Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2007
Populations of IBA trigger speciesSpecies | Current IUCN Red List Category | Season | Year(s) of estimate | Population estimate | IBA Criteria Triggered |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 341 individuals | B1i, B3, C2 |
Greylag Goose Anser anser | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 3,968 individuals | A4i, B1i, C3 |
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana | LC | breeding | 1992 | 2 breeding pairs | C6 |
Note: This table presents the IBA criteria triggered and the species that triggered then at the time of assessment, the current IUCN Red List category may vary from that which was in place at that time.
For more information about the IBA assessment process and criteria please click here
Most recent IBA monitoring assessment | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year of assessment | Threat score (pressure) | Condition score (state) | Action score (response) |
2007 | medium | unfavourable | medium |
Was the whole site covered? | Yes | State assessed by | Population |
Accuracy of information | good |
Threats to the site (pressure) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Threat Level 1 | Threat Level 2 | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
Energy production and mining | renewable energy | likely in short term (within 4 years) | small area/few individuals (<10%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | low |
Human intrusions and disturbance | recreational activities | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Condition of key/trigger populations (state) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scientific | Common | TargetPop | ActualPop | Units | Remaining | Result |
Cygnus cygnus | Whooper Swan | 185 | 341 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Anser anser | Greylag Goose | 4490 | 3968 | individuals | 89 | near favourable |
Anser albifrons | Greater White-fronted Goose | 410 | 200 | individuals | 49 | unfavourable |
Conservation actions taken at site (response) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Conservation Designation | Management Planning | Conservation Action | Result |
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | medium |
Protected Area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Loch Watten | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 428 | protected area contained by site | 428 |
Loch Watten | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 428 | protected area overlaps with site | 433 |
Loch Scarmclate | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 108 | protected area overlaps with site | 110 |
Loch of Wester | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 69 | protected area overlaps with site | 69 |
Loch Of Wester | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 69 | protected area contained by site | 70 |
Loch of Mey | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 68 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Loch Heilen | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 104 | protected area overlaps with site | 104 |
Loch Calder | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 432 | protected area overlaps with site | 431 |
Caithness Lochs | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 1,382 | is identical to site | 1,372 |
Caithness Lochs | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 1,379 | protected area overlaps with site | 1,372 |
Broubster Leans | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 172 | protected area contained by site | 173 |
Broubster Leans | Nature Reserve | 293 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Broubster Leans | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 173 | protected area overlaps with site | 172 |
IUCN Habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
---|---|---|
Grassland | Humid grasslands | - |
Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater, Blanket bogs, Fens, transition mires and springs | - |
Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
---|---|
agriculture | - |
forestry | - |
tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2022) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Caithness Lochs. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 18/08/2022.