Data Zone
The site was identified as important 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 List1 | Season | Year(s) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | passage | 2001-2006 | 672 individuals | A4i, B1i, C2 |
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 1,464 individuals | A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6 |
| Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 5,217 individuals | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Common Pochard Aythya ferina | VU | winter | 2001-2006 | 9,621 individuals | B1i, C3 |
| Greater Scaup Aythya marila | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 3,920 individuals | A4i, B1i, B2, C3 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 5,427 individuals | C6 |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | LC | breeding | 2000 | 93 breeding pairs | C6 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage | 2001-2006 | 26,587 individuals | A4iii, C4 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter | 2001-2006 | 60,382 individuals | A4iii, C4 |
1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.
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 unfavourable | high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Reference | Actual | Units | % remaining | Result |
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | 1,070 | 1,464 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus | 225 | 7 | individuals | 4 | very unfavourable |
| Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula | 11,500 | 5,217 | individuals | 46 | unfavourable |
| Common Pochard Aythya ferina | 28,900 | 9,621 | individuals | 34 | very unfavourable |
| Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula | 21,800 | 9,847 | individuals | 46 | unfavourable |
| Greater Scaup Aythya marila | 3,300 | 3,920 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 5,550 | 5,427 | individuals | 98 | favourable |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | 115 | 93 | breeding pairs | 81 | near favourable |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 100,903 | 60,382 | individuals | 60 | unfavourable |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Pollution | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Energy production and mining | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected areas | Management plan | Other action | Result |
| Most of site (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 | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Lough Neagh & Lough Beg | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 100 |
| 1987 | LOUGH BEG | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 2 |
| 1987 | LOUGH BEG | National Nature Reserve | <1 |
| 1991 | Portmore Lough | Nature Reserve | 1 |
| 1992 | LOUGH NEAGH | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 78 |
| 1992 | LOUGH NEAGH- OXFORD ISLAND NNR | National Nature Reserve | <1 |
| 1994 | PORTMORE LOUGH | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 1 |
| 1994 | CULNAFAY | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | <1 |
| 1999 | Lough Neagh and Lough Beg | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 81 |
| 1999 | TOOME | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | <1 |
| 2000 | PEATLANDS PARK | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | <1 |
| 2000 | Rea`S Wood And Farr`S Bay | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | <1 |
| 2001 | Peatlands Park | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | <1 |
| 2009 | Lough Gullion | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | <1 |
| 2012 | Shane's Castle | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | <1 |
| Habitat1 | Habitat detail | % of IBA |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | Humid grasslands, Mesophile grasslands | - |
| Shrubland | Scrub | - |
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater, Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| hunting | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Neagh and Lough Beg (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-neagh-and-lough-beg-iba-united-kingdom on 22/11/2024.