Reserves and hides...

The Society owns three reserves: the Walmsley Sanctuary, on the Amble Marshes near Wadebridge; Windmill Farm on the Lizard peninsula; and Maer Lake, just outside Bude.  Windmill Farm and Maer Lake are owned jointly with Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

We also have Management Agreements for reserves at Drift Reservoir (west of Penzance), Stithians Reservoir (between Redruth and Falmouth) and Loveny (part of Colliford Lake on Bodmin Moor).

Burniere Hide

Situated on the Camel Estuary, this Hide at SW 982 740 is owned by the CBWPS and is close to Walmsley Sanctuary.. The path to the hide can be muddy so boots are recommended and unfortunately wheelchair access is not possible. Leave Wadebridge on the B3314 Rock to Port Isaac road, passing over the A39 proceed to the old narrow, traffic light controlled Trewoman Bridge and park in the lay-by to the right just before the bridge. Opposite the lay-by there are two gates; enter the field through the left hand one and walk along the field keeping close to the hedge on your right hand side.  Beware of large holes.

 Enter the second field and continue along the right hand side to the hide.

PLEASE DO NOT WALK ON THE AMBLE DAM & PLEASE ENSURE ALL GATES ARE CLOSED AND SECURED AFTER YOU.

Tregonce Hide

This hide at SW 932 742 is also situated on the Camel Estuary. Parking in Padstow follow the Camel Trail towards Wadebridge. After crossing the Iron Bridge walk through the shallow cutting and before reaching the picnic area look for a well hidden narrow gate to the left. The hide is situated at the end of the small track and over looks the Estuary.

Tregunna Hide

This hide is also on the Camel Estuary but is owned by Cornwall County Council.

Crowdy Hide

Crowdy Reservoir Hide is near Camelford at SX 147 840; at the moment the Hide is owned by South West Water/South West Lakes Trust and is not locked. Access is either via the footpath from the dam car park or the path along the edge of the woodland. The terrain is rough and unsuitable for wheelchairs.

An excellent reservoir at all times of the year. Breeding birds include Black-headed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Canada Goose, Lapwing and Grasshopper Warbler. Winter species include large numbers of wildfowl. Lapwing, Golden Plover and various birds of prey. Rarities at the site have included Wilson’s Phalarope, Goshawk, Baird’s Sandpiper, Black Duck, Franklin’s Gull, Pied-billed Grebe and Black-winged Pratincole.

Stithians Reservoir Hides

Wigeon, Teal and Lapwings from the southern hide (Andy Pay)

This body of water is owned jointly by South West Water and South West Lakes Trust, it is a major birding site in the South West and comes with a very impressive species list. There is a footpath around the perimeter of the Reservoir. Alternatively it can be viewed, WITH CARE, from the public highway at the Southern Causeway (just east of the village of Penmarth at SW713351), the Northern Causeway (near the Golden Lion Public House at SW708373) and the dam at the eastern end where there is a large car park at SW719364

CBWPS manages the southern portion of the main reservoir and the southern and northern ‘cut-offs’ as nature reserves. There are two hides for members at the southern end of the site, one overlooking the south western corner of the main body of water and one overlooking the ‘cut-off’ from the western bank. Access to both hides is through unlocked gates on the roadside at the western end of the causeway. Contact the warden here.

 PLEASE BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN PARKING AND CROSSING THE ROAD.  VEHICLES OFTEN TRAVEL FAR TOO FAST HERE!

There is a new hide built by South West Lakes Trust overlooking the northern cut-off.  Access is opposite the Golden Lion.

Locally resident birds include Little and Great Crested Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Mallard, Coot, Stonechat, Raven and Reed Bunting. During the winter months their numbers increase and they are joined by Wigeon, Goldeneye, Goosander and Mediterranean Gulls are often present amongst the flocks of gulls. The surrounding fields often hold large numbers of wintering thrushes.

Sand Martins are the earliest of the spring migrants; other hirundines and Swifts arriving later when the weather improves. Warm winds from the southeast may bring Ospreys or Black Terns.

In addition to the resident breeding birds during late summer wildfowl and waders start to appear. Garganey can often be found among the water plants at both ‘cut-offs’.

