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) | 165 birds | B2, C2, C6 |
| Smew Mergellus albellus | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 32 birds | C6 |
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 457 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 547 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 3,864 birds | C6 |
| Ruff Calidris pugnax | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 35 birds | C6 |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | LC | breeding (2006) | 170 pairs | C6 |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | LC | breeding (2000) | 118 pairs | C6 |
| Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis | LC | breeding (2006) | 500 pairs | B1i, B2, C6 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 33,589 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 | 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 | 165 / 325 (birds) | 51 | poor | ||
| Smew Mergellus albellus | 32 / 38 (birds) | 85 | moderate | ||
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | 547 / 515 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 3,864 / 2,850 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Ruff Calidris pugnax | 35 / 47 (birds) | 75 | moderate | ||
| Little Tern Sternula albifrons | 21 / 41 (pairs) | 52 | poor | ||
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | 170 / 280 (pairs) | 61 | poor | ||
| Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis | 500 / 100 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 33,589 / 33,194 (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 |
| Transportation and service corridors | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Some of area covered (10–49%) | 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 | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Dungeness | Nature Reserve (IV) | 4 |
| 1975 | Winchelsea | Nature Reserve (V) | <1 |
| 1987 | High Weald | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 4 |
| 1990 | Hastings Cliffs To Pett Beach | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1998 | Dungeness | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 4 |
| 2006 | Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 46 |
| 2009 | Rye Harbour | Local Nature Reserve (IV) | 3 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | - | Highly improved re-seeded landscapes; Arable land |
| Grassland | - | Humid grasslands |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - | |
| Marine Intertidal | - | |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation; Fens, transition mires and springs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| military | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dungeness To Pett Levels (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dungeness-to-pett-levels-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.