UK021
Exe Estuary


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
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus VU winter (2001–2006) 6 birds C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC winter (2001–2006) 360–423 birds B2, C6
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica NT winter (2001–2006) 370 birds C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT winter (2000–2006) 970 birds B1i, C3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (2001–2006) 20,341 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 very poor medium 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
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus 6 / 20 (birds) 30 very poor
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 423 / 360 (birds) 100 good
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 370 / 430 (birds) 87 moderate
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 970 / 585 (birds) 100 good
Dunlin Calidris alpina 4,548 / 6,150 (birds) 74 moderate
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 20,341 / 23,216 (birds) 88 moderate

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Natural system modifications happe­ning now 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
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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1960 Prattshayes Nature Reserve (V) <1
1983 Dawlish Warren Local Nature Reserve (IV) 1
1984 Dawlish Warren Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 9
1985 Exe Estuary Nature Reserve (IV) 4
1986 Exe Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 83
1994 Exmouth Local Nature Reserve (IV) 8
2000 Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve (IV) 6
2011 Exe Estuary Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) 69

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Grassland 7 Humid grasslands
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic major (>10)
Wetlands (inland) minor (<10) Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation

Land use

Land use % of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Exe Estuary (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/exe-estuary-iba-united-kingdom on 05/12/2024.