Tacumshin lake (610)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Tacumshin lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 52.1833, Longitude: -6.4833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 20
Area of KBA (km2): 8.32585
Protected area coverage (%): 64.29
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A shallow, coastal lagoon situated on the south coast of County Wexford, 15 km south of Wexford town. The lagoon was formerly a shallow sea bay which over time has been separated from the sea by a spit of shingle and sand. A drainage pipe reduces the water-level in the lagoon during the summer months, but in the winter, inflow exceeds outflow and the lake floods.
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 waterfowl population of this lagoon is exceptionally diverse and the area supports large numbers of birds throughout the year, which is unusual among Irish wetlands. Additional species occurring in numbers of national importance include Anas penelope (4,980 birds, 1996), Anas acuta (440 birds, 1996), Anas clypeata (111 birds, 1996), Fulica atra (2,100 birds, 1996), Pluvialis apricaria (7,860 birds, 1995) and Vanellus vanellus (5,660 birds, 1995).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (15%) | hunting (100%) | tourism/recreation (25%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 | |
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Plans are underway for the construction of a sluice at the shingle-bar, to control water-levels. Wildfowling is regulated by NPW. The site overlaps with a proposed candidate Special Area for Conservation (Tacumshin Lake; area not known).