NATURA 2000 - STANDARD DATA FORM
For Special Protection Areas (SPA),
Proposed Sites for Community Importance (pSCI),
Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and
for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
| SITE | IE0002287 |
|---|---|
| SITENAME | Lough Swilly SAC |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- 1. SITE IDENTIFICATION
- 2. SITE LOCATION
- 3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
- 4. SITE DESCRIPTION
- 5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS
- 6. SITE MANAGEMENT
- 7. MAP OF THE SITE
1. SITE IDENTIFICATION
Back to top1.1 Type
| B |
1.2 Site code
| IE0002287 |
1.3 Site name
| Lough Swilly SAC |
1.4 First Compilation date
| 2000-08 |
1.5 Update date
| 2020-10 |
1.6 Respondent:
| Name/Organisation: | National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
| Address: | |
| Email: | datadelivery@chg.gov.ie |
1.7 Site indication and designation / classification dates
| Date site proposed as SCI: | 2000-08 |
| Date site confirmed as SCI: | No information provided |
| Date site designated as SAC: | 2018-10 |
| National legal reference of SAC designation: | 418/2018 |
2. SITE LOCATION
Back to top2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:
| Longitude: | -7.543991 |
| Latitude: | 55.063812 |
2.2 Area [ha]
| 9298.2000 |
2.3 Marine area [%]
| 87.9500 |
2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):
No information provided
2.5 Administrative region code and name
| NUTS level 2 code | Region Name |
|---|---|
| IE01 | Border, Midland and Western |
| IEZZ | Extra-Regio NUTS 2 |
2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)
| Atlantic | (0 %) |
3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Back to top3.1 Habitat types present on the site and assessment for them
| Annex I Habitat types | Site assessment | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | PF | NP | Cover [ha] | Cave [number] | Data quality | A|B|C|D | A|B|C | ||
| Representativity | Relative Surface | Conservation | Global | ||||||
| 1130 | 6118.35 | 0 | M | A | B | B | A | ||
| 1150 | 205.712 | 0 | M | B | B | B | A | ||
| 1320 | 92.62 | 0 | M | D | - | - | - | ||
| 1330 | 38.983 | 0 | M | B | C | B | B | ||
| 6410 | 11.6 | 0 | G | C | C | C | C | ||
| 91A0 | 58.6759 | 0 | M | B | C | B | B | ||
- PF: for the habitat types that can have a non-priority as well as a priority form (6210, 7130, 9430) enter "X" in the column PF to indicate the priority form.
- NP: in case that a habitat type no longer exists in the site enter: x (optional)
- Cover: decimal values can be entered
- Caves: for habitat types 8310, 8330 (caves) enter the number of caves if estimated surface is not available.
- Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation)
3.2 Species referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC and listed in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC and site evaluation for them
| Species | Population in the site | Site assessment | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Code | Scientific Name | S | NP | T | Size | Unit | Cat. | D.qual. | A|B|C|D | A|B|C | |||
| Min | Max | Pop. | Con. | Iso. | Glo. | |||||||||
| B | A056 | Anas clypeata | w | 58 | 58 | i | G | C | A | C | B | |||
| B | A052 | Anas crecca | w | 1381 | 1381 | i | G | B | A | C | B | |||
| B | A050 | Anas penelope | w | 1673 | 1673 | i | G | C | A | C | B | |||
| B | A053 | Anas platyrhynchos | w | 1155 | 1155 | i | G | B | A | C | B | |||
| B | A395 | Anser albifrons flavirostris | w | 657 | 657 | i | G | B | B | C | A | |||
| B | A043 | Anser anser | w | 1542 | 1542 | i | G | A | A | C | A | |||
| B | A169 | Arenaria interpres | w | 56 | 56 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
| B | A061 | Aythya fuligula | w | 169 | 169 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
| B | A062 | Aythya marila | w | 143 | 143 | i | G | B | A | C | A | |||
| B | A046 | Branta bernicla | w | 181 | 181 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
| B | A067 | Bucephala clangula | w | 169 | 169 | i | G | C | A | C | B | |||
| B | A149 | Calidris alpina | w | 7995 | 7995 | i | G | B | A | C | A | |||
| B | A143 | Calidris canutus | w | 327 | 327 | i | G | C | A | C | B | |||
