• Summary
• 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
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	breeding	1993	520 breeding pairs	B1i, B3, C3
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus	LC	breeding	2002	2 breeding pairs	C6
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	LC	breeding	2001	18,518 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, B3, C3
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus	LC	resident	1994	9 breeding pairs	C6
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus	LC	resident	1994	14 breeding pairs	C6
Merlin Falco columbarius	LC	resident	1994	17 breeding pairs	C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	resident	1994	10 breeding pairs	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	breeding	1999-2002	20,681 breeding pairs	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
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	11,500	18,518	breeding pairs	100	favourable
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	11,950	20,681	breeding pairs	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Transportation and service corridors	likely in short term (within 4 years)	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
Some of site covered (10-49%)	Unknown	Not assessed	negligible

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1964	Forest of Bowland	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty	100
1984	Roeburndale Woods	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1984	Burton Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1985	Robert Hall Moor	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1985	Myttons Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1986	Hodder River Section	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1986	Little Mearley Clough	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1987	Clitheroe Knoll Reefs	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1988	Bowland Fells	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	20
1988	Austwick and Lawkland Mosses	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1988	Clear Beck Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1989	Tarnbrook Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1989	Keasden Moor	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1989	Langcliff Cross Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1990	Artle Dale	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1990	Giggleswick Scar and Kinsey Cave	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1992	New Ing Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1993	Bowland Fells	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	20
1993	Hesley Moss	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1994	Far Holme Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1995	North Pennine Dales Meadows	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	<1
1996	Barn Gill Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1998	Standridge Farm Pasture	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1999	Bell Sykes Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1999	Field Head Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
2000	Calf Hill and Cragg Woods	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
2001	Calf Hill And Cragg Woods	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	<1
2011	Fishwick Bottoms	Local Nature Reserve	<1

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland	-
Grassland	Humid grasslands	-
Shrubland	Heathland	-
Wetlands (inland)	Rivers and streams, Blanket bogs	-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
forestry	-
hunting	-
water management	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bowland Fells (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bowland-fells-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.