UK060
Somerset Levels and Moors


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
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

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 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

IBA Protection

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

Habitats

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

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.