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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
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	resident	1995	200 breeding pairs	B1i, C3
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata	LC	breeding	1995	155 breeding pairs	B2, C2, C6
Arctic Loon Gavia arctica	LC	breeding	2001-2005	28 breeding pairs	C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	breeding	1995	2,410 breeding pairs	B3, C2, C6
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	breeding	1995	1,970 breeding pairs	B1i, C2, C6
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola	LC	breeding	1995	6 breeding pairs	C6
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus	LC	breeding	1995	35 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos	LC	resident	2003	6 breeding pairs	B2
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus	LC	resident	1995	54 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Merlin Falco columbarius	LC	breeding	1995	49 breeding pairs	C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	resident	1995	9 breeding pairs	C6

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
Arctic Loon Gavia arctica	31	28	breeding pairs	91	favourable
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos	4	6	breeding pairs	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Transportation and service corridors	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible 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	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Forsinard	RSPB Reserve	6
1962	Leavad	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1963	Ben Loyal	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3
1963	Ben Hutig	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1963	Badanloch Bogs	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1971	Shielton Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4
1971	Coire na Beinne Mires	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1971	Blar nam Faoileag	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1974	Ben Griams	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5
1974	Knockfin Heights	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3
1974	Strathy Bogs	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1
1975	Forsinard Bogs	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1
1979	Moss of Killimster	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1979	Dirlot Gorge	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1980	Kyle of Tongue	National Scenic Area	5
1984	Lambsdale Leans	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1984	Armadale Gorge	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1989	West Halladale	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6
1989	Cnoc an Alaskie	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1990	Bad na Gallaig	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3
1990	Druim nam Bad	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1990	Stroupster Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1990	Oliclett	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1991	Skinsdale Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5
1991	Loch Meadie Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4
1991	Sletill Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1
1992	Strathmore Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5
1992	Rumsdale Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4
1992	Strath Duchally	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1
1993	Forsinard Flows	Nature Reserve	10
1993	Loch Caluim Flows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4
1993	Grudie Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3
1993	West Borgie	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1
1993	Truderscaig	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1
1994	Syre Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1994	West Strathnaver	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1995	Dunbeath Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4
1995	A' Mhoine	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4
1995	Lochan Buidhe Mires	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3
1995	Lon A' Chuil	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1995	Skelpick Peatlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1
1995	Druim na Coibe	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1
1995	Mallart	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1996	Caithness And Sutherland Peatlands	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	100
1996	East Halladale	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6
1996	Coir' An Eoin	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1996	Strath an Loin	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1997	Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
1998	River Borgie	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1998	River Borgie	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	<1
1999	Caithness & Sutherland Peatlands	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	99
1999	Munsary Peatlands	Nature Reserve	1
2001	River Thurso	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	<1
2001	Berriedale And Langwell Waters	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	<1
2007	Forsinard Flows	National Nature Reserve	7

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Wetlands (inland)	Blanket bogs, Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs	major (>10)
Grassland		minor (<10)
Shrubland	Scrub, Heathland	minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
hunting	-
other	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/caithness-and-sutherland-peatlands-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.