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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smew Mergellus albellus | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 67 individuals | C6 |
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 489 individuals | B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 689 individuals | B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 495 individuals | B1i, C3 |
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 status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | unfavourable | medium | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Smew Mergellus albellus | 67 / 28 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | 355 / 645 (individuals) | 56 | unfavourable | ||
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | 495 / 580 (individuals) | 86 | near favourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Most of site (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) | No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun | Very little or no conservation action taking place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Staines Moor | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 26 |
| 1992 | Wraysbury & Hythe End Gravel Pits | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 5 |
| 1999 | Wraysbury Reservoir | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 11 |
| 1999 | Knight & Bessborough Reservoirs | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 3 |
| 1999 | Wraysbury No 1 Gravel Pit | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 2 |
| 1999 | Thorpe Park No 1 Gravel Pit | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 2 |
| 1999 | Kempton Park Reservoirs | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 1 |
| 2000 | Kempton Nature Reserves | Local Nature Reserve (IV) | 1 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | Mixed woodland |
| Grassland | - | |
| Shrubland | - | Scrub |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| water management | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: South-west London Waterbodies (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/south-west-london-waterbodies-iba-united-kingdom on 16/01/2025.