UK285
South Down Coast


IBA Justification

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
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula LC winter 1989-1990 685 individuals B1i, C3
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres NT winter 1989-1990 1,190 individuals A4i, B1i, C3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.


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 not assessed low low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
No known threats happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Some of site covered (10-49%) A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1967 Lecale Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty -
1986 MOURNE AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NI) 4
1986 Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty -
1995 MURLOUGH Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) 16
1996 Murlough Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 24
2005 Murlough Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 23
2010 STRANGFORD & LECALE Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NI) 83
2011 Tyrella & Minerstown Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) 43
2014 St, John's Point Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) 7

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -
Marine Intertidal -
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

Land use % of IBA
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -
not utilised -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: South Down Coast (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/south-down-coast-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.