| B | A137 | Charadrius hiaticula | w | 92 | 92 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
| B | A038 | Cygnus cygnus | w | 642 | 642 | i | G | B | B | C | A | |||
| B | A125 | Fulica atra | w | 335 | 335 | i | G | B | A | C | B | |||
| B | A003 | Gavia immer | w | 15 | 15 | i | G | C | A | C | B | |||
| B | A130 | Haematopus ostralegus | w | 1459 | 1459 | i | G | B | A | C | B | |||
| B | A157 | Limosa lapponica | w | 154 | 154 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
| B | A156 | Limosa limosa | w | 76 | 76 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
| M | 1355 | Lutra lutra | p | 0 | 0 | P | DD | C | A | C | A | |||
| B | A070 | Mergus merganser | w | 103 | 103 | i | G | B | A | C | B | |||
| B | A160 | Numenius arquata | w | 1716 | 1716 | i | G | C | A | C | B | |||
| B | A017 | Phalacrocorax carbo | w | 84 | 84 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
| B | A140 | Pluvialis apricaria | w | 1001 | 1001 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
| B | A141 | Pluvialis squatarola | w | 20 | 20 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
| B | A007 | Podiceps auritus | w | 6 | 6 | i | G | B | A | B | B | |||
| B | A005 | Podiceps cristatus | w | 274 | 274 | i | G | B | A | C | A | |||
| B | A048 | Tadorna tadorna | w | 646 | 646 | i | G | B | A | C | A | |||
| B | A164 | Tringa nebularia | w | 30 | 30 | i | G | B | A | C | A | |||
| B | A162 | Tringa totanus | w | 1080 | 1080 | i | G | B | A | C | B | |||
| B | A142 | Vanellus vanellus | w | 1636 | 1636 | i | G | C | B | C | C | |||
- Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, I = Invertebrates, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
- S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
- NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
- Type: p = permanent, r = reproducing, c = concentration, w = wintering (for plant and non-migratory species use permanent)
- Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the Standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting (see reference portal)
- Abundance categories (Cat.): C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present - to fill if data are deficient (DD) or in addition to population size information
- Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation); VP = 'Very poor' (use this category only, if not even a rough estimation of the population size can be made, in this case the fields for population size can remain empty, but the field "Abundance categories" has to be filled in)
3.3 Other important species of flora and fauna (optional)
Species | Population in the site | Motivation | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | CODE | Scientific Name | S | NP | Size | Unit | Cat. | Species Annex | Other categories | |||||
| Min | Max | C|R|V|P | IV | V | A | B | C | D | ||||||
| B | A028 | Ardea cinerea | 54 | 54 | i | X | ||||||||
| P | Chaetomorpha linum | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| P | Chara canescens | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| I | Conopeum seurati | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| I | Cordyllophora caspia | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| B | A036 | Cygnus olor | 295 | 295 | i | X | ||||||||
| I | Jaera ischiosetosa | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| I | Jaera nordmanni | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| R | Lecerta vivipara | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| I | Lekanesphaera hookeri | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| M | 5692 | Lepus timidus hibernicus | 0 | 0 | X | |||||||||
| M | 5692 | Lepus timidus hibernicus | 0 | 0 | X | |||||||||
| M | 5692 | Lepus timidus hibernicus | 0 | 0 | X | |||||||||
| M | 5742 | Mustela erminea hibernica | 0 | 0 | X | |||||||||
| M | Ncytalus leisleri | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| M | Ncytalus leisleri | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| I | Neomysis integer | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| I | Palaemonetes varians | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| A | 1213 | Rana temporaria | 0 | 0 | X | |||||||||
