The Newsletter of Cornwall Birds (CBWPS) No 22 - Winter 2007 How you can help increase the The Cornwall Birds 2007 Annual General Meeting is membership of Cornwall Birds to be held in Wadebridge Enclosed with this copy of Palores is a membership recruitment leaflet. This is part of a The 2007 Annual General Meeting of Corn- drive by Cornwall Birds to grow its membership from the 750 or so it currently has. The wall Birds will take place on Friday 27th society will be able to improve its reserves and do more for birdlife in Cornwall with the April. additional funds that a larger membership would bring in. A bigger membership would also The precise venue for the AGM is spread the responsibilities for running the society more widely, creating a larger resource yet to be confirmed but is likely to be in on which to be able to call. Wadebridge (as per the two previous years) Please pass on the leaflet to anyone you know - a friend or member of your family - At the AGM two central roles on our who you think would enjoy being a member and wish to help conserve Cornwall’s precious society’s committee become vacant: that of birdlife. The leaflet will also be distributed with the March issue of Wild Cornwall, the Secretary, held by Darrell Clegg for the past magazine of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. We are very grateful to CWT for their generosity four years and Hon. Treasurer, held for the in letting us use their mailing in this way. same period by Bob Bridges. They both re- As an incentive and reward, members who recruit new members will have their tire in line with the society’s constitution. names put into a draw to win one of three great bird-related prizes - but do remember to Darrell and Bob have done a first make sure your name appears on the completed application form! class job in their respective roles. Peter Crispin, chairman of Cornwall Birds com- mented: “Both have served the society mag- Field meetings - a great nificently, bringing great knowledge and programme of walks and acumen to their roles. I would like to thank them both wholeheartedly, on behalf of the meetings for Jan - March membership.” Thanks are due once again to Mike Lord Formal notice of the AGM and the for supplying details of the RSPB meetings 2006 Report and Accounts will be published and walks for the next few weeks and in the Spring (April) edition of Palores. months (see page 12 for full details). Thanks also to Peter Kent of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust (and new Cornwall Birds committee member) for his three bird walks in eastern Cornwall. This must be the fullest programme Low light at Walmsley shows this Green- of field meetings we have had for some shank at its most handsome... time - so please come to as many as you (photo Adrian Langdon) can, they are invariably interesting and enjoyable and even if you are no expert, Recent sightings include a you will be made very welcome. Little Egret Curlew For those members able to get to (Hayle estuary Oct 06, photos Chris Yates) Swallow on Christmas Eve Wadebridge easily, there are weekly walks Dec 27th: American Wigeon: Walmsley; along the Camel Trail, starting at 10am CONTENTS Yellow-browed Warbler: Helston Sewage every Wednesday, meeting outside Country Works; Spotted Sandpiper: Hayle Est. Wise in Eddystone Road - great bird- Bird Report: Dec 25th: Yellow-browed Warbler: Helston watching guaranteed! Sewage Works; Spotted Sandpiper, & Green- Autumn winged Teal: Hayle Est; Bittern: Loe Pool; - p 4 Barnacle and Pink-footed Goose: Drift Res. Death of Stuart Hutchings Dec 24th: Swallow, Firecrest: Helston Sew- Stuart Hutchings, a well-known and much- Knot at Walmsley Reserve news age Works. loved figure in wildlife conservation in (photo Adrian Langdon) - p 5 Dec 23rd: Spotted Sandpiper, & Green- Cornwall, died on 25th October 2006 at the winged Teal: Hayle Est; Ring-necked Duck: age of 63. Stuart was at one time chairman Poland bird Loe Pool; Barnacle and Pink-footed Goose: of Cornwall Birds and played an active part diary in furthering the enjoyment and protection Drift Res; 5 Woodlarks: St.Martin-in- - p 8 Meneage. of wildlife in Cornwall. Dec 16th: Spotted Sandpiper, Green-winged Stuart was also involved in local Teal & Iceland Gull: Hayle Est; Ring-necked politics and became deputy mayor of Penryn Spanish bird Duck: Drift Res; Iceland Gull: Newlyn . and a county councillor. A larger than life adventures Dec 9th: Spotted Sandpiper: Hayle Est; personality, he will be sorely missed by the - p 10 Ring-necked Duck: Drift Res; Leach's Pet- many people who knew him. He is survived rels: lots off the north coast; Green-winged by his wife Cait. Ruff and Greenshank at Field meet- Teal: Stithians Res.; Yellow-browed Warbler: An obituary of Stuart, written