Windmill Farm.

[Andrew]

Can anyone tell me the latest access situation for Windmill Farm near The Lizard. Is it open to the public or do I need to join the CBWPS?

Any other info would be useful such as a weblink or what to expect on a visit in mid-October.

[Darrell Clegg]

Andrew, see www.cbwps.org.uk and look at the Windmill Farm pages by clicking on the reserves button on the left.

It is open all year round and is open to non CBWPS and CWT members. It is a cracking reserve wardened by our very own Aquila.

By the way, there is an open weekend on 31st July / 1st August so if anyone wants a tour, just turn up between 10am and 4pm

In mid October almost anything can turn up on the Lizard, so it would be well worth checking regularly.

Darrell

[Andrew]

Cheers, Darrell! Just looked at the link and printed it off. It looks great and I wish I looked for it properly last year when I went for two days to look for the Choughs. I shall be there for a few days and will consider Windmill Farm the 'Local Patch' to be covered intensively. I hope to bump into Aquila too.

[Jasonbirder]

Just make us sure you let us all know whats about Andrew - I believe they had Serin down there last autumn - but the news wasn`t released until they were safely on their way.....
;)

[Andrew]

Last time I went to The Lizard my Vodafone mobile did not work so I didn't know what was about and enjoyed the Choughs instead.

[Darrell Clegg]

Just make us sure you let us all know whats about Andrew - I believe they had Serin down there last autumn - but the news wasn`t released until they were safely on their way.....
;)

Oh yes it was....it was certainly on the CBWPS website before they disappeared.

Darrell

[Andrew]

Thanks to Darrell for helping me about Windmill Farm.

I went to Land's End last year and being new, some of the place names were lost on me suchs Swingates Pools and Forty Foot Cover. What are these two places and where are they? I have heard of waders at the pool and rare warblers in the Forty Foot Cover. It would help as I shall spend a few days there before moving on to The Lizard.

[Bluetail]

Hi Andrew. Forty Foot Cover is the clump of willows at Porthgwarra that you see when you look down into the valley from the last left-hand turn on the approach road. Swingates Pools: don't know them myself.

[Andrew]

I can see Forty Foot Cover now, I scanned them a few time and did not know they were called this. Thanks for the tip off. :t:

[Darrell Clegg]

Andrew.

It's actually called sixty foot cover, and it refers to the length of the mist nets that used to be put up there.

Swingates is the last house before Land's End, and there is a pool in the garden. However it is strictly private, but you may be able to see some of it from a public footpath leading off from Land's End car park. To be honest, in order to maintain good relations with the householder it is best to try and find birds elsewhere, as he is not keen on hoards of people staring into his garden from August to November every year.

Darrell

[Andrew]

I wouldn't like to unroll and roll up sixty foot of mist net!

I think I know Swingates actually. It has a high tree and plastic mesh lining all the way round and I was a bit peeved that someone had created a migrant trap all for themselves. Can't blame him though can you?

[devon.birder]

As I understand it, Swingates is actually still owned by Peter Harrison who wrote "Seabirds, an Identification Guide". His ex-wife used to do B and B and I actually stayed at Swingates in 1992. The present occupant, although a well known Birder, unfortunately seems to have fallen out with most of the local Birders.

[Jasonbirder]

I`ve definately heard a rumour that the current occupant of Swingates House (i didn`t catch a name - so i`ll take peoples word for it that its Peter Harrison) ended up having a fist fight with some visiting birders that were peering down his drive!
Gerrorff me land indeed!

[Andrew]

ooo arr!

[Andrew]

NEW TOPIC - BREW POOL.

Not far from the caravan site was a lane leading to Brew Pool that I ventured up past some mobile masts. I was disappointed to get limited views of the pool. Is that the case or is there a different 'proper' way of viewing this pool?

[Grampy Bustard]

Just make us sure you let us all know whats about Andrew - I believe they had Serin down there last autumn - but the news wasn`t released until they were safely on their way.....
;)

No need to be so inflamatory, especialy when you are wrong.

[Jasonbirder]

Definately not mistaken - 2 Serins present at Windmill Farm in November 2003 - no news released nationally (i`ve checked with RBA).....
Good way to attract people to your reserve eh ;)

[Grampy Bustard]

Definately not mistaken - 2 Serins present at Windmill Farm in November 2003 - no news released nationally (i`ve checked with RBA).....
Good way to attract people to your reserve eh ;)
What is the point of putting a chuffing Serin on a national alert? Iy may be of interest to local birders, but nobody in their right mind is going to drive hundreds of miles for a Serin. I prefer to find my own....and have done several times.