| A | 1213 | Rana temporaria | 0 | 0 | X | |||||||||
| P | Ruppia maritima | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| F | 5830 | Salmo trutta | 0 | 0 | X | |||||||||
| I | Sigara concinna | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
| I | Sigara stagnalis | 0 | 0 | X | ||||||||||
- Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, Fu = Fungi, I = Invertebrates, L = Lichens, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
- CODE: for Birds, Annex IV and V species the code as provided in the reference portal should be used in addition to the scientific name
- S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
- NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
- Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting, (see reference portal)
- Cat.: Abundance categories: C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present
- Motivation categories: IV, V: Annex Species (Habitats Directive), A: National Red List data; B: Endemics; C: International Conventions; D: other reasons
4. SITE DESCRIPTION
Back to top4.1 General site character
| Habitat class | % Cover |
|---|---|
| N01 | 30.00 |
| N08 | 1.00 |
| N07 | 1.00 |
| N14 | 1.00 |
| N06 | 1.00 |
| N09 | 1.00 |
| N03 | 1.00 |
| N04 | 1.00 |
| N02 | 60.00 |
| N10 | 1.00 |
| N16 | 1.00 |
| N05 | 1.00 |
Total Habitat Cover | 100 |
| Lough Swilly is a long sea inlet situated on the north Donegal coast. The site includes all of the inner part of the lough, extending from below Letterkenny to just north of Buncrana, a distance of c.25 km along a south-west to north-east axis. The lough varies in width, from approximately 2 km to 5 km. The site is estuarine in character, with shallow water and intertidal sand and mud flats being the dominant habitats. The main rivers flowing into the site are the Swilly, the Leannan and the Crana. Salt marshes occur mainly on the more sheltered western side. Artificial embankments have created brackish lakes at Inch and Blanket Nook. Other habitats which have a minor presence include sand dune, wet grassland, heath, scrub and deciduous woodland. |
4.2 Quality and importance
| The site is important as a fine example of a large, natural sea inlet which is estuarine in character. Extensive intertidal sand and mud flats are exposed at low tide. Salt marshes of the Atlantic salt meadow type are well represented. The estuarine habitats are generally of good quality, though areas along the south-eastern shore have been embanked in the past to create polders. Although the lagoon habitat is artificial in origin, it is one of the largest and best examples of a shallow, low salinity lagoon in the country. It supports what is probably the largest population in the country of Chara canescens, a Red Data Book species. The fauna is rich and diverse and contains 8 lagoonal specialists, and is of significant conservation value for ecotonal Coleoptera. Prospects for maintenance of the conservation structure of the habitat are good. The site includes several areas of old oak woodland, mostly of good quality and with natural regeneration. One of these woods is a Statutory Nature Reserve. Lough Swilly supports important populations of wintering and staging waterfowl. Of particular significance is that the site provides roosting and limited feeding areas for the internationally important populations of Cygnus cygnus, Anser anser and Anser albifrons flavirostris which feed mainly on the polders adjacent to the site. In addition, there are at least 16 species occurring in numbers of national importance, while Pluvialis apricaria and Limosa lapponica, both listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, also occur regularly. Has breeding Lutra lutra. |
4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site
The most important impacts and activities with high effect on the site
| Negative Impacts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Threats and pressures [code] | Pollution (optional) [code] | inside/outside [i|o|b] |
| L | I01 | b | |
| H | J02 | i | |
| H | F01 | i | |
| H | H01 | i | |
| M | F02 | i | |
| H | E01.01 | b | |
| H | G01 | i | |
| M | F02.02.05 | i | |
