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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus | LC | breeding (2004) | 44 males | C6 |
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris | LC | breeding (2006) | 9 males | C6 |
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 87 birds | C6 |
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 463 birds | B2, C6 |
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | breeding (2006) | 206 pairs | B3, C6 |
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus | LC | breeding (2001) | 2 pairs | C6 |
Little Tern Sternula albifrons | LC | breeding (2000) | 19 pairs | C6 |
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | LC | breeding (2006) | 13 pairs | C6 |
Woodlark Lullula arborea | LC | breeding (2006) | 28 males | C6 |
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 | high | high |
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 | ||
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus | 44 / 24 (males) | 100 | good | ||
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris | 9 / 8 (males) | 100 | good | ||
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | 206 / 105 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
Little Tern Sternula albifrons | 7 / 28 (pairs) | 25 | very poor | ||
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | 13 / 7 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
Woodlark Lullula arborea | 28 / 19 (pairs) | 100 | good |
Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
Natural system modifications | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | low |
Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
Pollution | happening now | 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 comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | high |
Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
---|---|---|---|
- | Walberswick | National Nature Reserve (-) | 23 |
- | Minsmere | RSPB Reserve (-) | 33 |
1956 | Westleton Heath | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 2 |
1967 | Dunwich | Nature Reserve (V) | 4 |
1970 | Suffolk Coast and Heaths | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 97 |
1977 | Minsmere | Nature Reserve (IV) | 31 |
1979 | Suffolk | Heritage Coast (V) | 73 |
1979 | Suffolk Coast | Heritage Coast (-) | - |
1993 | Minsmere-Walberswick Heaths and Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 100 |
1999 | Dingle Marshes | Nature Reserve (IV) | 4 |
2003 | Suffolk Coast | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 39 |
2011 | Outer Thames Estuary | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 5 |
2017 | Southern North Sea | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (UA) | 6 |
Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
---|---|---|
Forest | major (>10) | Native coniferous woodland; Mixed woodland |
Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
Marine Neritic | major (>10) | |
Shrubland | major (>10) | Scrub; Heathland |
Grassland | minor (<10) | Humid grasslands |
Land use | % of IBA |
---|---|
nature conservation and research | - |
tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Minsmere - Walberswick (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/minsmere--walberswick-iba-united-kingdom on 24/12/2024.