UK054
Poole Harbour


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
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus LC breeding (2004) 81 males C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC passage (2001–2006) 729 birds B1i, C2, C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC winter (2001–2006) 1,452 birds A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata NT winter (2001–2006) 1,619 birds B2
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT passage (2001–2006) 1,120 birds B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT winter (2001–2006) 2,168 birds B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina NT winter (2001–2006) 6,435 birds B2
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus LC breeding (2000) 5 pairs C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC breeding (2000) 191 pairs C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC breeding (2006) 248 pairs C6
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis LC breeding (2006) 213 pairs B2, C6
Dartford Warbler Curruca undata NT breeding (2006) 73 males C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (2001–2006) 36,091 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 good medium 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 81 / 43 (males) 100 good
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 729 / 125 (birds) 100 good
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 1,452 / 315 (birds) 100 good
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 1,619 / 1,790 (birds) 91 good
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 1,120 / 810 (birds) 100 good
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 2,168 / 1,490 (birds) 100 good
Dunlin Calidris alpina 6,435 / 5,500 (birds) 100 good
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 5 / 6 (pairs) 84 not assessed
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 248 / 150 (pairs) 100 good
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 213 / 105 (pairs) 100 good
Dartford Warbler Curruca undata 73 / 71 (males) 100 good
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 36,091 / 27,027 (birds) 100 good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Biological resource use happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

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

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
- Wareham RSPB Reserve (-) 5
- Arne RSPB Reserve (-) 6
1959 Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) 78
1962 Brownsea Island Nature Reserve (V) 3
1976 Studland Nature Reserve (V) 5
1979 Arne Nature Reserve (IV) 5
1980 Studland and Godlingston Heath National Nature Reserve (IV) 4
1981 Purbeck Heritage Coast (V) 78
1982 Middlebere and Hartland Nature Reserve (V) 2
1985 The Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 1
1985 Arne Reedbeds National Nature Reserve (IV) <1
1985 Holton Heath National Nature Reserve (IV) <1
1986 Studland & Godlingston Heaths Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 3
1986 Arne Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 3
1987 Wareham Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 7
1987 Rempstone Heaths Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 1
1990 Poole Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 85
1995 Wareham Meadows Nature Reserve (IV) 4
1997 Holton and Sandford Heaths Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) <1
2000 Turlin Moor Local Nature Reserve (IV) <1
2011 Poole Harbour Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) 46

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal major (>10)
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic major (>10)
Shrubland major (>10) Heathland
Forest minor (<10) Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland
Grassland minor (<10)
Wetlands (inland) minor (<10) Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation; Fens, transition mires and springs

Land use

Land use % of IBA
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Poole Harbour (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/poole-harbour-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.