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

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (<4 years)	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% 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	A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive	Not assessed	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1970	Ray Island	Nature Reserve (V)	<1
1978	Northey Island	Nature Reserve (V)	<1
1983	Dengie	National Nature Reserve (IV)	11
1983	Blackwater Estuary	National Nature Reserve (IV)	4
1983	Colne Estuary	National Nature Reserve (IV)	3
1984	Old Hall Marshes	Nature Reserve (IV)	2
1986	Dengie	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	14
1986	The Cliff, Burnham-On-Crouch	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1989	Colne Estuary	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	13
1989	Copt Hall Marshes	Nature Reserve (V)	<1
1993	Foulness	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	48
1993	Blackwater Estuary	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	19
1996	Crouch and Roach Estuaries	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	8
2000	Fenn Washland	Local Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
2002	Kendall Park	Local Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
2005	Essex Estuaries	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	63
2009	Wallasea Island	Nature Reserve (IV)	1
2011	Foulness (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 5)	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	40
2011	Dengie (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 1)	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	11
2011	Blackwater Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 4)	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	10
2011	Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2)	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	4
2011	Outer Thames Estuary	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	3
2011	Crouch and Roach Estuaries (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 3)	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	2
2014	Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne Estuaries	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	33

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)
Grassland	minor (<10)	Humid grasslands

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

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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 23/12/2024.