During the breeding season, the CBWPS Sightings Team will now refrain from publicising records of some protected and vulnerable breeding species within the county. Ultimately this is to ensure their overall protection but also to aid in continued breeding attempt success of the species moving forward. Many are Schedule 1 listed which means they have additional protection by law (The Wildlife and Countryside act 1981, as amended) as do their nests, eggs and dependent young. Remember that it is an offence to intentionally disturb these species in the breeding season without a valid licence. This includes photography at or near a nest site or when the birds are feeding dependent young. There are several other species which we aim to protect that are not on the Schedule 1 list, but are declining or vulnerable to disturbance in Cornwall.

Some species remain on their breeding grounds all year-round, so in order to protect the breeding site we choose to withhold sightings throughout the whole year. However, there are sites in Cornwall that are deemed as safe and some of our treasured breeding species can still be enjoyed with care. So, we still do promote their presence at these locations in the hope that birders can still enjoy seeing them (a list of these species and sites can be found below). We still greatly appreciate all records of these birds for inclusion in the county database and the Birds in Cornwall Annual Report. In turn these records have a positive impact on conservation concerns as they are then added to the nationwide Rare Breeding Bird Panel report, as well as used in planning application disputes and other development queries. All breeding records will be handled with the strictest discretion and should be sent to: [email protected]

The list of Cornwall’s Rare and Scarce breeding birds is as follows (Schedule 1 protected species are highlighted):

Barn Owl – summer and winter records
Cattle Egret
Cetti’s Warbler – summer and winter records
Chough 
Cirl Bunting
Common Snipe
Corn Bunting – summer and winter records
Crossbill
Curlew
Dartford Warbler – summer and winter records
Dipper
Firecrest
Goshawk – summer and winter records
Grey Partridge
Hen Harrier – summer records and winter roost / feeding sites
Hobby
Honey Buzzard
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Little Egret
Little Owl
Long-Eared Owl – breeding and roost sites
Marsh Harrier
Montagu’s Harrier
Nightjar – breeding sites
Peregrine Falcon – summer and winter records
Quail
Red-backed Shrike
Red Kite
Short-eared Owl – breeding and winter roost sites
Whinchat
Willow Tit – summer and winter records
Woodlark – summer and winter records
Wood Warbler

Safe Sites to watch vulnerable species with care: