Simon
I suspect you are right - the Chough has been establishing
in this area in recent years and the RSPB are obliged to set
up a 24 hours watch to prevent egg collectors causing
problems. Sad situation, but these people see it as a
challenge to beat the system. Obviously they would not
explain this to you because you might have been one of them!!
The main place has been at the tip of the Lizard but perhaps
there was a nest further along this year.
I have been there myself in the past and there was no problem,
but that was before the choughs returned! I suspect that the
watch would only be there whilst there were eggs in the nest.
Russell Wear (who is also an RSPB member!)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon Chapman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 9:50 PM
Subject: Trewavas Head
In June I visited Trewavas Head in Cornwall to have a look at the two engine
houses there and associated capstan platforms, at SW 598265. Unfortunately I
was accosted by a man in a little wooden hut of the RSPB who wouldn't let me
look at them. When I persisted he told me that I couldn't because they were
on private land. In order to avoid further unpleasantness I withdrew and
attempted to photo the buildings from afar. Subsequently I consulted a
1:25000 map and discovered they are in fact on Open Access land not far from
the South West Coast Path.
No doubt I was there in the middle of the nesting season of the greater
spotted oohmegoolie bird which the RSPB are keen to keep quiet about but I
would hope that someone on this list in the South West might monitor the
situation (from a distance) to ensure the restriction is not permanent. It
was a distinct disappointment not to be able to examine such rare remains on
my first trip to the county for 20 years.
And in addition, the western engine house, the one with the tall opening at
the back, appears the worse for wear; the wooden lintel (think it's wood) is
dislodged and the gable above looks cracked.
Regards, Simon.
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