| Positive Impacts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Activities, management [code] | Pollution (optional) [code] | inside/outside [i|o|b] |
| L | X | i | |
Rank: H = high, M = medium, L = low
Pollution: N = Nitrogen input, P = Phosphor/Phosphate input, A = Acid input/acidification,
T = toxic inorganic chemicals, O = toxic organic chemicals, X = Mixed pollutions
i = inside, o = outside, b = both
4.4 Ownership (optional)
No information provided
4.5 Documentation (optional)
| Bowman, J.J., Clabby, K.J., Lucey, J., McGarrigle, M.L. and Toner, P.H. (1996). Water Quality in Ireland 1991-1994. Environmental Protection Agency, Wexford.Colhoun, K. (1998). I-WeBS Report 1996-97. BirdWatch Ireland, Dublin. Curtis, T.G.F. and Sheehy Skeffington, M.J. (1998). The salt marshes of Ireland: an inventory and account of their geographical variation. Biology and the Environment, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 98B: 87-104. Curtis, T.G.F. (1991a). A site inventory of the sandy coasts of Ireland. In Quigley, M.B. (ed.) A Guide to the Sand Dunes of Ireland. E.U.C.C. Dublin. Fox, A.D., Norriss, D.W., Stroud, D.A. & Wilson, H.J. (1994). Greenland White-fronted Geese in Ireland and Britain 1982/83 - 1993/94. Greenland White-fronted Goose Study research report no. 8. Greenland White-fronted Goose Study, Wales and National Parks & Wildlife Service, Dublin. Good, J.A. (1999). Irish Coastal Lagoon Survey, 1998. Vol V. Unpublished Report, Dúchas the Heritage Service, Dublin.Hart, H.C. (1898). Flora of County Donegal. Dublin. Healy, B. (1999). A Survey of Irish Coastal Lagoons. Vol I. Background, Description and Summary. Unpublished Report, Dúchas the Heritage Service, Dublin. Healy, B,. Oliver, G.A., Hatch, P. and Good, J.A. (1997). Coastal lagoons in the Republic of Ireland. Vol. I. Background, Outline and Summary of Survey. Report to the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Dublin.Hunt, J., Derwin, J., Coveney, J. & Newton, S. (2000). Republic of Ireland. Pp.365-416 in M.F. Heath & M.I. Evans (eds) Important Bird Areas in Europe: priority sites for conservation 1: Northern Europe. Cambridge, U.K.: BirdLife International. (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 8). McElwaine, J.G., Wells, J.H. & Bowler, J.M. (1995). Winter movements of Whooper Swans visiting Ireland: preliminary results. Irish Birds 5: 265-278. Merne, O.J. (1989). Important bird areas in the Republic of Ireland. In: Grimmett, R.F.A. and Jones, T.A. (eds) Important Bird Areas in Europe. ICBP Technical Publication No. 9. Cambridge. Nelson, B., Foster, G., Weyl, R. and Anderson. R. (1997). The distribution of aquatic Coleoptera in Northern Ireland. Part 1: Families Haliplidae, Hygrobiidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae and Gyrinidae. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 20: 179-296Oliver, G.A. (1999). Irish Coastal Lagoon Survey. 1998. Vol. IV. Aquatic Fauna. Unpublished Report, Dúchas the Heritage Service, Dublin.Praeger, R.L (1934). The Botanist in Ireland. Hodges and Figgis, Dublin. Roden, C. (1999). Irish Coastal Lagoon Survey, 1998. Vol III. Flora. Unpublished Report, Dúchas the Heritage Service, Dublin.Sheppard, R. (1993). Ireland's Wetland Wealth. IWC, Dublin. Young, R. (1973). Report on Areas of Ecological and Geological Interest in County Donegal. An Foras Forbartha, Dublin. |
5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS
Back to top5.1 Designation types at national and regional level (optional):
| Code | Cover [%] |
|---|---|
| IE01 | 1.00 |
| IE05 | 1.00 |
5.2 Relation of the described site with other sites (optional):
Designated at national or regional level:
| Type code | Site name | Type | Cover [%] |
|---|---|---|---|
| IE05 | Blanket Nook Wildfowl Sanctuary | * | 1.00 |
| IE01 | Rathmullen Wood Nature Reserve | + | 1.00 |
5.3 Site designation (optional)
No information provided
6. SITE MANAGEMENT
Back to top6.1 Body(ies) responsible for the site management:
No information provided
6.2 Management Plan(s):
An actual management plan does exist:
| Yes | ||
| No, but in preparation | ||
X | No | |
6.3 Conservation measures (optional)
No information provided
7. MAP OF THE SITE
Back to top| INSPIRE ID: | IE.NPWS.PS.NATURA2000.SAC.IE0002287 |