BBRC Report on Rare Birds in Cornwall 2010

The list of rarities summarised below are those accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) for Cornwall in 2010 and recently published in the BBRC Report October 2011.

American Bittern. Trewey Common, 26th-31st Oct and presumed same at Walmsley Sanctuary, 1st-6th Nov. R.Moores et al.

Green Heron. First winter. Heligan Gardens. 6th Oct-1st Dec. R Mitchell. S.Christophers. D.Julian.

Squacco Heron. Par. 22nd-24th May. (BISvcs.)

Pallid Harrier. Juv. St Just. 4th Dec 2009 - 25th Jan 2010. Roy Phillips.

Spotted Sandpiper. Juv. St. Ives. 18th Sep. R Sharples. D Parker.

Lesser Yellowlegs.  Walmsley Sanctuary. 10th-14th May. C Selway.

Wilson's Phalarope. Juv/first winter. Hayle Estuary. 6th Sep. CC Barnard. T Twiggs.

Whiskered Tern. Adult.  Dinham Flats, Camel Estuary. 20th-23rd April. Ian Prophet.

Brown Shrike. Ad female. Sennen. 20th May. M Warren.

Woodchat Shrike (race badius). First summer male. Windmill Farm NR. 10th-11th April.

Common Stonechat (race Siberian Stonechat maurus).  First winter male. Nanquidno. 2nd-5th Oct. K Dalziel. J Hawkey.

Yellow Wagtail (race Black-headed Wagtail feldegg). First summer male. Land's End. 29th Apr-1st May. M Warren.

Citrine Wagtail. First winter. Tregiffian, Sennen. 3rd-7th Sep. M Warren.

Blyth's Pipit. 2007. Brew Pool. First winter. 20th Oct-1st Nov. K A Wilson.

Olive-backed Pipit. Two. Nanjizal. 11th-14th Oct. K A Wilson.

White-thoated Sparrow. Male in song. Boscastle. 30th Apr-2nd May. J Fanshawe.

Dark-eyed Junco. 2008. Ventonleague, Hayle. 26th Nov. P A Rutter.

Rejected records included Gyr Falcon, Newquay 10th Feb and Maer Lake 18th Feb and Calandra Lark, Penlee, 29th May. Another rejection of interest was the 2002 Tropicbird sp record of Penzance on 16th May.