The site was identified as important in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):Species | Current IUCN Red List Category | Season | Year(s) | Population estimate at site | IBA criteria met |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2007).
IBA conservation assessment | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
2007 | unfavourable | medium | medium |
Was the whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
yes | population | good |
State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scientific name | Common name | Reference population | Actual population | Units | % of population 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 |
Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Protected-area designation | Management planning | Other 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity |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 (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA 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 Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 69 | protected area contained by site | 70 |
Loch of Wester | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 69 | protected area overlaps with site | 69 |
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 | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 1,379 | protected area overlaps with site | 1,372 |
Caithness Lochs | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 1,382 | is identical to 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 |
Habitat (IUCN level 1) | 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 (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Caithness Lochs. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/caithness-lochs-iba-united-kingdom on 04/10/2023.