Special Protected Area
Tamar Complex SPA
Designated - 26th June 1997 Area - 1955 hectares
Photo credit TECF
The Tamar Complex SPA is an area specifically recognised and protected for the types of bird species that live, breed and feed in our coast and wetlands.
The Area Protected
This designated area covers the upper reaches of the Tamar estuary, the Tavy, the Lynher and St Johns Lake and is specifically protected for its birds. These areas have extensive mudflats, mixed muddy sediments and saltmarsh which can support an amazing variety of birds, providing a source of food as well as roosting and breeding ground.
Whilst not directly in the SPA, areas such as Drake’s Island are considered an extension of the protected site and is referred to as ‘Functionally linked land’. This is because it provides supporting habitat (additional roosting ground) for Little Egret, with their extensive presence there being recorded during monitoring. These areas are also assessed during monitoring the SPA monitoring periods.
How it is Protected
The SPA was initially designated under the EC Birds Directive 1979 (European) - implemented through the Wildlife and Country Side Act 1981. And The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (legislation.gov.uk) (as amended) in England and Wales (including the adjacent territorial sea).
As with other European Union based directives this legislation was also transposed into The Environment Act 2021 (Environment Act 2021 (legislation.gov.uk)) after Brexit, allowing for the continued protection and conservation of wild birds.
Protected Features
Species
- Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), non-breeding, roosting
- Little egret (Egretta garzetta), non-breeding, roosting
Although the SPA highlights avocet and little egret, the area is very important for a huge variety of other UK and European wildfowl and wading bird species, particularly overwinter.
For more detailed information, guidance and conservation advice visit Natural England (SPA - Marine site detail (naturalengland.org.uk))