SPA description
(information as published 2001)
Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle lies on the north-west coast of Northern Ireland and
straddles the international border with the Irish Republic. The
site comprises a large, shallow sea lough that includes the
estuaries of the rivers Foyle, Faughan and Roe. The site contains
extensive intertidal mud-flats and sand-flats (with Mussel
Mytilus edulis beds), saltmarsh and associated brackish
ditches. The diversity of coastal habitats has resulted in the
lough being of major importance for a diverse assemblage of
waterbirds both during the spring and autumn migration periods, and
in winter. These include swans, geese, ducks and waders. The lough
is especially notable in supporting a high proportion of the
international population of Canada/Ireland Light-bellied Brent
Goose Banta bernicla hrota.
Qualifying species
For individual species accounts visit the Species
Accounts section
This site qualifies under Article 4.1 of the
Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European
importance of the following species listed on Annex I of the
Directive:
Over winter;
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, 1,896 individuals
representing 10.8% of the wintering population in Ireland (5 year
peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii, 78
individuals representing 3.1% of the wintering population in
Ireland (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, 4,891 individuals
representing 2.4% of the wintering population in Ireland (5 year
peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, 890 individuals
representing 8.9% of the wintering population in Ireland (5 year
peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
This site also qualifies under Article 4.2 of
the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European
importance of the following migratory species:
Over winter;
Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota,
3,730 individuals representing 18.6% of the wintering
Canada/Ireland population (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Assemblage qualification: A wetland of international
importance.
The area qualifies under Article 4.2 of the
Directive (79/409/EEC) by regularly supporting at least 20,000
waterfowl
Over winter, the area regularly supports 37,310 individual
waterfowl (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6) including: Teal
Anas crecca, Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, Golden
Plover Pluvialis apricaria, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa
lapponica, Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla
hrota, Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus,
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Greylag Goose Anser
anser, Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii,
Wigeon Anas penelope, Redshank Tringa totanus,
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Eider Somateria
mollissima, Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator,
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, Lapwing Vanellus
vanellus, Knot Calidris canutus, Dunlin Calidris
alpina alpina, Curlew Numenius arquata, Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna.
Note:
Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of
a site in these pages does not imply any right of public
access.
Note that sites selected for waterbird species on the basis of
their occurrence in the breeding, passage or winter periods also
provide legal protection for these species when they occur at other
times of the year.