Data Zone
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) | 66 birds | C6 |
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 1,247 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | breeding (2006) | 43 pairs | B2 |
| Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 26,242 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 697 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Common Teal Anas crecca | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 19,216 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 5,638 birds | C6 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 100,432 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 (2007) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | very poor | high | 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 | ||
| Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus | 66 / 345 (birds) | 20 | very poor | ||
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | 43 / 60 (pairs) | 72 | moderate | ||
| Anas crecca | 19,216 / 14,533 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 5,638 / 4,181 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 100,432 / 94,822 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Pollution | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Energy production and mining | happening now | 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 | 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 (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | West Sedgemoor | RSPB Reserve (-) | 14 |
| - | Ham Wall | RSPB Reserve (-) | 9 |
| 1961 | Shapwick Heath | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 6 |
| 1973 | Street Heath | Local Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 1978 | West Sedgemoor | Nature Reserve (IV) | 14 |
| 1983 | West Sedgemoor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 14 |
| 1983 | Street Heath | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1985 | Tealham and Tadham Moors | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 13 |
| 1985 | King's Sedgemoor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 12 |
| 1985 | Westhay Moor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 7 |
| 1985 | Wet Moor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 7 |
| 1985 | Moorlinch | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 3 |
| 1985 | West Moor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 3 |
| 1985 | Southlake Moor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 3 |
| 1986 | Catcott Edington and Chilton Moors | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 15 |
| 1986 | Sharpham Moor Plot | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1990 | Somerset Levels | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 6 |
| 1990 | Westhay Heath | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1992 | Curry and Hay Moors | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 7 |
| 1995 | Shapwick Heath | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 6 |
| 1995 | Westhay Moor | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 1 |
| 1995 | Ham Wall | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 1 |
| 1996 | Ham Wall | Nature Reserve (IV) | 9 |
| 2003 | Greylake | Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| 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 05/12/2024.