spring count. younger members, such as ‘instant mem- “Although we’re only two years bership’, and offering payment methods into the project, I’m pleased with the find- CONTENTS other than just the standing order. The ings so far,” said GWCT’s director of re- Chariman’s Chat p3 Membership Secretary will be at the heart search Nick Sotherton. “It was a difficult Bird report p4-7 of these changes. If you are interested (or spring to say the least, but things are mov- Reserves p8-10 know someone who might be) please con- ing in the right direction. We’re incredibly Windmill Farm p12 tact the Chairman or Secretary for more grateful to Western Power for getting be- Field meetings p14 information. hind this project and making it possible.” AGM notice p16 President: Ian McCarthy Palores – July 2018 [email protected] ne of the sad things about the decline in the numbers of so many bird species O is the sudden absence of once familiar creatures. For years we had a Swal- CBWPS - Trustees low’s nest at my home, but one year the mud cup had dried out so completely that it crashed to the ground. My wife managed to procure an artificial version—a pottery Chairman: Mark Grantham nest– and we fixed it in exactly the same spot. The Swallows were a bit dubious at 07818 497470 first but then they accepted our offering and eggs appeared and then young. But this [email protected] brood didn’t make it either. We think a weasel managed to find the nest and that Vice-chairman: Bruce Taggart was the end of them. Since then we’ve had no more Swallows. 01752 829163 Some years ago we were graced by the presence of a pair of Spotted Fly- [email protected] catchers that chose to nest in the creeper on our house, then inexplicably they too Hon. Secretary & Phil McVey abandoned us. For years there was no sign of Minutes Secretary 07740 923385 them, but this year I was thrilled when I saw [email protected] one perched on the telegraph wires nearby. Honorary Treasurer: John Stanlake They were back and a diligent and very dis- 01752 848541 creet pair built a tiny, lichen-clad residence [email protected] about four feet from our front door. Amaz- Conservation Officer: Tony Blunden ingly, they reared (I think) three or four 01326 291064 young. I managed a mobile phone snap of the [email protected] babies in their minute creche (left) while their County Recorder: Dave Parker parents were off hawking for insects. The 07932 354711 parents would flit back to the nest almost [email protected] invisibly—little grey birds against a grey stone house. When they had fed the young Trustees: Greg Adams they would exit the nest with a rapid, low swoop almost to ground level then up into Phil Taylor the trees, somehow avoiding the attentions of Jackdaws, squirrels, the doubtless still Derek Spooner present weasel, our ancient cat, not to mention the endless human comings and Dan Chaney goings only feet from their nest. What a joy it has been to see them again, little ash-coloured ghosts, watch- ful and alert but always inconspicuous. There can hardly be a more ‘ordinary’ look- Officers ing bird than the Spotted Flycatcher and yet what understated beauty and personal- ity they have. My returning pair have enhanced our lives this baking, parched sum- Editors Birds in Cornwall: mer. I do hope they will choose us next year once they have completed their mara- Phil Taylor, Hilary Mitchell thon round trip to Africa. I will be keeping my eye open and my heart expectant for 01736 810933 their return. [email protected] Simon Marquis Webmaster: Dan Chaney [email protected] 07762 179343 Cornwall Birds Membership Secretary: Angela Moore 20 The Copse, Boscoppa, St Austell PL25 3EU 07944 988599 [email protected] Asst County Recorder: Tony Mills Editor, Palores: Simon Marquis [email protected] Registered Charity No 1144724 Field Meetings Officer: Beth Cross Cornwall Birds was founded as the CBWPS in 1931 to encourage [email protected] the study and preservation of birds in Cornwall. The Society has over Publicity Officer: Beth Cross 1000 members in total. It owns 4 reserves and manages jointly sev- [email protected] eral others. The Society organises weekly bird watching field trips (some jointly with the RSPB local members group). Palores (its col- Reserve Wardens: our newsletter for members) is published quarterly. [email protected] Adrian Langdon 2018 Subscriptions: Adult £17 [email protected] Dougy Wright Family £21 [email protected] Dave Parker Senior Citizen £14 [email protected] Dave Conway Senior Family £16 [email protected] Dan Chaney Life Membership (contact Angela) [email protected] Alan Rowland Subscriptions were due by 31st January 2018. Cheques made out to ‘CBWPS’ or pay by Gift Aid if you can - it saves the Society £1900 a year. For all payments, membership applications and enquiries please contact: Angela Moore, Membership Secretary, www.cbwps.org.uk 20 The Copse, Boscoppa, St Austell PL25 3EU Email: [email protected] Palores is published in January, April, July & October.