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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorbill Alca torda | LC | breeding (1998–2000) | 3,157 individuals | B3 |
| Common Murre Uria aalge | LC | breeding (1998–2000) | 43,744 individuals | B1ii, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | breeding (1998–2000) | 32,161 breeding pairs | A4iii, C4 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | breeding (1998–2000) | 16,962 breeding pairs | 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 status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | near favourable | low | 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 | ||
| European Shag Gulosus aristotelis | 329 / 430 (breeding pairs) | 77 | near favourable | ||
| Razorbill Alca torda | 3,157 / 2,194 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Common Murre Uria aalge | 43,744 / 31,045 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | 32,161 / 23,216 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 16,962 / 21,620 (breeding pairs) | 79 | near favourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| No known threats | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Not assessed | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | St Abb's Head to Fast Castle | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 100 |
| 1984 | St Abb's Head | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 31 |
| 1998 | Berwickshire Coast (Intertidal) | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 21 |
| 2005 | Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 34 |
| 2011 | St Abb`s Head to Fast Castle | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 39 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 94 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | Scrub |
| Forest | 1 | Broadleaved deciduous woodland |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 20 |
| agriculture | 10 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: St Abbs Head to Fast Castle (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/st-abbs-head-to-fast-castle-iba-united-kingdom on 06/01/2025.