Data Zone
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 66 individuals | C6 |
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 1,247 individuals | B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | breeding | 2006 | 43 breeding pairs | B2 |
| Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 26,242 individuals | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 697 individuals | B1i, C3 |
| Common Teal Anas crecca | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 19,216 individuals | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 5,638 individuals | C6 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter | 2001-2006 | 100,432 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.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | very unfavourable | high | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Reference | Actual | Units | % remaining | Result |
| Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus | 345 | 66 | individuals | 20 | very unfavourable |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | 60 | 43 | breeding pairs | 72 | near favourable |
| Anas crecca | 14,533 | 19,216 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 4,181 | 5,638 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 94,822 | 100,432 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Pollution | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | 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%) | moderate to rapid 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 | 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 | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | West Sedgemoor | RSPB Reserve | 14 |
| - | Ham Wall | RSPB Reserve | 9 |
| 1961 | Shapwick Heath | National Nature Reserve | 6 |
| 1973 | Street Heath | Local Nature Reserve | <1 |
| 1978 | West Sedgemoor | Nature Reserve | 14 |
| 1983 | West Sedgemoor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 14 |
| 1983 | Street Heath | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | <1 |
| 1985 | Tealham and Tadham Moors | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 13 |
| 1985 | King's Sedgemoor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 12 |
| 1985 | Westhay Moor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 7 |
| 1985 | Wet Moor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 7 |
| 1985 | Moorlinch | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 3 |
| 1985 | West Moor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 3 |
| 1985 | Southlake Moor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 3 |
| 1986 | Catcott Edington and Chilton Moors | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 15 |
| 1986 | Sharpham Moor Plot | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | <1 |
| 1990 | Somerset Levels | National Nature Reserve | 6 |
| 1990 | Westhay Heath | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | <1 |
| 1992 | Curry and Hay Moors | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 7 |
| 1994 | Somerset Levels and Moors | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 90 |
| 1995 | Shapwick Heath | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 6 |
| 1995 | Westhay Moor | National Nature Reserve | 1 |
| 1995 | Ham Wall | National Nature Reserve | 1 |
| 1996 | Ham Wall | Nature Reserve | 9 |
| 1997 | Somerset Levels and Moors | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 90 |
| 2003 | Greylake | Nature Reserve | <1 |
| Habitat1 | Habitat detail | % of IBA |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | Arable land | - |
| Forest | Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Mixed woodland | - |
| Grassland | - | |
| Shrubland | Scrub, Heathland | - |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams, Raised bogs, Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| water management | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Somerset Levels and Moors (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/somerset-levels-and-moors-iba-united-kingdom on 22/11/2024.