UK010
Breydon Water


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus LC winter (2001–2006) 203 birds A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus LC winter (2001–2006) 10,515 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope LC winter (2001–2006) 19,011 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC passage (2001–2006) 1,001 birds B1i, B2, C2, C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria LC passage (2001–2006) 4,984 birds C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria LC winter (2001–2006) 17,745 birds B1i, C2, C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT passage (2001–2006) 1,418 birds B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT winter (2001–2006) 1,453 birds B1i, C3
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC breeding (2006) 202 pairs C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a passage (2001–2006) 23,024 birds A4iii, C4
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (2001–2006) 85,698 birds A4iii, C4

IBA Conservation

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.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2007 poor medium low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes population good

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species Actual vs Reference (units) % remaining Result
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus 203 / 375 (birds) 55 poor
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus 10,515 / 14 (birds) 100 good
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope 19,011 / 4,540 (birds) 100 good
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria 4,984 / 1,670 (birds) 100 good
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria 17,745 / 4,350 (birds) 100 good
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 1,418 / 130 (birds) 100 good
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 1,453 / 215 (birds) 100 good
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 85,698 / 40,998 (birds) 100 good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Energy production and mining likely in short term (<4 years) few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) low
Transportation and service corridors likely in short term (<4 years) few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Most of area (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

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
- Berney Marshes and Breydon Water RSPB Reserve (-) 32
1968 Breydon Water Local Nature Reserve (IV) 20
1985 Berney Marshes & Breydon Water Nature Reserve (IV) 30
1987 Breydon Water Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 25
1988 Broads National Park (V) 100
1995 Halvergate Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 33
2011 Breydon Water Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) 20

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic major (>10)

Land use

Land use % of IBA
hunting -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Breydon Water (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/breydon-water-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.