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Welcome to the home page of the

Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society

dedicated to the study and conservation of birds in the county of Cornwall, in the far south-west of England.

The Society, which celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 2006:

owns or manages six nature reserves

runs weekly field meetings

publishes a comprehensive annual report

issues four annual newsletters, Palores

supports conservation-led initiatives in Cornwall

For details of how to join, see the Membership page.

Banner photo by Adrian Langdon

 

County Bird News
Click here

 

 

Please e-mail pictures, news, articles and comments to the webmaster  

 

Members' Pictures

 

Further pictures can be found on the Gallery pages

 

DISCLAIMER

 

Pied FlyCatcher 010910.jpg (44885 bytes)

Pied Flycatcher  01/09/10
Culdrose  (Dougy Wright)

 

Curlew Sandpiper 300810.jpg (91888 bytes)

Curlew Sandpiper  30/08/10
Davidstow Airfield  (Adrian Davey)

 

Arctic Skua 230810.jpg (55727 bytes)

Arctic Skua  23/08/10
Pendeen  (Sam Williams)

 

Skylark 160810.jpg (57613 bytes)

Skylark  16/08/10
Trevose Head  (Derek Dennis)

 

 Manx Aug.jpg (74337 bytes)

Manx Shearwater  Aug. 2010
Rumps Point  (Colin Selway)

 

wood sand 150810.jpg (81212 bytes)

Wood Sandpipers  15/08/10
Stithians Reservoir  (Sam Williams)

 

 lesser whitethroat 110810.jpg (73581 bytes)

Lesser Whitethroat 11/08/10
Private Garden, Carlyon Bay
 (Nigel Climpson)

 red crested pochard 270710.jpg (82485 bytes)

Red-crested Pochard  27/07/10
Kingsmill Lake  (Michael Beer)

 

med gull 270710.jpg (51872 bytes)

Meditteranean Gull  27/07/10
Sennen (Sam Williams)

 

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Barn Owl  18/07/10
Heligan (Bob & Leslie Mitchell)

 

GC Grebe 060710.jpg (62474 bytes)

Great Crested Grebe  06/07/10
Drift Reservoir (Sam Williams)

 

Buzzard 250610.jpg (62147 bytes)

Common Buzzard 25/06/10
Prussia Cove (Anthony Miners)

 

Rose-coloured Starling 250610.jpg (54051 bytes)

Rose-coloured Starling 25/06/10
Porthcurno (Adrian Langdon)

 

cuckoo1 190610.jpg (54087 bytes)

Cuckoo 19/06/10
DeLank Valley (Nigel Climpson)

 

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Whinchats 10/06/10
DeLank Valley (Nigel Climpson)

Cuckoo 040610.jpg (87518 bytes)

Cuckoo 04/06/10
St.Agnes (John Rowe)

 

Hobby 030610.jpg (82209 bytes)

Hobby 03/06/10
Windmill Farm (Andy Pay)

 

Great spotted woodpecker 290510.jpg (105945 bytes)

Great Spotted Woodpecker 29/05/10
Heligan (Bob & Lesley Mitchell)

 

Hoopoe 270510.jpg (137844 bytes)

Hoopoe 27/05/10
South Petherwin (Adrian Davey)

 

shelduck 250510.jpg (64517 bytes)

Common Shelduck 25/05/10
Walmsley Sanctuary (Colin Selway)

 

Dartford Warbler 230510.jpg (62764 bytes)

Dartford Warbler 23/05/10
Whitsand Bay (Tony Jones)

 

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Squacco Heron 23/05/10
 Par  (Nigel Climpson)

 additional picture on Gallery Page

 

Brown Shrike 200510.jpg (95277 bytes)

Brown Shrike 20/05/10
Lands End  (Sam Williams)

 

Dunlin 200510.jpg (76263 bytes)

Dunlin 20/05/10
Spit Beach, Par  (Nigel Climpson)

 

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Spotted Flycatcher 19/05/10
Kenidjack  (Sam Williams)

 

Jackdaws .jpg (96949 bytes)

Jackdaws
Golitha Falls (Tony Jones)

 

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Mute Swan 13/05/10
Stithians (Len Hadley)

 

subalpine warbler 110510.jpg (130292 bytes)

Subalpine Warbler (Eastern)  11/05/10
Lizard Village (Tony Blunden)

 

