North Wicklow coastal marshes (613)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: North Wicklow coastal marshes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 53.0667, Longitude: -6.0500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 26.54593
Protected area coverage (%): 34.88
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A coastal wetland complex, extending for 18 km between Greystones and Wicklow in County Wicklow. A shingle barrier extends the length of the site, protecting brackish and freshwater marsh, estuary fen and wet grassland. Two key wetland areas are Broadlough estuary to the south and Kilcoole marshes to the north. These marshes were empoldered in the late 1980s. A mainline railway track runs along the length of the ridge. This is also an important amenity area.
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: An important site for wintering waterfowl and for breeding terns Sterna. Following empolderment, Kilcoole marshes are now a prime feeding area for Branta bernicla. Other species wintering in numbers of national importance are Anser anser (250 birds, 1997), Anas penelope (1,084 birds, 1996), Anas crecca (500 birds, 1996), Melanitta nigra (200 birds, 1996) and Vanellus vanellus (2,800 birds, 1996).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (50%) | hunting (50%) | nature conservation and research (10%) | urban/industrial/transport (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 23 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 23 | |
| Grassland | 45 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Drainage of the marshes is reducing habitat quality. There is disturbance to wintering birds due to wildfowling while the amenity importance of the area results in some disturbance to the colony of Sterna albifrons and to wintering birds. Proposals for an industrial jetty will lead to habitat loss and fragmentation, with implications for coastal erosion. BirdWatch Ireland and NPW have operated a Little Tern Protection Scheme at Kilcoole since 1985. The site overlaps with a proposed candidate Special Area for Conservation (Coast, Greystones-Wicklow; area not known).