The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
| Species |
Red List |
Season (year/s of estimate) |
Size |
IBA criteria |
| Brent Goose Branta bernicla |
LC |
breeding (1989) |
600 pairs |
A3 |
| Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis |
LC |
breeding (1989) |
60–80 pairs |
A3 |
| Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis |
VU |
breeding (2005–2014) |
present |
A1, A3 |
| King Eider Somateria spectabilis |
LC |
breeding (-) |
present |
A3 |
| Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima |
LC |
breeding (-) |
present |
A3 |
| Sabine's Gull Xema sabini |
LC |
breeding (2009) |
5 mature individuals |
A3 |
| Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea |
NT |
breeding (2008–2009) |
3 mature individuals |
A3, B2 |
| Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla |
VU |
breeding (2008–2009) |
57,000 mature individuals |
A4i, B1i |
| Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus |
LC |
breeding (-) |
present |
A3 |
| Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus |
LC |
breeding (2005–2014) |
50-249 pairs |
A3 |
| Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle |
LC |
breeding (2008–2009) |
1,600 mature individuals |
B1ii |
| Little Auk Alle alle |
LC |
breeding (1985–2009) |
19,700 mature individuals |
A3, B1ii |
| Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia |
LC |
breeding (2008–2009) |
69,696 mature individuals |
B1ii, B2 |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds |
n/a |
breeding (1985–2009) |
164,000 mature individuals |
A4iii |
