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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 846 birds | A4i, B1i, C2 |
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 774 birds | A4i, B1i, C2 |
| Brent Goose Branta bernicla | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 2,210 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Brent Goose Branta bernicla | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 1,018 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 3,565 birds | C6 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 5,630 birds | C6 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 2,119 birds | B2 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | NT | passage (2001–2006) | 254 birds | C6 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 1,644 birds | A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage (2001–2006) | 27,411 birds | A4iii, C4 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 32,347 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 | very 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 | ||
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | 774 / 785 (birds) | 99 | good | ||
| Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus | 15 / 97 (birds) | 16 | very poor | ||
| Brent Goose Branta bernicla | 1,018 / 3,820 (birds) | 27 | very poor | ||
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 3,565 / 2,100 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 5,630 / 5,050 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | 2,119 / 1,980 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | 1,644 / 2,150 (birds) | 77 | moderate | ||
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | 254 / 495 (birds) | 52 | poor | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 32,347 / 35,938 (birds) | 91 | 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%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Lough Foyle | RSPB Reserve (-) | 17 |
| 1966 | North Derry | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | - |
| 1976 | Roe Estuary | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 7 |
| 1994 | MAGILLIGAN | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 21 |
| 1995 | Lough Foyle | Nature Reserve (IV) | 13 |
| 1998 | LOUGH FOYLE | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 39 |
| 2003 | RIVER FOYLE AND TRIBUTARIES | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 6 |
| 2003 | River Foyle and Tributaries | Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) (UA) | - |
| 2006 | BINEVENAGH | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NI) (V) | 39 |
| 2011 | Lough Foyle | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 37 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | major (>10) | Highly improved re-seeded landscapes; Arable land |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) | |
| Wetlands (inland) | minor (<10) | Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| military | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Foyle and River Foyle (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-foyle-and-river-foyle-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.