New birding guide to Cornwall and Scilly

 

by CBWPS membership secretary Sara McMahon (Cornwall) and the secretary to British Rirds Rarities Committee, Nigel Hudson (Scilly).

 

   

 

"The 208 pages that make up Best Birdwatching Sites: Cornwall & Scilly are a "must have" and even birders in and around Cornwall and Scilly may find out about one or two little nooks and crannies that they may choose to investigate in the future." - Mark Golley, Birdguides (read the full, mouth-watering review here)

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 "Birds in Cornwall"

 

The situation regarding the outstanding annual bird reports is here.

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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 REQUESTS 28th July *

Lesser Scaup - 3 Drift 3rd Feb
Balearic Woodchat Shrike - Polgigga 5th -10th May
Baird's Sandpipier - Carnsew Pool 22nd August
Desert Lesser Whitethroat - Porthcurno 2nd - 17th Nov
Blyth's Pipit - Sennen/Nanjizal/Land's End area - 20th Oct - 24th Dec
Blyth's Pipit (Different bird?) Pendeen 19th Oct
Buff-bellied Pipit - Land's End/Trevescen/ Nanjizal - 26th Oct-17th Nov
Madeiran Storm Petrel - Pendeen 15th Sept
Madeiran Storm Petrel - Sennen Cove 16th Sept

Black Stork - Sennen/Porthcurno area 11th - 16th Sept 2007

(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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Participants at the field meeting at Torpoint on 24th July (photo by Ben Julian). 

Read all about it here!

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 Summer edition of Palores (Cornwall Birds members' newsletter) published July '08

 

     

 

Extracts above. Apologies if you have not yet received this edition. There were problems with the distribution which we will ensure do not happen again. Anyone who does not receive their copy by Friday 25th July, please email palores@cbwps.org.uk.

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Interested in car-share?

 

Is anyone from the east of the county planning to go on any field meetings down west?

 If so, why not car-share? Please contact David Palmer:

 davidpalmer1 at blueyonder.co.uk (substitute @ for at - device to avoid spammers!)

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It's good news for Cornish Choughs.  Further details here.

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NB August field meeting at Stithians has been unavoidably cancelled.

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Free to a good home:  six volumes (nos 19-24 dated 1968-74) of the Wildfowl Trust publication Wildfowl. Each contains several ornithological scientific papers. Free to anyone who can collect from Launceston. Tel 01566 776302 for details.

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SeaWatch SW 2008

 

Early-summer news update, including a summary of UK Balearic Shearwater records between 1st January and 31st May 2008, and a final call for observers for the SeaWatch SW survey this summer.   In particular, a couple more experienced sea-watchers are needed to help out at Gwennap Head this autumn (between 31 Aug and 10 Sept) to ensure 100% coverage between mid-July and mid-October. Read more.........

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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. Price reduced to £395 ono. Phone: 07919 226954

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Field Meetings - Volunteers needed

 

 We run regular field meetings, often in conjunction with the RSPB Cornwall Group.  We are looking for a few extra volunteers to lead an occasional meeting in their area.  You don't need to be an expert, just reasonably competent at identifying common birds.  If you would like to help, please e-mail here.

 

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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