UK050
Northumbria Coast


IBA Justification

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
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres NT passage (2001–2006) 1,188 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres NT winter (2001–2006) 953 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC winter (2001–2006) 1,826 birds B1i, C3
Little Tern Sternula albifrons LC breeding (2000) 43 pairs B2, C6
Little Tern Sternula albifrons LC breeding (2006) 51 pairs B2, C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea LC breeding (2000) 1,200 pairs C2, C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea LC breeding (2006) 1,441 pairs C2, C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (2001–2006) 22,827 birds A4iii, C4

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 poor high 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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus 8 / 68 (birds) 12 very poor
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 1,188 / 970 (birds) 100 good
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 953 / 1,130 (birds) 85 moderate
Ruff Calidris pugnax 3 / 38 (birds) 8 very poor
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima 186 / 535 (birds) 35 very poor
Common Redshank Tringa totanus 1,826 / 1,060 (birds) 100 good
Little Tern Sternula albifrons 51 / 49 (pairs) 100 good
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 1,441 / 245 (pairs) 100 good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Natural system modifications likely in short term (<4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Energy production and mining likely in short term (<4 years) few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
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 Unknown Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1935 Seahouses Nature Reserve (V) 1
1958 Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) 53
1961 Dunstanburgh and Newton Coast Nature Reserve (V) <1
1986 Bamburgh Coast and Hills Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 1
1987 Low Hauxley Shore Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 2
1987 Souter Lighthouse and The Leas Nature Reserve (V) <1
1988 Newton Links Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 2
1989 Howick To Seaton Point Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 10
1989 Tynemouth To Seaton Sluice Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 3
1989 Castle Point To Cullernose Point Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) <1
1992 North Northumberland Heritage Coast (V) 62
1992 Northumberland Shore Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 72
1992 Cresswell and Newbiggin Shores Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 7
1992 St Mary's Island Local Nature Reserve (IV) 1
1994 Amble Dunes Local Nature Reserve (IV) 2
1999 Durham Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 12
2001 Durham Heritage Coast (V) 5
2005 Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) 52

Habitats

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

Land use

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 24/12/2024.