[Jasonbirder]

Not many people would drive hundreds of miles for it - but what about people in Devon/Cornwall anyway - plenty of them at that time of year...anyway you told meNo need to be so inflamatory, especialy when you are wrong and I wasn`t was I?

[Andrew]

Come on guys, this is a thread for me to ask about the area. Let's smoke the peace pipe.

[Cuckoo-shrike]

It is not our policy to suppress news of rarities at Windmill Farm (although Jasonbirder's general attitude would certainly provide me personally with a strong incentive). Neither is it our policy to automatically phone Birdline or any other rare bird news outlet, although we may well do so if circumstances are appropriate.
Andrew, hope you enjoy your visits and hope to see you there.
Andy

[Jasonbirder]

How many CBPS members got a chance to see the birds at a reserve they help fund? I`m not a local - (though unfortunately for you I`m likely to be one day, as my wife has her heart set on a move to Cornwall once our kids have "flown the nest"....) But if it was a rare bird on a Notts Reserve - which i`ve supported through my annual subscription which I missed out on - i`d be absolutely livid!

[Darrell Clegg]

As I've said earlier, the news was released to CBWPS members via the website - see this thread http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=10361

Darrell

[Jasonbirder]

The CWBPS doesn`t contain a regularly updated recent reports section - the reserves info seems to be updated on a season by season basis, if that- hardly useful for planning your weekend! In fact the sites current homepage apologises for the lack of recent updates!

[Tyke]

undefinedundefinedThe CWBPS doesn`t contain a regularly updated recent reports section - the reserves info seems to be updated on a season by season basis, if that- hardly useful for planning your weekend! In fact the sites current homepage apologises for the lack of recent updates!

[Tyke]

undefinedThe CWBPS doesn`t contain a regularly updated recent reports section - the reserves info seems to be updated on a season by season basis, if that- hardly useful for planning your weekend! In fact the sites current homepage apologises for the lack of recent updates!
Hi Jason-you are quite right-the CBWPS website has been defunct-that is why Aquila is consuming his leasure time to bring it back to life-for the benefit of people like you . Just a word about Windmill Farm Jason-it is being developed for the benefit of birds and other wildlife ( it's partly owned by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust ) by a dedicated hardworking team of volunteers-including myself& Aquila-both Wardens of this Reserve which we are very proud of . For your interest the Serins didn't just turn up-they were attracted by a seed rich crop which was introduced by Aquila & me . We also had 750 chaffinches visit these fields- they were just as welcome as the Serins & just as important . Windmill Farm is a nature Reserve-not a Zoo .
I hope you can make it some day & see what we are achieving down here .

[Jasonbirder]

Thanks alot! - might check it out when i`m done for "the seawatching season"

[Tyke]

The CWBPS doesn`t contain a regularly updated recent reports section - the reserves info seems to be updated on a season by season basis, if that- hardly useful for planning your weekend! In fact the sites current homepage apologises for the lack of recent updates!
Hi Jason-you are quite right-the CBWPS web site had become defunct-which is why Aquila is spending some of his leasure time bringing it back to life-for the benefit of people like you . Just a word or two on Windmill Farm Jason-The Reserve is managed by a small group of people including voluntary wardens who give their time freely-like me & Aquila . We are very proud of our achievements at Windmill Farm because we are attracting a range of wildlife ( the Reserve is jointly owned by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust-so our wildlife interests are broader than just birds)-including birds -by introducing new habitats . Amongst these-introduced by Aquila & me are the seed rich arable crops which attracted the Serins-they didn't just turn up for no reason . 750 Chaffinches are also spending a happy winter feeding with us-& they are just as welcome Jason-so are you .

[Cuckoo-shrike]

The CWBPS doesn`t contain a regularly updated recent reports section - the reserves info seems to be updated on a season by season basis, if that- hardly useful for planning your weekend! In fact the sites current homepage apologises for the lack of recent updates!
Well when you move down here Jason, perhaps you'll volunteer to take over as Webmaster. And even help with the daily running of Windmill Farm. But, be warned, there's an awful lot of (unpaid) hard work involved, and attracting rare birds is not one of the priorities. There are far more important objectives. It might actually help you to get things in perspective!
Andy

[Cuckoo-shrike]

We've just had a fantastic couple of days birding at our local patch, the still developing Windmill Farm Nature Reserve (I hardly visit the Lizard hot-spots these days - rarity fatigue?). We had nothing rare, but we did find the reserve's first Whooper Swans, Firecrest and Ring Ouzel. The anticipation that something really good might be lurking amongst the plovers, thrushes or finches massing in the next hedge or field was enough to keep the adrenaline running. Who needs lost Masked Shrikes and comatose Ovenbirds? (and anyway I've seen healthy ones, where they belong |:$| ).
Andy