Dawn Chorus Field Meetings

You have all seen the BBC Springwatch show bringing you shots of the wildlife that can be seen all around England. Here in Cornwall our local wildlife experts will be at events around the county on May 11th, 18th and 25th to show you the local and migrant birds. These are joint meetings with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.  Why not make an effort to join us on these special early morning meetings.  Please note they will be cancelled if wet. Contact Dave Thomas 01726-861093 after 6pm.  Click here for the full list.

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Latest news from our reserves:

 

Drift Res:

Cattle Egrets seen daily on the reserve but now reduced to three  6th May: 57 Mute Swans, 12 Canada Geese  (no goslings!), Common Sandpiper

4th May: juv Iceland Gull, Whimbrel

1st May: juv Iceland Gull, 11 Whimbrel, first Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats

28th April: 5 Canada Geese goslings

23rd April: juv Iceland Gull
22nd Apr: 3 Whimbrel 55 Mute Swans.
20th Apr: 1W Iceland Gull, Common Sandpiper, Ring Ouzel

(thanks to Dave Parker for info)

Windmill Farm:

6th May: Lapwing, Golden Plover, 2 Whimbrel, female Mallard with 14 ducklings

2nd May: 5 Wheatears, 5 Whitethroats, 6 Sedge Warblers, 1 Curlew, 2 pairs of Moorhen

26th Apr: Greenshank, Curlew, 5 Whimbrel, Peregrine, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grasshopper Warblers

23rd Apr: 2 Garganey, Hoopoe, 2 Whitethroats, Little Egret

22nd Apr: Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Redstart, 2 Whinchats

20th Apr: Hoopoe, Garganey, Ruff

(thanks to Andy Pay for info)

 

Walmsley Sanctuary:

9th May: 6 Dunlin. 2 Greenshank. 2 Shoveler. 2 Gadwall. 3 Teal. 1 Stock Dove. 7+ Sedge Warbler

6th May: 4 Wood Sandpiper. 1 Ruff. 2 Ringed Plover.3 Greenshank. 1 Black-tailed Godwit. 3 Eur Teal.

5th May: 2 Wood Sandpiper. 3 Greenshank. 1 Whimbrel. 1 SP Black-tailed Godwit. pair Northern Shoveler. 1 male Gadwall. 6 Common Swift. 1 Male Eur Teal. 4 Little Egret. 2 Common Shelduck.

4th May: Cattle Egret

29th April: 1 Wood Sandpiper. Gadwall pair. 6 Eur Teal. 2 Northern Shoveler. 3 Greenshank. 5 Common Swift. 3 Canada Goose broods. 2 Mallard broods. 9+ Sedge Warbler.
24th April: 2 Northern Shoveler. 12 Eur Teal. 50+ Barn Swallow. 40+ Sand Martin. 6+ Sedge Warbler

23rd April: 1 Garganey male. 1 Gadwall Male. 12 Eur Teal. 4 Northern Shoveler. 5 Black-tailed Godwit (all in summer plumage) 4 Greenshank. 2 Tufted Duck. 2 Common Shelduck. 6+ Sedge Warbler.
20th April: 1 Common Whitethroat. 2 Blackcap. 2 Sedge Warbler.  2 Gadwall. 4 Northern Shoveler. 10 Eur Teal. 5 Greenshank.1 Ruff. 2 Whimbrel. 6 Reed Bunting. Barn Swallow. House Martin. Sand Martin. Chiffchaff. Willow Warbler. Little Grebe. Grey Heron. Little Egret. Tufted Duck. Coot. Moorhen. Mute Swan. Canada Goose. Mallard. Curlew.
(thanks to Colin Selway for info)

 

Stithians Reservoir:

9th May: walking from the watersports centre in a sw west direction 07.30am-0900  cuckoo heard, gc grebe 1, whitethroat 2, willow warbler 4, bullfinch 1, swallow 3, chiff chaff 1, little grebe 1, song thrush 1; from the hides this evening- Garganey (drk) 1, willow warbler 1, little grebe 6, swallow 4,

8th May: 4 greenfinch, 5+ sedge warbler, 2 chiffchaff, 2 song thrush, 10+ whitethroat, 9+ willow warbler, 2 linnet, 19+ swallow, 1 little grebe, 1 buzzard, 1 g c grebe, 1 bullfinch, 1 cuckoo (this was walking from the southern entrance of the reservoir up to the dam then on to the northern cut off and back. 07.30am-0945)
7th May: 1 g c grebe, 1 little grebe, 6 swallow, 1 garden warbler, 2 moorhen

5th May: 1 g c grebe, 1 swallow, 1 little grebe

3rd May: 1 pochard, 1 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff, 1 little grebe, 2 garden warbler

30th April- 1 blackcap, 1 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff, 8+ swallow, 1 cuckoo flew across the res then sat on a fence post opposite the hide.

28th April: 1 cuckoo, 1 blackcap, 5 little grebes, 15 swallows, 1 chiffchaff

27th April: 2 house martins, 1 whitethroat, 4 willowwarblers, 1 little grebe, 2 g.c.grebes, 4 swallows, 1 garden warbler

26th April: 5 little grebe, 1 gc grebe, 2 swallow

21st April: 1 willow warbler, 1 little grebe, 2 chiffchaff,  blackcap

(thanks to Simon Taylor for info)

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Spring edition of Palores published April '08

 

16 pages include bird report, reserves reports, article on the Hayle White-billed Diver, review of records of Cattle Egret, lots of colour photos etc.

 

 

 

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Outstanding rarity descriptions

 

These birds were all reported on Birdguides but no descriptions have been received by the County Recorder or the secretary of BBRC.  If you can provide a written description of any of them (and especially if you were the finder), please forward to the Recorder.

* NEW REQUEST * (Hume's?) Yellow-browed Warbler  8th Jan - 1st Feb 07 - Bridge, Portreath. Description and/or photos needed please.

Cattle Egret: numerous.  Please remember that Cattle Egret still qualifies as a species whose records need to be assessed by the BBRC - though probably not for much longer!  Descriptions are requested for all records.

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Field meetings for April/May added here 

 

For sale: Nikon HG DCF 8x32 binoculars. Top of the range from Nikon, with case, boxed and in near mint condition. Significant saving on new. £449 ono. Phone: 07919 226954

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Colour-ringed Mediterranean Gulls

 

Have you ever seen any Med Gulls in Cornwall wearing colour-rings? We are trying to build up a picture of the various origins of Cornish Med Gulls, so if you have any details, especially of ring numbers (even if only partially read),  please send them to webmaster@cbwps.org.uk

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Bird records for 2007

 

Now the new year has arrived, please submit your records of birds in Cornwall in 2007 for inclusion in the county bird report.  Please read the important new guidelines on submission of records

 

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Did you know that membership of Cornwall Birds is FREE to students under 18?

Monitoring Cirl Buntings  Cirl buntings are breeding again in             Cornwall thanks to the RSPB’s cirl bunting reintroduction project in partnership with Paignton Zoo, Natural England and the National Trust.  Read more about the project on the News page and learn how you can help with monitoring the birds' progress.   Contacts (click to e-mail): secretary chairman treasurer conservation palores membership webmaster recorder