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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorbill Alca torda | LC | breeding (1999–2001) | 6,818 individuals | B1ii, B3, C3 |
| Common Murre Uria aalge | LC | breeding (1999–2001) | 66,453 individuals | B1ii, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | breeding (1999–2001) | 49,788 breeding pairs | A4iii, C4 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | breeding (1999–2001) | 24,161 breeding pairs | 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 status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | very unfavourable | medium | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla | 23,740 / 61,500 (breeding pairs) | 39 | very unfavourable | ||
| Larus argentatus | 417 / 6,250 (breeding pairs) | 7 | very unfavourable | ||
| Razorbill Alca torda | 6,818 / 8,433 (individuals) | 81 | near favourable | ||
| Common Murre Uria aalge | 66,453 / 66,269 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | 49,788 / 52,900 (breeding pairs) | 95 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 24,161 / 67,892 (breeding pairs) | 36 | very unfavourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Fowlsheugh | RSPB Reserve (-) | 100 |
| 1956 | Fowlsheugh | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 80 |
| 1976 | Fowlsheugh | Nature Reserve (IV) | 10 |
| 2011 | Fowlsheugh | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 90 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 90 | |
| Grassland | 10 |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Fowlsheugh (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/fowlsheugh-iba-united-kingdom on 06/01/2025.