• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	NT	passage	2001-2006	1,188 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	NT	winter	2001-2006	953 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter	2001-2006	1,826 individuals	B1i, C3
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	breeding	2000	43 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	breeding	2006	51 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	LC	breeding	2000	1,200 breeding pairs	C2, C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	LC	breeding	2006	1,441 breeding pairs	C2, C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2001-2006	22,827 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.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	68	8	individuals	12	very unfavourable
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	970	1,188	individuals	100	favourable
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	1,130	953	individuals	85	near favourable
Ruff Calidris pugnax	38	3	individuals	8	very unfavourable
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima	535	186	individuals	35	very unfavourable
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	1,060	1,826	individuals	100	favourable
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	49	51	breeding pairs	100	favourable
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	245	1,441	breeding pairs	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	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	Unknown	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1935	Seahouses	Nature Reserve	1
1958	Northumberland Coast	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty	53
1961	Dunstanburgh and Newton Coast	Nature Reserve	<1
1986	Bamburgh Coast and Hills	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1
1987	Low Hauxley Shore	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1987	Souter Lighthouse and The Leas	Nature Reserve	<1
1988	Newton Links	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1989	Howick To Seaton Point	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	10
1989	Tynemouth To Seaton Sluice	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3
1989	Castle Point To Cullernose Point	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1992	North Northumberland	Heritage Coast	62
1992	Northumberland Shore	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	72
1992	Cresswell and Newbiggin Shores	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7
1992	St Mary's Island	Local Nature Reserve	1
1994	Amble Dunes	Local Nature Reserve	2
1995	Northumbria Coast	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
1996	Berwickshire And North Northumberland Coast	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	53
1999	Durham Coast	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	12
2000	Northumbria Coast	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	94
2001	Durham Coast	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	11
2001	Durham	Heritage Coast	5
2005	Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	52
2016	Coquet to St. Mary's	Marine Conservation Zone	28

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		major (>10)
Marine Intertidal		major (>10)
Marine Neritic		major (>10)
Grassland		minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Northumbria Coast (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/northumbria-coast-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.