Welcome to the first annual Holes Bay Nature Report. Inspired by the excellent and long established Lytchett Bay report, our aim is to promote Holes Bay and the surrounding area as a haven for nature, to record and share wildlife sightings, and to encourage more records. The recording area covers Holes Bay itself, the Creekmoor and PC World Drain, Upton Country Park and the surrounding farm fields (see map below). Records of birds overflying the recording area are also welcome. Sightings can be shared via our Twitter account @Bayholes, or e-mailed to
[email protected] Martin Adams, Jackie and Nick Hull, Steve Smith and Nick Woods Contents: 1. Introduction - Martin Adams 4 2. Birds recorded in Holes Bay and Upton Country Park in 2020 18 3. The Wetland Bird Survey [WeBS counts] in Holes Bay - Stephen F. Smith 56 4. Spartina, birds and bird watching in Holes Bay - Nick Woods 60 5. Reptiles and landscape change around Holes Bay - Nick Woods 72 2 3 INTRODUCTION Martin Adams Holes Bay Nature Park is a haven for wildlife in an urban environment, a site where wildlife thrives despite being surrounded by human activity. We use Holes Bay and the land around it for transport, housing, retail and industry, as well as for leisure activities such as boating, cycling, fishing, dog walking, and of course birdwatching. Despite all this, Holes Bay is a thriving and arguably improving habitat for nature. The Nature Park is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) primarily for its importance to wintering birds, and the area north of the railway bridge is classified as a Bird Sensitive Area.