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

A

1.2 Site code

IE0004039

1.3 Site name

Derryveagh and Glendowan Mountains SPA

1.4 First Compilation date

2004-06

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 classified as SPA:	2019-12
National legal reference of SPA designation	664/2019

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	-8.080315
Latitude:	54.993190

2.2 Area [ha]

31453.7314

2.3 Marine area [%]

0.0000

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

No habitat types are reported for the site

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	A466	Calidris alpina schinzii			r	5	5	p		G	B	B	C	B
B	A098	Falco columbarius			p	6	11	p		G	B	A	C	B
B	A103	Falco peregrinus			p	5	6	p		G	B	A	C	B
B	A001	Gavia stellata			r	6	6	p		G	A	B	A	B
B	A274	Phoenicurus phoenicurus			r	1	1	p		G	C	B	B	C
B	A314	Phylloscopus sibilatrix			r	1	3	p		G	C	B	B	B
B	A140	Pluvialis apricaria			r	18	18	p		G	B	A	C	A
B	A275	Saxicola rubetra			r	5	5	p		G	C	B	C	B
B	A311	Sylvia atricapilla			r	50	100	p		G	C	A	C	B
B	A282	Turdus torquatus			r	2	2	p		G	C	B	B	B

• 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
I		Cephenemyia auribarbis												X
P		Chaenotheca brachypoda						P						X
I		Coenonympha tullia												X
I		Hypoderma diana												X
R		Lacerta vivipara											X
B		Lagopus lagopus									X
B		Lagopus lagopus											X
M		Lepus timidus hibernicus										X
M		Lepus timidus hibernicus											X
M		Lepus timidus hibernicus									X
M		Meles meles									X
M		Meles meles											X
B		Mergus merganser			1	2	i						X
A		Rana temporaria									X
A		Rana temporaria											X
P		Rinodina orculariopsis						P						X
F		Salvelinus alpinus											X
F		Salvelinus alpinus									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
N10	3.00
N06	5.00
N16	4.00
N22	1.00
N07	60.00
N19	1.00
N08	25.00
N23	1.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

Derryveagh and Glendowan Mountains SPA is an extensive upland site in north-west Co. Donegal, comprising Glenveagh National Park, a substantial part of the Derryveagh and Glendowan Mountains and a number of the surrounding lakes. Much of the site is over 300 m above sea level, rising to a peak of 678 m at Slieve Snaght The solid geology is predominantly quartzite. The substrate over much of site is peat, with blanket bog and heath comprising the principal habitats.

4.2 Quality and importance

The site supports good examples of both upland and woodland bird communities. It supports nationally important populations of breeding Gavia stellata, Falco columbarius, Falco peregrinus, Pluvialis apricaria and Calidris alpina schinzii. Other species that occur include Turdus torquatus and Lagopus lagopus, both being Red-listed species in Ireland. The lakes within the site provide important breeding and feeding sites for Gavia stellata. Mergus merganser, which may nest in the vicinity, use the lakes. The site is of importance for rare breeding passerines of Oak woods, notably Phylloscopus sibilatrix and, on occasions, Phoenicurus phoenicurus. Of note is a recent breeding attempt by Nyctea scandiaca, a very rare species in Ireland. Glenveagh National Park is the central location for the Aquila chrysaetos re-introduction programme, which has been operating for several years. With time, this species may become successfully re-established as a breeding species in Ireland.

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)

Cox, R.B., Eddleston, C.R. and Newton S.F. (2002). Upland Bird Survey Report 2002: Donegal. BirdWatch Ireland Conservation Report No 02/04. Cromie, J. (2002). Breeding status of Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata in Ireland. Irish Birds 7: 13-20. Fernandez, D., Carroll, D. and Lusby, J. (2010). Pilot Merlin Survey 2010. Unpublished report prepared by BirdWatch Ireland for NPWS. Gibbons, D.W., Reid, J.B. and Chapman R.A. (1993). The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991. T. & A.D. Poyser, London. Hardey, J., Crick, H., Wernham, C., Riley, H., Etheridge, B. and Thompson, D. (2009). Raptors, A Field Guide for Surveys and Monitoring. Scottish Natural Heritage. Hunt, J., Derwin, J., Coveney, J. and Newton, S. (2000). Republic of Ireland. Pp. 365-416 in Heath, M.F. and Evans, M.I. (eds). Important Bird Areas in Europe: Priority Sites for Conservation 1: Northern Europe. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 8). MacLochlainn, C. (1984). Breeding and wintering bird communities of Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal. Irish Birds 2: 482-500. McGarrigle, M.L., Bowman, J.J., Clabby, K.J., Lucey, J., Cunningham, P., MacCarthaigh, M., Keegan, M., Cantrell, B., Lehane, M., Clenaghan, C. and Toner, P.F. (2002). Water Quality in Ireland 1998-2000. Environmental Protection Agency, Wexford. 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. Norriss, D.W. (1995). The 1991 survey and weather impacts on the Peregrine Falco peregrinus breeding population in the Republic of Ireland. Bird Study 42: 20-30. Telford, M.B. (1977). Glenveagh National Park: the Past and Present Vegetation. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, National University of Ireland. Weekes, L.C. (1990). A Phytosociological Study and Map of the Vegetation of Glenveagh National Park and the An Taisce Property, Co Donegal. M.Sc. thesis, National University of Ireland.

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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5.1 Designation types at national and regional level (optional):

Code	Cover [%]
IE03	30.00
IE01	3.00

5.2 Relation of the described site with other sites (optional):

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
IE03	Glenveagh National Park	+	30.00
IE01	Lough Barra Bog Nature Reserve	+	3.00

5.3 Site designation (optional)

No information provided

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