Lochs of Spiggie and Brow (2529)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Lochs of Spiggie and Brow
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.9330, Longitude: -1.3372
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 1.45035
Protected area coverage (%): 99.33
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Loch of Spiggie was formed by a sand-bar cutting off a shallow voe from the sea. Both lochs have slightly brackish waters. The IBA also includes the smaller Loch of Hinwell. The site is important for wintering wildfowl.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Delineation rationale: First identified in 1989 as Loch Spiggie; extended in 1992 and renamed to Lochs of Spiggie and Brow; extended further in 2000 to include Loch of Hinwell. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale. Additional area added on 1:50,000 maps.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Only in the future |