Hawfinch 100510.jpg (74522 bytes)

Hawfinch 10/05/10
Sennen (Dave Parker)

 

Woodchat 090510.jpg (97743 bytes)  

Woodchat Shrike 09/05/10
Skewjack (Dave Flumm)

 

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Golden Eagle  05/05/10
 Goonhilly (Tony Blunden)

More images HERE

 

White-throated Sparrow 020510.jpg (84400 bytes)

White-throated Sparrow 02/05/10
 Boscastle (John Rowe)

 

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White-throated Sparrow 01/05/10
 Boscastle (John Fanshawe)

 

Black-headed_Wagtail 300410.jpg (94328 bytes)

Black-Headed Wagtail 30/04/10
Lands End, Trinity Pool (Alex McKechnie)

 

 Grasshopper Warbler 280410.jpg (86250 bytes)

Grasshopper Warbler 28/04/10
Ninestones Bodmin Moor  (Tony Jones)

 

sedge warbler 250410.jpg (45894 bytes)

Sedge Warbler 25/04/10
Marazion  (Anthony Miners)

 

Bee Eater 240410.jpg (40212 bytes)

Bee Eater 24/04/10
Lands End  (Sam Williams)

 

sandwich tern 210410.jpg (45818 bytes)

Sandwich Tern 21/04/10
Mounts Bay  (Sam Williams)

 

Lesser Whitethroat 180410.jpg (70259 bytes)

Lesser Whitethroat 18/04/10
Harlyn  (David Braund)

 

 little ringed plover 190410.jpg (69683 bytes)

Little Ringed Plover 19/04/10
Marazion  (Sam Williams)

 

Cetti's Warbler 190410.jpg (59774 bytes)

Cetti's Warbler 19/04/10
Par Beach Pool (Mark Whittaker)

 

 peregrine3 170410.jpg (61478 bytes)

Peregrine Falcon 17/04/10
The Rumps (Nigel Climpson)

 

ring ouzel 150410.jpg (74485 bytes)

Ring Ouzel 15/04/10
Rosewall Hill, St.Ives (Tony Mills)

 

 Great White Egret 090410.jpg (89529 bytes)

Great White Egret 09/04/10
Marazion  (Sam Williams)

 

 Woodchat Shrike 020410.jpg (74039 bytes)

Woodchat Shrike 02/04/10
Church Cove (Andy Pay)

 

Merlin 300310.jpg (87181 bytes)

Merlin 31/03/10
Lizard Point (Brian Hawker)

 

Green Woodpecker 300310.jpg (81699 bytes)

Green Woodpecker 30/03/10
Heligan (Bob & Lesley Mitchell)

 

Hoopoe 270280.jpg (103403 bytes)

Hoopoe 27/03/10
Tregiffian (Barbara Lawrence)

 

Yellow Hammer 270310.jpg (65015 bytes)

Yellowhammer 27/03/10
Rame Head (Tony Jones)

 

Hoopoe 260310.jpg (49952 bytes)

Hoopoe 26/03/10
Windmill Farm  (Ian Griffiths)

 

Alpine Swift 220310.jpg (53444 bytes)

Alpine Swift 22/03/10
Marazion  (Brian Field)

 

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Red-Rumped Swallow 21/03/10
St. Gothian Sands  (Sam Williams)

 

Long Tail Duck 160310 .jpg (62766 bytes)

 Long-Tailed Duck 16/03/10 
   Loe Pool  (Sam Williams)

 

Dipper 150310.jpg (74235 bytes)

Dipper 15/03/10
St. Austell  (Mark Whittaker)

 

canada goose 110310.jpg (73522 bytes)

Canada Goose 11/03/10
Walmsley  (Bob Sharples)

 

Chaffinch 100310.jpg (68753 bytes)

Chaffinch 24/02/10
St.Andrews Road Pool  (Trevor Moore)

 

spoonbill 050310.jpg (88978 bytes) 

Spoonbill 05/03/2010
Walmsley (Brian & Gill Love)

 

Spotted  Redshank 060310.jpg (50899 bytes)

Spotted Redshank 06/03/2010
Millbrook  Creek (Tony Jones)

 

Pictures that have fallen off the bottom can be seen on the Gallery  pages

 

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Birding Top 500 Counter

 

**Reminder**      Field Meeting          Info
Sat. 4th Sept.    Marazion Marsh & Beach  Roger Hooper
**Reminder**      Field Meeting          Info
Wed. 15th Sept.    St. Gothian Sands  Gordon Mills
**Reminder**      Field Meeting          Info
Thur. 16th Sept.       St. Clements           Pat Farmer

 

26/08/10

 

14/08/10

Greenshank YB-BR, is back!  Ringed in Aug 2006 at the Ythan estuary north of Aberdeen it has been regularly reported on the Camel Estuary and Walmsley Sanctuary.  

