Observations on the feeding mechanisms of Eurasian Spoonbill. Bruce Taggart   (reproduced from CBWPS ‘Palores’ Spring 2013) The Eurasian Spoonbill is a rare passage migrant and winter visitor to Cornwall, but the estuaries of the River Tamar complex including the River Lynher are regular haunts, with up to seven individuals wintering in recent years. Birds usually arrive in November and remain until February / March. Sightings of ringed birds indicate that most, if not all originate from the breeding population in […]

The island is nearing completion. The western section has more soil and branch cover added and the eastern section is being surfaced with 75mm – 6mm stone aggregate to create a beach effect that will be attractive to roosting waders. The final work will be done on Monday 2nd December, building up the area where access to the island has been gained. This will be done from the causeway. Click on thumbnails for full size image.

The work on the island is still ahead of schedule and the site manager is hoping to finish on Monday (2nd December). The images show how the work is progressing. The western section is up to the final level some of the excavated silt is being graded in with the 75mm-6mm stone aggregate. Soil has been graded across the top to provide a growing medium for wetland vegetation. Branch material has been laid across to provide temporary shelter.     […]

Tony Jones has sent me some images he took on the last Bird Cruise. Usual excellent standard. Many thanks Tony.

The guys from TMS are well ahead of schedule and reckon they will be finished by the end of the week. Three years to plan and two weeks to execute – unbelievable! I was fortunate to go out to the island yesterday to see how things are progressing and discuss the finish of the top surface with Hylton (Contract Manager) and James (Landscape Architect). It gave me the opportunity to look at the construction in detail.   The western village […]

Given a couple of days of fine weather work is progessing steadily. The first layer of geogrid mesh is in place and rock infill is progressing.      

The lake was drained and the sluice gates closed to enable access to the island. First task was to lay timber tracking to get the digger onto the island (2 days) and then initial levelling, removing  a 2 metre strip behind the existing posts to place the geotextile matting.                 click on thumbnails for full size image

Two recent press releases from the RSPB adressing issues in the South-west – one positive the other unfortunately not so. RSPB ‘Appalling’ destruction of wildlife-rich land in Devon by NHS The RSPB has this morning sent a formal letter of complaint to Devon NHS bosses concerning the wilful destruction of land near Exminster. The site, Hillcrest, is home to a nationally important population of Cirl Buntings. The charity believes that the Devon NHS Trust’s action is a deliberate move to reduce the […]

  Work has begun at last to restore the island on Millbrook Lake.  Millbrook Lake Conservation Group (of which I’m Chairperson) have been working on this for over 3 years, now with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Community Spaces Fund, and Devon based contractor TMS Maritime work is underway.

The boat cruise yesterday gave people the first chance to see the Osprey Platforms installed in the summer by Peter Kent and his band of willing volunteers. Peter and I had the idea of trying to attract Ospreys to breed in the Tamar Valley after a bird called Tore, ringed at the RSPBs Loch Garten eyrie, spent several weeks exploring the valley in autumn 2011. (Unfortunately Tore is thought to have died in its west African wintering area). However, Peter’s […]