• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	passage (2001–2006)	613 birds	B1i, C3
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	NT	passage (2001–2006)	904 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	NT	winter (2001–2006)	1,108 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2001–2006)	35,429 birds	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.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	613 / 500 (birds)	100	good
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	1,108 / 1,100 (birds)	100	good
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	904 / 940 (birds)	97	good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Pollution	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Energy production and mining	likely in short term (<4 years)	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Natural system modifications	likely in short term (<4 years)	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (<4 years)	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	moderate decline (10–30% 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive	Not assessed	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1968	Sandwich and Pegwell Bays	Nature Reserve (V)	8
1990	Thanet Coast	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	31
1991	Bishopstone Cliffs	Local Nature Reserve (IV)	2
1993	Sandwich Bay To Hacklinge Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	69
1999	Sandwich & Pegwell Bay	National Nature Reserve (IV)	23
2000	Prince's Beachlands	Local Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
2005	Thanet Coast	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	16
2007	Lydden Valley	Nature Reserve (IV)	5
2011	Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	40
2014	Thanet Coast	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	17

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)
Artificial/Terrestrial	minor (<10)	Arable land
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	minor (<10)
Shrubland	minor (<10)	Scrub
Wetlands (inland)	minor (<10)	Fens, transition mires and springs

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/thanet-coast-and-sandwich-bay-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.