Raymond Duncan of the Grampian Ringing group has supplied the history of this bird. HERE

 

10/08/10

Gull Ringing Project

This year saw the start of a Great Black-backed Gull ringing project in Cornwall. Following a proposal by Pete Kent (Cornwall Wildlife Trust's East Cornwall Reserves Officer) a ringing project has been set up in partnership with CBWPS to learn more about these gulls. Read the rest of the story HERE

 

09/08/10

Darrell Clegg has received a letter from Cornwall Council detailing the grounds for refusal of planning permission for the Davidstow Wind Turbines. You will see that  it was partly our objection and the records collected over the years by members which led to the decision. This may not be the end of the story, but it is good news and can only enhance the Preservation aspect of the Society. See the letter HERE, particularly paragraph 2


31/07/10

Check this out. Push the time-bar along to 18.55 if you don't want to hear the whole programme.  There's a plug for the Society:

 

 

 

 

01/07/10

        CBWPS Birdwatching Pelagic 28th August    SOLD OUT 

Cornwall Birding in conjunction with CBWPS is  running a Pelagic from St. Ives on 28th August especially for  CBWPS members. There are only 11 places available so book early. The cost is £30 and full details can be found HERE. 

Cornwall Birding are also running regular trips through the summer and some places are available on other dates. 

The trips of 2009 were very successful with Petrels, Shearwaters, Puffins,Terns, Dolphins and Sunfish being seen.

Photo. Wilson's Petrel by Ashley Hugo 

 

 

29/06/10

The fourth extract from back copies of Birds in Cornwall can be found HERE. This describes, in verse, the visit of Ludwig Koch to the Isles of Scilly in 1951 to make wildlife sound recordings. Ludwig Koch was an eminent pioneer of wildlife sound recording, working for the BBC in the middle years of the last century. A short biography of his life can be found HERE 

 

23/05/10

John Chapple has posted video footage of the Squacco Heron at Par on YouTube. See the Videos Page for the links.

 

 

17/05/10

Swifts are a declining species in the UK and the RSPB needs help to ascertain the exact status of them in the south west. The RSPB and Swift Conservation Group need to know where Swifts are nesting and have been seen 'screaming'. The article HERE will give the background and show how you can help.

 

 

07/05/10

Colin Selway has supplied an article and further pictures of the White Throated Sparrow that briefly visited the County recently. You can find it on the Articles Page 

 

 

 

29/04/10

Summer arrival dates 2010

Here are the earliest reported arrival dates for the commoner summer visitors and passage migrants

Garganey  23rd March,    Osprey 13th March,    Hobby  8th April, 
Little-ringed Plover  31st March,     Sandwich Tern  20th March,
Turtle Dove  20th April,  Cuckoo   18th April,   Nightjar -----------, 
Swift  19th April,    Sand Martin  16th March, House Martin  23rd March,
Barn Swallow 17th March,   Tree Pipit  12th April, 
Yellow Wagtail  19th April,       Blue Headed Wagtail  18th April,
White Wagtail   3rd March,    Common Redstart    22nd March, 
Whinchat   9th April,       Northern Wheatear  3rd March, 
Ring Ouzel  13th March,     Grasshopper Warbler  9th April, 
Sedge Warbler  25th March,     Reed Warbler  11th April, 
Lesser Whitethroat   18th April,     Common Whitethroat   9th April, 
Garden Warbler    20th April,      Wood Warbler   19th April, 
Willow Warbler   22nd March,     Spotted Flycatcher   27th April, 
Pied Flycatcher  11th April

20/04/2010

The British Birds Rarities Committee are currently seeking descriptions of the following birds reported in Cornwall during 2009.
If you were the finder, or can supply a description please send it to the recorder recorder@cbwps.org.uk
Description forms can be downloaded from the BBRC website www.bbrc.org.uk (use the submissions button on the left hand side)

North Atlantic Little Shearwater: 14th October 2009. This record is described as “at Sea, Western Approaches” If you saw this bird can it you confirm that it was in Cornish waters?

