Magharee Islands, Mucklaghmore and Illaunbarnagh (589)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Magharee Islands, Mucklaghmore and Illaunbarnagh
Central coordinates: Latitude: 52.3333, Longitude: -10.0333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 22
Area of KBA (km2): 3.67627
Protected area coverage (%): 98.80
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Magharee Islands, comprising a group of six islands and several additional islets and shallow reefs, are situated 2 km off the northern end of the Castlegregory peninsula in County Kerry. They are uninhabited, except for holiday visitors. The largest islands, Illauntannig and Illaunimmil, were inhabited in the past and are still grazed by sheep and cattle. The site has been extended since the previous European inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989) to encompass the surrounding waters.
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.
Additional biodiversity: The Magharee Islands are of international importance for their breeding seabird colonies. Other species occurring in numbers of national importance are breeding Phalacrocorax carbo (100 pairs, 1987) and Larus marinus (100 pairs, 1987), and on Illauntannig wintering Branta leucopsis (267 birds, 1993).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (15%) | fisheries/aquaculture (85%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 10 | |
| Marine Neritic | 85 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Disturbance is a possible threat to the site. However, visitor pressure so far seems to be controlled. Overgrazing by livestock on Illauntannig and Ilaunamil may affect Branta leucopsis. The IBA overlaps with a proposed Special Protection Area (Magheree Islands, 288 ha).