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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 280 birds | B1i, B3, C2 |
| Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 10,731 birds | A4i, B1i, C2 |
| Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 9,660 birds | A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6 |
| Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 7,159 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 4,271 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Greater Scaup Aythya marila | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 1,724 birds | B2 |
| Greater Scaup Aythya marila | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 3,196 birds | B1i, B2, C3 |
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 4,352 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 6,127 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | NT | passage (2001–2006) | 43,784 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 43,852 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 3,943 birds | C6 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 3,793 birds | C6 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | passage (2001–2006) | 2,979 birds | B2 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 3,561 birds | A4i, B1i, B2, C3 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | NT | passage (2001–2006) | 778 birds | B2 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 1,657 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | NT | passage (2001–2006) | 5,030 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 10,934 birds | A4i, B1i, B2, C3 |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | NT | passage (2001–2006) | 8,966 birds | B2 |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 14,444 birds | B1i, B2, C3 |
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 2,825 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 2,697 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus | LC | breeding (1999–2000) | 2,402 pairs | A4i, B1i, B3, C3 |
| Arctic Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus | LC | breeding (1999–2000) | 7,211 pairs | B1i, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage (2001–2006) | 73,536 birds | A4iii, C4 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 100,615 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.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | poor | high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | 280 / 115 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis | 9,660 / 12,700 (birds) | 77 | moderate | ||
| Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus | 7,159 / 10,800 (birds) | 67 | poor | ||
| Greater Scaup Aythya marila | 3,196 / 2,210 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | 6,127 / 1,890 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | 43,784 / 35,200 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | 43,852 / 36,800 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 3,793 / 5,550 (birds) | 69 | poor | ||
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 3,943 / 4,190 (birds) | 95 | good | ||
| Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula | 490 / 1,080 (birds) | 46 | poor | ||
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | 2,979 / 5,250 (birds) | 57 | poor | ||
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | 3,561 / 6,250 (birds) | 57 | poor | ||
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | 778 / 1,690 (birds) | 47 | poor | ||
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | 1,657 / 2,550 (birds) | 65 | poor | ||
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | 10,934 / 13,200 (birds) | 83 | moderate | ||
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | 5,030 / 4,350 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 8,966 / 6,400 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 14,444 / 14,800 (birds) | 98 | good | ||
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | 2,697 / 2,790 (birds) | 97 | good | ||
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | 2,825 / 3,250 (birds) | 87 | moderate | ||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus | 2,402 / 2,000 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| Larus argentatus | 7,211 / 610 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 100,615 / 127,785 (birds) | 79 | moderate | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 73,536 / 70,949 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in long term (>4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% 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 | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Upper Solway Flats and Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 66 |
| 1957 | Caerlaverock | National Nature Reserve (II) | 17 |
| 1964 | Solway Coast | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 25 |
| 1974 | Drummains Reedbed | Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 1983 | Southwick Coast | Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 1986 | Campfield Marsh | Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 1988 | Upper Solway Flats & Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 28 |
| 1991 | Silloth Dunes and Mawbray Bank | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1993 | Mersehead | Nature Reserve (IV) | 2 |
| 1998 | Kirkconnell Merse | Nature Reserve (IV) | 1 |
| 2005 | Solway Firth | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 92 |
| 2011 | Upper Solway Flats and Marshes | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 83 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | 10 | Highly improved re-seeded landscapes; Arable land |
| Grassland | 5 | Humid grasslands |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | 80 |
| agriculture | 10 |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Upper Solway Flats and Marshes (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/upper-solway-flats-and-marshes-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.