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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
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	winter (2001–2006)	220 birds	A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	winter (2001–2006)	3,483 birds	B1i, C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter (2001–2006)	905 birds	B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter (2001–2006)	4,124 birds	B1i, C3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	winter (2001–2006)	684 birds	B1i, C3
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	passage (2001–2006)	2,389 birds	B2
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter (2001–2006)	2,521 birds	B2
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	passage (2001–2006)	6,292 birds	B2
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	winter (2001–2006)	22,374 birds	A4i, B1i, B2, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter (2001–2006)	1,900 birds	B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter (2001–2006)	2,354 birds	B1i, C3
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	LC	breeding (1999–2002)	3,801 pairs	A4i, B1i, B3, C3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage (2001–2006)	36,013 birds	A4iii, C4
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2001–2006)	70,201 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 (2015) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Energy production and mining	likely in short term (<4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (>4 years)	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Transportation and service corridors	likely in short term (<4 years)	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	moderate decline (10–30% 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	No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1954	Bridgwater Bay	National Nature Reserve (IV)	10
1954	Brean Down	Nature Reserve (V)	<1
1964	Middle Hope	Nature Reserve (V)	<1
1965	Penarth Coast	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1965	Sully Island	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1966	Redcliffe Bay	Nature Reserve (V)	<1
1972	Flat Holm	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1976	Severn Estuary (Wales)	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	25
1983	Steep Holm	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1984	Brean Down	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1984	Uphill Cliff	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1986	Blue Anchor To Lilstock Coast	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1986	Middle Hope	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1986	Portishead Pier To Black Nore	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1986	Berrow Dunes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1986	Aust Cliff	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1986	Purton Passage	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1987	Upper Severn Estuary	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	6
1988	Uphill	Local Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1989	Severn Estuary	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	39
1989	Bridgwater Bay	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	25
1989	Ellenborough Park West	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1990	Lydney Cliff	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1991	Spring Cove Cliffs	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1991	Clevedon Shore	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	-
1993	Berrow Dunes	Local Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1993	Church and Wains Hill	Local Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1993	Eastwood and Battery Point	Local Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
2006	Weston Woods	Local Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
2008	Severn Estuary / Môr Hafren	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	87
2008	Newport Wetlands	National Nature Reserve (IV)	2
2010	Gwlyptiroedd Casnewydd / Newport Wetlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
2011	Severn Estuary	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	83

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)
Forest	minor (<10)	Mixed woodland
Grassland	minor (<10)	Steppes and dry calcareous grassland; Humid grasslands
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	minor (<10)
Shrubland	minor (<10)	Scrub; Heathland

Land use	% of IBA
water management	-
tourism/recreation	-
nature conservation and research	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
urban/industrial/transport	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Severn Estuary (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/severn-estuary-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.