On the bird-front, gulls appear to be stealing the show this month with Iceland, Yellow-legged and a number of Med Gulls at Lelant Water and Carnsew Pool.  The recent cold snap hasn't brought the anticipated influx of wildfowl and waders - yet.

Our hide at Ryan's Field continues to receive attacks from vandals and although we have painted over the graffiti shown on our recent photos - three times now - it appears this will be an ongoing activity until the police apprehend the culprits.

On Sunday, 12th February we are meeting at Copperhouse Creek in the town for our bi-monthly litter pick there.  Perhaps as an enticement, we enjoyed the sight of a Crane over our heads on the last litter pick (at Carnsew) in January; we hope to see you there!

Dave Flumm

Site Manager

Vandals strike the RSPB bird hide

The Eric Grace Memorial hide has stood the test of time, it was opened in 1996 by Andrew George at since has seen persistent acts of vandalism.  Before it was even built the roof was stolen, later the door was smashed in on no less than five occasions until staff decided it was too much of a hazard to leave on, the benches demolished several times, the notice boards smashed, the leaflets burnt on a regular basis and just lately it has been targeted with graffiti.    Two weeks ago graffiti was posted on almost every surface in the hide, since then a local volunteer has cleaned up dozens of smashed bottle and just this morning found the leaflet dispenses smashed.  I suspect this will continue until those responsible are caught in the act.  The police have agreed to check the area more often during their regular patrol but if you see anything suspicious please call the police.  The hide will be cleaned up but not until the perpetrators have been moved on.

The RSPB staff, volunteers and the local police are aware that Ryan’s Field attracts unsavoury behaviour late at night, particularly under the A30 viaduct, which does not belong to the RSPB and we are doing all we can to prevent criminal activity but please do contact us if you have any information to share or the police if you see criminal activity.

Call the Police on 101

As I write this in mid-July the first of the autumn waders are returning with Green Sandpipers at Marazion and Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff on the Hayle Estuary already. Presumably these are failed or non-breeders as it is still only July after all.  The highlight this spring/summer has again been the influx of Red Kites during 3^rd-5^th June.  On the first day 19 appeared over Marazion and two over Hayle.  On 4^th there were 24 over Marazion and a single over Copperhouse but by the afternoon of 5^th they had all moved back east with the last, a flock of ten over Hayle that day.  These birds are almost undoubtedly from the various reintroduction schemes the RSPB has undertaken over the last decade but as they are becoming more numerous, fewer are being wing-tagged and most of our birds in Cornwall this spring didn’t sport any tags.  However, one bird with green tags on both wings gave a clue to its origin: Dumfries & Galloway and although the precise colour of the tag on the right wing couldn’t be determined it was either tagged in 1998 (lime green) or 2006 (green). Let us know if you see one of these wing-tagged birds and we’ll try and trace it for you.

With the unsettled weather, May has been quiet this year on the migrant-front.  Hayle Estuary has had quite a purple patch with the April Bonaparte’s Gull lingering until 21^st May and an American Golden Plover from 1^st -7^th.  A Temminck’s Stint drew a crowd at Ryan’s Field on 14^th but had gone the next day.

 With news of the proposed move of the Penzance heliport to a field close to the estuary, we have been busy looking at the detail and with no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) planned by BIH and plans to fly over the valley from Hayle to Marazion Marsh we have objected on both accounts. Watch this space.

HY xmas card.pdf