by Walmsley ings: Winter Marazion. Greg Adams detailing his full and varied (photo Adrian Langdon) - p 12 See www.cbwps.org.uk for latest updates. life, appears on page 6 of this issue. Committee and Officers Palores - January 2007 President: Steve Madge As editor of this newsletter I am very pleased that our Committee has agreed to Seawinds, Lower Trerive, Downderry, Torpoint, publish Palores in colour for every issue from now on. The response to the October PL11 3LZ (01503-250432) colour edition was good so it seemed a shame to go back to black and white. I think it makes all the difference and so, it seems, do you. Thank you for the feedback. Chairman: Peter Crispin It has also been very gratifying to get more stories and letters from our 5 Church Lea, Launceston PL15 8QZ members. Several contributions came my way over the autumn and you can read a (01566-773455) [email protected] selection on pages 7, 8, 9 and 10 of this issue. Please feel free to send in any tales of great birding exploits or even little anecdotes of interesting bird behaviour or sight- Vice Chairman: Graham Sutton ings you may have experienced. Similarly, I would be very pleased to publish re- Harcombe, West Park Road, Bude, EX23 8PB ports of our field meetings that you have enjoyed. All these things help to make (01288-356605) Palores a better and more interesting read. So, of course, do the photographs that grace these pages and also our excel- Honorary Secretary: Darrell Clegg lent website (www.cbwps.org.uk). We are indebted as ever to the dedicated photog- 55 Lower Fore Street, Saltash, PL12 6JQ raphers in our Society, and Adrian Langdon in particular, for sharing their superb (01752-844775) [email protected] quality shots. Hon Treasurer: Bob Bridges I am sorry to say I never had the privilege of meeting Stuart Hutchings, 21 Parc Peneglos, Bells Hill, Mylor, TR11 5SL one-time chairman of Cornwall Birds, who died in October, but Greg Adams’ won- (01326-373830) derful tribute to him (page 6) reveals a man of great character and tireless energy in pursuit of a cause he believed in. How vital that sort of commitment is today when Conservation Officer: Chris Mason we hear of the countless threats to natural habitats and wildlife at home and around 3 Daniel Court, Truro TR1 2XJ the world. [email protected] I hope you enjoy your first Palores of 2007. Simon Marquis - Editor Membership Secretary: Sara McMahon 72 Underwood Road, Plympton, PL7 1SZ (01752-242823) [email protected] Cornwall Birds County Recorder: Darrell Clegg 55 Lower Fore Street, Saltash, PL12 6JQ The Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society (01752-844775) [email protected] Editor, Birds in Cornwall: Derek Julian 12, Dunveth Road, Wadebridge, PL27 7XD. (01208 816779) Website administrator: Andy Pay Salena Cottage, Wendron TR13 0EA Registered Charity No 255899 e-mail: [email protected] Cornwall Birds (as the CBWPS) was founded in 1931 to encourage the study Editor, Palores: Simon Marquis and preservation of birds in Cornwall. The Society has over 750 members. It St Breock Place, Wadebridge, PL27 7JS owns 3 reserves and manages jointly several others. The Society organises (07711 883876) [email protected] weekly bird-watching field trips (some jointly with the RSPB local members group). Palores (its free, colour newsletter for members) is published quar- Committee member: Rosemary Parslow terly. Every year the Society also publishes its authoritative annual record - 17 St Michael’s Road, Ponsanooth, TR3 7ED Birds in Cornwall - sent free to all members. (01872-865013) 2007 Subscriptions: Adult £14 Committee member: Peter Kent Family £18 2 Morwellham Cottages, Morwellham Quay, Senior Citizen £11 Tavistock, Devon PL19 8JL Senior Family £13 Life member £200 Field Meetings Officer: Vacant Public Relations Officer: Vacant Subscriptions for 2007 are due by 1st January . Reserve Wardens: Walmsley: Adrian Langdon Gift Aid saves the Society £1,500 a year. Please pay - if you can - by Gift Aid. Maer Lake: Graham Sutton Windmill Farm: Andy Pay Membership: to join Cornwall Birds, please call, email or write to Sara Colliford: Dave Conway McMahon, Membership Secretary, 72 Underwood Road, Plympton, PL7 1SZ, Drift: Dave Parker (01752-242823), e-mail: [email protected]. Stithians: Vacant Honorary Solicitor: Greg Adams Palores is published four times a year - January, April, July and October. 2 Wendron Street, Helston TR13 8PS Advertising rates: Full colour page £100, Half page £50. Small ads and notices are free to members. Independent Examiner: Mrs J E Cox FCA Design and typesetting by the Editor. Whitakers (Chartered Accountants) Printed by R. Booth Ltd, Mabe, Penryn, Cornwall. Bryndon House, 5 Berry Road, Newquay TR7 1AD Distribution by Envelope Supplies, Holsworthy, Devon.