UK194
Lochs of Spiggie and Brow


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 IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus LC winter (1990–1995) 135 individuals B3, C7

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 status
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2007 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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus 60 / 135 (individuals) 45 unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Pollution likely in long term (beyond 4 years) whole popul­ation/area (>90%) 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 compre­hensive and appropriate manage­ment plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the popul­ations of qualify­ing bird species Not assessed medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
- Loch of Spiggie RSPB Reserve (-) 78
1962 Lochs of Spiggie and Brow Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 100
1979 Loch Of Spiggie Nature Reserve (IV) 61

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland) - Standing freshwater; Standing brackish and salt water; Water fringe vegetation

Land use

Land use % of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture -
nature conservation and research -
hunting -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lochs of Spiggie and Brow (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lochs-of-spiggie-and-brow-iba-united-kingdom on 13/01/2025.