UK042
Mid-Essex Coast


IBA Justification

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
Brent Goose Branta bernicla LC passage 2001-2006 8,985 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Brent Goose Branta bernicla LC winter 2001-2006 17,711 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna LC winter 2001-2006 4,066 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope LC winter 2001-2006 14,182 individuals B1i, C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta LC winter 2001-2006 687 individuals B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca LC passage 2001-2006 4,159 individuals B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca LC winter 2001-2006 6,694 individuals B1i, C3
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus NT passage 2001-2006 17,650 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus NT winter 2001-2006 22,502 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC passage 2001-2006 804 individuals B1i, C2, C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC winter 2001-2006 865 individuals B1i, C2, C6
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola VU passage 2001-2006 7,962 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola VU winter 2001-2006 10,209 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria LC passage 2001-2006 10,068 individuals B1i, C2
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria LC winter 2001-2006 22,320 individuals A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula LC winter 2001-2006 655 individuals B1i, C3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula LC passage 2001-2006 1,302 individuals B1i, C3
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata NT passage 2001-2006 4,520 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata NT winter 2001-2006 3,257 individuals B2
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica NT passage 2001-2006 5,653 individuals A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica NT winter 2001-2006 8,744 individuals A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT passage 2001-2006 1,758 individuals B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT winter 2001-2006 3,390 individuals B1i, C3
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres NT passage 2001-2006 764 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus NT passage 2001-2006 12,558 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus NT winter 2001-2006 40,717 individuals A4i, B1i, B2, C3
Ruff Calidris pugnax LC passage 2001-2006 45 individuals C6
Ruff Calidris pugnax LC winter 2001-2006 53 individuals C6
Dunlin Calidris alpina NT passage 2001-2006 27,023 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina NT winter 2001-2006 32,935 individuals A4i, B1i, B2, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC passage 2001-2006 6,706 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC winter 2001-2006 9,583 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC breeding 1993 895 breeding pairs B1i, B2, C3
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus LC breeding 2000 6 breeding pairs C6
Little Tern Sternula albifrons LC breeding 1999-2000 137 breeding pairs B1i, B2, C2
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC breeding 2000-2002 256 breeding pairs C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC breeding 2006 136 breeding pairs C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a passage 2001-2006 111,888 individuals A4iii, C4
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter 2001-2006 216,968 individuals A4iii, C4

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.


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 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
Brent Goose Branta bernicla 29,600 17,711 individuals 60 unfavourable
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 5,700 4,066 individuals 72 near favourable
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope 5,350 14,182 individuals 100 favourable
Northern Pintail Anas acuta 365 687 individuals 100 favourable
Anas crecca 4,150 6,694 individuals 100 favourable
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 11,100 17,650 individuals 100 favourable
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 15,800 22,502 individuals 100 favourable
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 120 865 individuals 100 favourable
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 6,500 7,962 individuals 100 favourable
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 8,700 10,209 individuals 100 favourable
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria 12,500 22,320 individuals 100 favourable
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria 1,950 10,068 individuals 100 favourable
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 1,700 1,302 individuals 77 near favourable
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 835 655 individuals 79 near favourable
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 6,550 4,520 individuals 70 near favourable
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 5,500 3,257 individuals 60 unfavourable
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 3,380 5,653 individuals 100 favourable
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 7,550 8,744 individuals 100 favourable
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 1,090 1,758 individuals 100 favourable
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 1,130 3,390 individuals 100 favourable
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 1,030 650 individuals 64 unfavourable
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 900 764 individuals 85 near favourable
Red Knot Calidris canutus 7,450 12,558 individuals 100 favourable
Red Knot Calidris canutus 37,600 40,717 individuals 100 favourable
Ruff Calidris pugnax 50 53 individuals 100 favourable
Dunlin Calidris alpina 48,300 32,935 individuals 69 unfavourable
Dunlin Calidris alpina 30,800 27,023 individuals 88 near favourable
Common Redshank Tringa totanus 5,650 9,583 individuals 100 favourable
Common Redshank Tringa totanus 5,450 6,706 individuals 100 favourable
Little Tern Sternula albifrons 58 137 breeding pairs 100 favourable
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 256 136 breeding pairs 54 unfavourable
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 330 0 breeding pairs 0 very unfavourable
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 81,283 111,888 individuals 100 favourable
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 230,430 216,968 individuals 95 favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Climate change and severe weather happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Natural system modifications likely in short term (within 4 years) small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Residential and commercial development likely in short term (within 4 years) small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Not assessed low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1970 Ray Island Nature Reserve <1
1978 Northey Island Nature Reserve <1
1983 Dengie National Nature Reserve 11
1983 Blackwater Estuary National Nature Reserve 4
1983 Colne Estuary National Nature Reserve 3
1984 Old Hall Marshes Nature Reserve 2
1986 Dengie Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) 14
1986 The Cliff, Burnham-On-Crouch Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) <1
1989 Colne Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) 13
1989 Copt Hall Marshes Nature Reserve <1
1991 Dengie (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 1) Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 14
1992 Blackwater Estuary Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 19
1993 Foulness Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) 48
1993 Blackwater Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) 19
1994 Foulness (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 5) Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 48
1994 Dengie Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 14
1994 Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2) Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 12
1994 Colne Estuary Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 12
1995 Crouch & Roach Estuaries Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 8
1996 Essex Estuaries Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 89
1996 Foulness Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 48
1996 Crouch and Roach Estuaries (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 3) Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 8
1996 Crouch and Roach Estuaries Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) 8
2000 Fenn Washland Local Nature Reserve <1
2002 Kendall Park Local Nature Reserve <1
2005 Essex Estuaries Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 63
2006 Blackwater Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 4) Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 19
2009 Wallasea Island Nature Reserve 1
2011 Foulness (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 5) Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 40
2011 Dengie (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 1) Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 11
2011 Blackwater Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 4) Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 10
2011 Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2) Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 4
2011 Outer Thames Estuary Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 3
2011 Crouch and Roach Estuaries (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 3) Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 2
2013 Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne Estuaries Marine Conservation Zone 35
2014 Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne Estuaries Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 33

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic major (>10)
Grassland Humid grasslands minor (<10)
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

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


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mid-Essex Coast (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mid-essex-coast-iba-united-kingdom on 22/11/2024.