Sykes Warbler: 13th October 2009, Nanquidno

 

 

03/04/2010

John Chapple has supplied a video of the Woodchat Shrike at Church Cove, Lizard. See the Videos Page

 

 

 

18/03/2010
Photos wanted

The recorder is looking for any and all photographs of the "Yellow Wagtail" which was present during February/ March 2008 at Trevollard Saltash. He would also be pleased to receive any descriptions of this bird, particularly if you noted the call. 
Please reply to recorder@cbwps.org.uk

  

17/02/10

The following birds are all known to have occurred in the county, and many have had photographs published online, but so far no formal description has been submitted to BBRC.

If you were the finder could you please submit a description via the recorder (recorder@cbwps.org.uk) otherwise the record will be assessed on the photo and accepted “as per birding information services” Others without photos will unfortunately be consigned to history!!

Azorian Yellow-legged Gull   Sennen area, 20th July – 11 November 2008

Dark-eyed Junco                   Hayle, 16th November 2008 (male)

Lesser Scaup                        Helston Loe Pool, 8th November – 6th December 2008 (female)

Nightjars of the World by Nigel Cleere is about to be printed. It will cost £45 plus £6 carriage. With 464 pages and 587 stunning photographs, all Nightjars, Potoos, Frogmouths (and Oilbird) are comprehensively covered. Text includes identification, similar species, voice, habitat, breeding range distribution maps and status.There is a special pre-publication offer to Society members of £39.95 carriage free
WILDGuides Publishing is a not-for-profit organisation raising funds for conservation through the proceeds of its titles (www.wildguides.co.uk).

This exciting new book will raise funds for the BirdLife International Preventing Extinction Programme (http://www.birdlife.org/extinction/index.html)  

The offer will be open until the end of April 2010. 

Brian Clews, WildGuides UK, PO Box 680, Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 9ST, 01628-529297

 

25/01/10

Choughs. More volunteers are needed to help protect the nests this season. Don't let egg thieves get their hands on our chough eggs!

See the Chough page for the latest update and details for volunteering

 

 

01/01/2010

A New Year and a new facility for Society members. 
Clicking HERE or on the banner above on this page will take you  to a page listing  birds seen around the County by our members. If you would like to contribute please email to bird-news@cbwps.org.uk

 

 

Trudy Russell is working as a biodiversity mentor for the Open University providing support with a new website that aims to get more people involved with their local wildlife . She has given us this statement.

'iSpot is a new website designed to help people share their passion for our wildlife. Users of the site can upload photos of any wildlife they have seen and help others identify their photos. As a keen birdwatcher you can upload any images you want to share and help others learn about the birds you love. You are also able to publicize any wildlife events that you think might be of interest to the other site users.'
Further information can be found at www.ispot.org.uk 

 

 

 

What do you know about the CBWPS Loveny  reserve? Did you know there was a hide there? Find out all about it HERE. 

 

 

See all of the colour back issues of Palores in the Members Area

 

 

Cirl Bunting  Revival

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 Articles Page and learn how you can help with monitoring the birds' progress.

 2009 Update 

from Nick Tomalin RSPB Reintroduction Project Officer

 

 

Cornish artist Daniel Cole wins a major national award. 

Read more about it here

 

    

If you want the password to the members area please mail webmaster@cbwps.org.uk  giving your full name. Your name will be checked against the members list and the password mailed back to you. Entry to this area is through one of the buttons on the banner at the top of the page. 20/07/09

 

 

 Why not try the CBWPS Forum? This is the place for members to share bird sightings and  other relevant information. You will also find more photographs and files relating to the society's activities. Guidelines and access are to be found on the Forum Page or through the Forum button on the Banner heading. You will need to be a member of the forum group for access to some areas. Start by finding the 'Join this Group' button when you have entered the Forum  

 

 

 

For Sale page has been established  for members to advertise their unwanted Natural History related items as well as  items they are seeking. Try it Here

  


Articles from Palores by Derek Julian on history of various rare/scarce species in the county now available online here

  

 

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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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Contacts (click to e-mail):

secretary chairman vice-chairman treasurer conservation palores membership webmaster recorder