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 | Red List Category | Season | Year(s) | Population estimate at site | IBA criteria met |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 357 individuals | B1i, C3 |
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | passage | 2001-2006 | 649 individuals | B2 |
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 628 individuals | B2, C6 |
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | breeding | 1995 | 33 breeding pairs | C6 |
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula | LC | passage | 2001-2006 | 737 individuals | B1i, C3 |
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | passage | 2001-2006 | 1,412 individuals | B2 |
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | winter | 2001-2006 | 1,495 individuals | B2 |
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | NT | passage | 2001-2006 | 3,299 individuals | B1i, C3 |
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | NT | winter | 2001-2006 | 1,247 individuals | B1i, C3 |
Dunlin Calidris alpina | LC | passage | 2001-2006 | 5,541 individuals | B2 |
Dunlin Calidris alpina | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 15,181 individuals | B1i, B2, C3 |
Common Redshank Tringa totanus | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 1,720 individuals | B1i, C3 |
A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage | 2001-2006 | 24,702 individuals | A4iii, C4 |
A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter | 2001-2006 | 47,805 individuals | A4iii, C4 |
The current IUCN Red List category (shown above) 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 | favourable | medium | low |
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 |
Mareca strepera | Gadwall | 130 | 357 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Recurvirostra avosetta | Pied Avocet | 205 | 628 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Charadrius hiaticula | Common Ringed Plover | 585 | 737 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Numenius arquata | Eurasian Curlew | 1110 | 1495 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Numenius arquata | Eurasian Curlew | 1160 | 1412 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Limosa limosa | Black-tailed Godwit | 255 | 1247 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Limosa limosa | Black-tailed Godwit | 515 | 3299 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Calidris alpina | Dunlin | 12900 | 15181 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Calidris alpina | Dunlin | 5650 | 5541 | individuals | 99 | favourable |
Tringa totanus | Common Redshank | 1890 | 1720 | individuals | 92 | favourable |
Tringa totanus | Common Redshank | 1680 | 1285 | individuals | 77 | not assessed |
Species group - waterbirds | A4iii | 36027 | 47805 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
Climate change and severe weather | habitat shifting and alteration | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
Energy production and mining | renewable energy | likely in short term (within 4 years) | small area/few individuals (<10%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | low |
Natural system modifications | dams & water management/use - small dams | likely in short term (within 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Natural system modifications | other ecosystem modifications | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
Pollution | garbage & solid waste | likely in short term (within 4 years) | small area/few individuals (<10%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | low |
Residential and commercial development | commercial and industrial development | likely in short term (within 4 years) | small area/few individuals (<10%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | low |
Transportation and service corridors | roads and railroads | likely in short term (within 4 years) | small area/few individuals (<10%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | low |
Transportation and service corridors | shipping lanes | likely in short term (within 4 years) | small area/few individuals (<10%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | low |
Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Protected-area designation | Management planning | Other conservation action | Result |
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) | A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | low |
Protected area (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA with IBA (ha) |
---|---|---|---|---|
West Thurrock Lagoon & Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 67 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Vange & Fobbing Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 167 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Thames Estuary and Marshes | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) | 0 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Thames Estuary and Marshes | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 4,802 | protected area contained by site | 4,839 |
Thames Estuary and Marshes | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 5,589 | protected area overlaps with site | 5,589 |
South Thames Estuary and Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 5,289 | protected area overlaps with site | 5,355 |
South Essex Marshes | Nature Reserve | 736 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Shorne Marshes | Nature Reserve | 391 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Rainham Marshes | Nature Reserve | 409 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
Rainham Marshes | Local Nature Reserve | 79 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Northward Hill | Nature Reserve | 364 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Mucking Flats and Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 313 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Medway Estuary and Marshes | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) | 0 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Medway Estuary and Marshes | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 4,686 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Medway Estuary and Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 4,748 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Medway Estuary & Marshes | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 4,697 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Medway Estuary | Marine Conservation Zone | 6,000 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Medway Estuary | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) | 5,800 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Inner Thames Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 486 | protected area overlaps with site | 487 |
Holehaven Creek | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 273 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Crossness | Local Nature Reserve | 26 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Cliffe Pools | Nature Reserve | 238 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Canvey Wick | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 93 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Habitat (IUCN level 1) | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
---|---|---|
Marine Intertidal | - | |
Forest | Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Mixed woodland | - |
Shrubland | Scrub | - |
Grassland | Humid grasslands | - |
Wetlands (inland) | Water fringe vegetation | - |
Artificial/Terrestrial | Arable land | - |
Marine Neritic | - | |
Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - |
Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
---|---|
agriculture | - |
nature conservation and research | - |
urban/industrial/transport | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Thames Estuary and Marshes. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/thames-estuary-and-marshes-iba-united-kingdom on 19/03/2024.