Bridgend Flats, Islay (2432)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Bridgend Flats, Islay
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.7738, Longitude: -6.2612
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 15
Area of KBA (km2): 3.30825
Protected area coverage (%): 99.76
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes large sea loch of Indaal and the sheltered Bridgend Flats. Saltmarsh and mudflat communities occur that are scarce within the Inner Hebrides. The IBA is important for wintering geese and other wildfowl. Branta leucopsis are from the Greenland breeding population.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Delineation rationale: First identified in 1989 as Bridgend Flats; renamed in 2000 as Loch Indaal and Bridgend Flats, including marine component; reduced to boundary of SPA, losing the marine component, in 2007, renaming again. 2000 area, 3750ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 87 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 13 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |