A new hide at Tamar Lake

Following discussions between DBWPS and South West Lakes Trust, the trust has generously agreed to provide a bird hide overlooking the designated wildlife refuge area at the north end of Upper Tamar Lake.

The area attracts some wildfowl in winter, a range of breeding passerine migrants in spring and summer, but it is for passage migrants in autumn that Tamar Lake is especially well known. The reservoir level normally drops through holiday usage and evaporation during July and August leaving a substantial area of mud particularly attractive to waders. Already this year the water level has dropped back a little, and bodes well for the autumn.

For those who do not know the area there is a car park at SS286118, and good refreshments are available at the café. It is hoped that the hide will be constructed by the end of August, and will be accessed by walking the footpath on the west bank about 1km from the car park. The path gets quite muddy after rain so appropriate footwear should be worn.

South West Lakes Trust was set up as a charity in 2000, supporting conservation around the inland waters of the South West, and details of all sites they manage can be found on their own web site.