Orchids of North Cornwall were among the subjects covered by the Tamar Group's wide-ranging programme of winter talks. Photo: JB and S Bottomley

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Camel As the colder weather of winter envelops the county I feel we can look back at the past year and wonder at how strange it has been. The spring and early summer saw our countryside totally shut down due to the foot-and-mouth crisis. Yes, it did limit our access to the places we love, and for many (me included) the places where we can escape from the pressures of everyday life, but did it harm the wildlife? For many species it was a welcome respite from the pressures of humans. Lots of birds took advantage of this and the good long summer to raise two and sometimes three broods. Also, the heavily trodden footpaths of the district were spared the heavy wear and tear, especially on the coast paths.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't like to see this happen again and we can only hope that the next few months won't see a return of the disease. To continue its oddity, 2001 extended its fine summer weather right into the first week of November with numerous odd sightings and reports coming into the branch of species that seemed way off course for the time of year: like the bottlenose dolphins in the mouth of the Camel Estuary for weeks on end, or the large flock of swallows still around in November. The low water levels have seen an excellent passage of waders through the Camel and especially Walmsley Sanctuary this year. Birds have included up to 20 black-tailed godwit, as well as curlew sandpiper, spotted redshank, little stint and even a North American species, the lesser yellowlegs.

To cap it all, the weather changed in the second week in November and we went from balmy summer into chilly winter and seemed to miss autumn entirely. Even the leaves in the trees remain green in many areas. Adrian Langdon Bottlenose dolphins were among a host of exciting wildlife reported to the Camel Group during the last few months. Photo: Lindy Hingley