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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 24,904 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 14,280 birds | B1i, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 45,997 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 | good | low | 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 | ||
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | 24,904 / 10,450 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 14,280 / 6,765 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 45,997 / 20,318 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| No known threats | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | Unknown | Not assessed | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | North Wirral Foreshore | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 95 |
| 2000 | Mersey Narrows | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 6 |
| 2008 | Dee Estuary / Aber Dyfrdwy | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 83 |
| 2011 | Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 7 |
| 2014 | Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 86 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mersey-narrows-and-north-wirral-foreshore-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.