For Special Protection Areas (SPA),
Proposed Sites for Community Importance (pSCI),
Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and
for Special Areas of Conservation (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

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1.1 Type

B

1.2 Site code

IE0000133

1.3 Site name

Donegal Bay (Murvagh) SAC

1.4 First Compilation date

1995-08

1.5 Update date

2019-09

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:	2002-01
Date site confirmed as SCI:	No information provided
Date site designated as SAC:	2019-06
National legal reference of SAC designation:	293/2019

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	-8.154986
Latitude:	54.625899

2.2 Area [ha]

1810.4765

2.3 Marine area [%]

86.4570

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

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Atlantic

(0.00 %)

3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

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3.1 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
1140			1068.54	0.00	M	A	B	B	A
2130			27.014	0.00	M	B	C	C	C
2170			7	0.00	G	B	C	B	B
2190			0.1228	0.00	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	A050	Anas penelope			w	122	122	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A053	Anas platyrhynchos			w	42	42	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A395	Anser albifrons flavirostris			w	148	148	i		G	C	A	C	B
B	A169	Arenaria interpres			w	30	30	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A149	Calidris alpina			w	400	400	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A137	Charadrius hiaticula			w	110	110	i		G	C	B	C	B
B	A130	Haematopus ostralegus			w	187	187	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A157	Limosa lapponica			w	60	60	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A069	Mergus serrator			w	36	36	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A069	Mergus serrator			w	42	42	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A160	Numenius arquata			w	139	139	i		G	C	B	C	C
M	1365	Phoca vitulina			p	148	148	i		G	B	A	C	A
B	A162	Tringa totanus			w	31	31	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
P		Pyrola rotundifolia						P			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

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4.1 General site character

Habitat class	% Cover
N16	1.00
N05	2.00
N20	1.00
N03	2.00
N02	89.00
N09	1.00
N07	1.00
N04	2.00
N10	1.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

This site comprises the extreme inner part of Donegal Bay. Several large rivers, notably the River Eske, enter the site. It is typically estuarine in character, with large expanses of intertidal sand and mud flats, channels, saltmarsh, sand dunes and sandy and shingle beaches. Several grassy islands occur in the site. The site provides habitat for a diversity of estuarine bird species, and the islands are used by Anser albifrons flavirostris. The area is underlain by limestone and shale bedrock from the carboniferous era.

4.2 Quality and importance

The site is a good example of a sheltered estuarine system, with extensive intertidal sand and mud flats mostly of good quality. The Murvagh peninsula still has some areas of fixed dunes and humid dune slacks, though these dune habitats are only of moderate quality. The population of Phoca vitulina is one of the largest in the country. The site is of some importance for estuarine birds and is visited by Anser albifrons flavirostris. Pyrola rotundifolia, a Red Data Book species, is found on the site.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

The most important impacts and activities with high effect on the site

4.4 Ownership (optional)

No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

Colhoun, K. (1998). I-WeBS Report 1996-97. BirdWatch Ireland, Dublin. Cronin, M., Duck, C., Cadhla, O., Nairn, R., Strong, D. and O'Keeffe, C. (2004). Harbour seal population assessment in the Republic of Ireland: August 2003. Irish Wildlife Manuals No. 11. National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. 34 pp. Cronin, M., Duck, C., Cadhla, O., Nairn, R., Strong, D. and O'Keeffe, C. (2007). An assessment of harbour seal population size and distribution in the Republic of Ireland during the 2003 moult season. J. Zool. Lond. 273 Issue 2: 131-139. 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. Falvey, J.P., Costello, M.UJ. and Dempsey, S. (1997). Survey of intertidal biotopes in estuaries in Ireland. Unpublished report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, 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. Harrington, R. (1990). 1989 survey of breeding herds of common seal Phoca vitulina with reference to previous surveys. Report to the National Parks & Wildlife Service. 10pp. Lockley, R. M. (1966). The distribution of grey and common seals on the coasts of Ireland. Irish Nat. J. 15: 136-143. Lyons, D.O. (2004). Summary of National Parks & Wildlife Service surveys for common (harbour) seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), 1978 to 2003. Irish Wildlife Manuals No. 13. National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. 67pp. Sheppard, R. (1993). Ireland's Wetland Wealth. Irish Wildbird Conservancy, Dublin. Summers, C.F., Warner, P.J., Nairn, R.G.W., Curry, M.G. and Flynn, J. (1980). An Assessment Of The Status Of The Common Seal Phoca vitulina vitulina In Ireland. Biological Conservation, 17: 115-123. Warner, P. (1983). An Assessment Of The Breeding Populations Of Common Seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina L.) In The Republic Of Ireland During 1979. Irish Narturalist's Journal, 21: 24-26. Warner, P. (1984). Report On The Census Of Common Seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) In The Republic Of Ireland During 1984. Unpublished report to the Forest and Wildlife Service. Dublin.

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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6. SITE MANAGEMENT

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6.1 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

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Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)

Yes X No

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SITE DISPLAY