During the autumn the water level is critical – if it is high and there is little or no exposed mud – then waders move on very rapidly.  However, a decent amount of mud encourages them to stay and a wide variety of species may occur. Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper are all regular.

 Rare birds appear every year without fail. In recent years these have included Pied-billed Grebe, Lesser Scaup, White-rumped Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Baillon’s Crake and Alpine Swift.

Drift Reservoir Hide

Situated at SW 431 293 Drift Reservoir is between Penzance and Land’s End on a minor road sign posted to Sancreed, north of the A30 at the centre of Drift village. To reach the CBWPS hide walk along the reservoir’s western perimeter path towards the northern end.

The reservoir is jointly owned by South West Water and South West Lakes Trust.  Late in 1999 a new reed bed was created further north of the hide. It is hoped in time to provide another hide here.

 Drift Reservoir is Britain’s most southwesterly reservoir.  It is excellent for gulls and wintering wildfowl and can be very good for passage waders if the water levels are suitable. Around 230 different species have been recorded at the site. Included among the site’s rarities are Squacco and Purple Herons, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Lesser Scaup and Booted Eagle. Ospreys are now regular passage migrants

 Warden and CBWPS contact:- 

Dave Parker, 2 Boslevan, Green Lane, Marazion  TR1710HQ                                                     

Tel: 01736 710668  Mobile: 07932 354711   e-mail damag at btopenworld.com

Lower Tamar Lake Hide

The Tamar Lakes are sign posted from both the A39 and from the Red Post Road. Situated at SS 293 112 the lakes are owned by South West Water and South West Lakes Trust. The hide is on the western side of the lower lake; however, the future of this area is presently in the balance due to problems with the dam.

The upper lake is also worth checking; especially when mud is exposed in the spring and autumn although there is no hide at present. Wildfowl appear in good numbers at the site in winter and passage birds include various terns, hirundines and waders.  Rarities have included Baird’s Sandpiper, Wilson’s, Grey and Red-necked Phalaropes, White-winged Black Tern, Blue-winged Teal, Spotted Crake and Long-billed Dowitcher.

Ruan Lanihorne Hide

This hide situated four miles south east of Truro on the River Fal at SW 887 419 is available to members.

Loveny Reserve

The Loveny Reserve is at the northern end of the eastern finger of Colliford Reservoir at SX185752. The Reserve is managed jointly by CBWPS and Cornwall Wildlife Trust.  The reservoir is owned by South West Water and South West Lakes Trust. The reserve has either fairly shallow water or mud depending on the water levels; there are islands at times some with sallows.

From the A30 west of Bolventor access is via a track at (OS Ref SX179761); parking is available in the lay-by on the A30. Either walk or drive along the rough track alongside the conifers to a gate. Taking the left fork leads to a left turn towards a dwelling. Park near the bungalow and walk the rest of the way to the reserve.

Alternatively park in the car park near the public toilets on the northwestern arm at (OS Ref SX165732) and follow the footpath northeasterly over several fields to the reserve.

N.B. ACCESS IS NOT PERMITTED FROM THE BOLVENTOR TO DOZMARY ROAD

Much of the reservoir can be scanned using a scope from this road.

Wildfowl use the reserve and reservoir in winter and among those present there are likely to be Pochard, Wigeon, Goldeneye and in cold weather Smew. Golden Plover, Lapwing and Snipe are regular in the area and raptors include Peregrine, Merlin and Buzzard. In some years Short-eared Owls and Hen Harriers winter.

Sand Martins, hirundines, warblers and Black Terns can all be found on spring passage.

Breeding birds include Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Teal, Black-headed Gull, Cuckoo, Whinchat and Reed Bunting. In late summer and early autumn large numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls roost overnight on the reserve.

Common and Green Sandpipers start a steady flow of autumn waders that will in most years include Redshank, Greenshank, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Little Stint.

Pectoral Sandpiper, Stone Curlew, phalaropes, Montagu’s and Marsh Harrier, Bluethroat, Corncrake and skuas are a few of the rarer species that have occurred at the site.

Warden and C.B.W.P.S. contact:-

Dave Conway, Tregenna, Cooksland, Bodmin. (01208 77686).

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