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• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	winter	2001-2006	76 individuals	B2
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	passage	2001-2006	643 individuals	B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	passage	2001-2006	1,370 individuals	B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus	NT	winter	2001-2006	5,979 individuals	B1i, B2, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	winter	2001-2006	18,348 individuals	B1i, B2, C3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage	2001-2006	22,846 individuals	A4iii, C4
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2001-2006	41,802 individuals	A4iii, C4

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	5,050	1,838	individuals	37	very unfavourable
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	4,400	1,659	individuals	38	very unfavourable
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	745	643	individuals	87	near favourable
Red Knot Calidris canutus	8,550	5,979	individuals	70	near favourable
Dunlin Calidris alpina	10,400	18,348	individuals	100	favourable
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	34,714	41,802	individuals	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Pollution	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Transportation and service corridors	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other 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	Not assessed	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1974	Leigh	National Nature Reserve	11
1987	Benfleet and Southend Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
1994	Benfleet & Southend Marshes	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	95
1996	Benfleet and Southend Marshes	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	95
1996	Southend on Sea Foreshore	Local Nature Reserve	43
2011	Benfleet and Southend Marshes	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	80

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Intertidal		major (>10)
Marine Neritic		major (>10)
Grassland	Mesophile grasslands, Humid grasslands	minor (<10)
Shrubland	Scrub	minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Benfleet and Southend Marshes (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/benfleet-and-southend-marshes-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.