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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greylag Goose Anser anser | LC | winter (1989–1994) | 2,790 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | LC | winter (1989–1994) | 630 birds | B1i, C2, C3 |
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 | not assessed | high | very low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | good | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | 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 |
| Some of area covered (10–49%) | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | very low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | White Loch - Lochinch | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 1 |
| 1971 | Torrs Warren - Luce Sands | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 45 |
| 2005 | Luce Bay and Sands | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 22 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | major (>10) | Highly improved re-seeded landscapes; Arable land; Forestry plantations |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Shrubland | minor (<10) | Heathland |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | major (>10) |
| military | major (>10) |
| forestry | minor (<10) |
| tourism/recreation | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Loch of Inch and Torrs Warren (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/loch-of-inch-and-torrs-warren-iba-united-kingdom on 26/12/2024.