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

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
Razorbill Alca torda	LC	breeding	2001	4,892 individuals	B3
Common Murre Uria aalge	LC	breeding	2001	47,737 individuals	B1ii, C3
A4iii Species group - seabirds	n/a	breeding	1998-2001	39,694 breeding pairs	A4iii, C4
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	breeding	1998-2001	20,625 breeding pairs	A4iii, C4

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

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	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla	31,700	18,657	breeding pairs	59	unfavourable
Razorbill Alca torda	4,806	4,892	individuals	100	favourable
Common Murre Uria aalge	44,626	47,737	individuals	100	favourable
A4iii Species group - seabirds	38,404	39,694	breeding pairs	100	favourable
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	36,052	20,625	breeding pairs	58	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Energy production and mining	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Troup Head	RSPB Reserve	18
1956	Gamrie and Pennan Coast	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
1995	Troup; Pennan and Lion's Heads	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
2005	Troup Head	Nature Reserve	10
2011	Troup, Pennan and Lion`s Heads	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	47

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		90
Grassland		6
Marine Intertidal		2
Shrubland	Scrub, Heathland	2

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
not utilised	100

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Troup, Pennan and Lion Heads (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/troup-pennan-and-lion-heads-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.