Wild Penwith A major new project in West - Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Seaquest Southwest
Winter is generally the quieter time for spotting marine
wildlife, but we have had reports of bottlenose dolphins
and harbour porpoises every month. Common dolphins
were only reported five times, but in groups of between
20 and 25, and we had a couple of sightings of Risso’s
dolphins too. Two minke whales were seen in November
and a fin whale, the second largest whale in the world,
was reported off the Isles of Scilly in February 2009. The
last basking shark of 2008 was seen off The Runnelstone
on November 6th and the first for 2009 was on 11th
February off Pendeen.
Other creatures recorded include a lumpsucker fish,
which was landed at Newquay, and a rare wrinkled
swimming crab, Liocarcinus corrugatus, which was
found trapped in a prawn pot in the River Fal in
February. It was taken alive to the Blue Reef Aquarium,
Newquay, much to the delight of the curator, as the last
record for this species in Cornish waters was in 1984,
and only 11 have ever been recorded, nine of which were
pre-1907.
We are hoping that 2009 will be a bumper year for
marine wildlife sightings. As well as our dedicated
Basking Shark Project which will be running all
summer, we would like to encourage you all to send
in records of anything you see whilst out and about
around the coast. Keep your eyes peeled and tell us
what you see!
Ray Dennis, Volunteer, and Ruth Williams,
Marine Conservation Officer
Fox Club Corner
Our younger members have been out in all the
glorious spring and early summer weather, enjoying
the bluebells and sound of birdsong, learning about
plants and the geology beneath them, and then
investigating minibeasts, the contents of an owl’s
dinner and the inhabitants of dormouse boxes and
rockpools – all before the end of the school term!
The next season of events is likely to be even
busier as we celebrate Marine Fortnight, Bat Week,
BeachWatch Weekend and National Tree Week, as
well as helping the environment with events during
Clean Cornwall Week and on Make a Difference Day.
If you have an interest in any of these subjects, or
just fancy having some fun learning about them,
have a look at the Fox Club and Out & About Club
events diaries and come along and join in.
If you don’t want to miss out on all this excitement,
just fill in the form below and send it off to Kirstie
today.
Hope to see you soon!
Alison Forward
Education Officer
Wildlife needs friends
If you are already a member,
please pass this form
to a friend
or relative.
You might
like to know
that Cornwall
Wildlife Trust now has a family
membership category which
includes Fox Club.
These youngsters were measuring trees in hugs for
the Ancient Trees of Cornwall Project.
Photo: Alison Forward
MEMBERSHIP FORM (Cut out and send to Fox Club, Five Acres, Allet, Truro TR4 9DJ)
Name .......................................................................................................................
Date of birth ..........................................................................................................
Address ....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
School .....................................................................................................................
Please enrol me as a member of Fox Club
(I enclose a cheque for £8 made out to Cornwall Wildlife Trust)
Please send me a Cornwall Wildlife Trust leaflet
Tick as appropriate
Registered Charity Name - Cornwall Trust for Nature Conservation Ltd. Registered Charity Number - 214929
Page 28 Issue 109 Summer 2009