Data Zone
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) | 78 birds | B2, C6 |
| Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 11,669 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 5,968 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 4,129 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 5,495 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | NT | passage (2001–2006) | 19,328 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 19,316 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | passage (2001–2006) | 4,829 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 2,819 birds | B2 |
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | NT | passage (2001–2006) | 4,390 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 4,559 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 8,766 birds | A4i, B1i, B2, C3 |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 13,700 birds | B1i, B2, C3 |
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 8,815 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 5,020 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Little Tern Sternula albifrons | LC | breeding (2000) | 75 pairs | B2, C6 |
| Little Tern Sternula albifrons | LC | breeding (1999–2004) | 84 pairs | B2, C6 |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | LC | breeding (1999–2004) | 547 pairs | C6 |
| Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis | LC | breeding (1998–2003) | 516 pairs | B1i, B2, C6 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage (2001–2006) | 75,331 birds | A4iii, C4 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 86,342 birds | A4iii, C4 |
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 | very poor | high | medium |
| 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 | 78 / 54 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna | 5,968 / 7,000 (birds) | 86 | moderate | ||
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | 5,495 / 7,200 (birds) | 77 | moderate | ||
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | 5,495 / 7,200 (birds) | 77 | moderate | ||
| Anas crecca | 2,722 / 5,950 (birds) | 46 | poor | ||
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | 19,328 / 28,200 (birds) | 69 | poor | ||
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | 19,316 / 30,200 (birds) | 64 | poor | ||
| Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola | 593 / 1,940 (birds) | 31 | very poor | ||
| Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula | 318 / 535 (birds) | 60 | poor | ||
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | 2,819 / 3,860 (birds) | 74 | moderate | ||
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | 4,829 / 4,740 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | 169 / 935 (birds) | 19 | very poor | ||
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | 4,390 / 1,620 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | 4,559 / 1,610 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | 2,463 / 5,900 (birds) | 42 | poor | ||
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | 8,766 / 19,300 (birds) | 46 | poor | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 13,700 / 23,800 (birds) | 58 | poor | ||
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | 5,020 / 7,250 (birds) | 70 | moderate | ||
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | 8,815 / 8,350 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Little Tern Sternula albifrons | 84 / 65 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 75,331 / 64,507 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 86,342 / 126,157 (birds) | 69 | poor | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Biological resource use | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Transportation and service corridors | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in long term (>4 years) | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | 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 |
| Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Dee Estuary | RSPB Reserve (-) | 39 |
| 1971 | Gronant Dunes and Talacre Warren | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 3 |
| 1979 | Dee Estuary | Nature Reserve (IV) | 43 |
| 1983 | Dee Estuary/Aber Afon Dyfrdwy | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 62 |
| 1983 | Hilbre Islands | Local Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 1983 | Red Rocks | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1994 | Dee Cliffs | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1998 | Dee Estuary | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 39 |
| 2008 | Dee Estuary / Aber Dyfrdwy | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 83 |
| 2011 | The Dee Estuary | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 81 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) | |
| Wetlands (inland) | minor (<10) | Water fringe vegetation |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| hunting | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dee Estuary (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dee-estuary-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.