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

IE0004125

1.3 Site name

Magharee Islands SPA

1.4 First Compilation date

2003-08

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 classified as SPA:	2011-08
National legal reference of SPA designation	No information provided

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	-10.021297
Latitude:	52.328703

2.2 Area [ha]

416.9186

2.3 Marine area [%]

88.8780

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
IE02	Southern and Eastern

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	A045	Branta leucopsis			w	200	270	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A009	Fulmarus glacialis			r	85	85	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A182	Larus canus			r	43	43	p		G	B	B	C	A
B	A183	Larus fuscus			r	20	20	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A017	Phalacrocorax carbo			r	20	20	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A346	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax			p	1	1	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A195	Sterna albifrons			r	36	36	p		G	A	A	C	A
B	A193	Sterna hirundo			r	12	12	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A194	Sterna paradisaea			r	164	164	p		G	B	A	C	A

• 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		Cepphus grylle			2	2	i						X
B		Larus argentatus			7	7	i							X
B		Larus marinus			21	21	i							X
B		Phalacrocorax aristotelis			65	65	i						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
N01	86.00
N05	9.00
N09	4.00
N10	1.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

The Magharee Islands or Seven Hogs lie about 2 km north of the Magharees Peninsula. The group includes seven main islands (Illaunimmill and Illauntannig being the largest) plus a number of holms and skerries. The islands are exposed on their west coasts and more sheltered to the east, with moderately strong currents between them. The islands are composed of Carboniferous limestone, the larger ones having a cover of glacial boulder clay. Illaunimmill and Illauntannig were at one time inhabited and both are still grazed by cattle and sheep. On these islands the main vegetation type is unimproved grassland. A maritime grassy sward occurs around the shoreline of the larger islands and also on the smaller islands. The marine areas around each island to a distance of 200 m are included in the site for the benefit of the breeding birds. The marine areas have important examples of infralittoral reef communities.

4.2 Quality and importance

The site is of international importance for breeding seabirds. There is a long-established tern colony, with Sterna albifrons (21% of national total in 1995), Sterna paradisaea (7% of national total in 1995) and small numbers of Sterna hirundo. Other breeding seabirds are Fulmarus glacialis, Phalacrocorax carbo, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Larus canus, Larus fuscus and Cepphus grylle. The Phalacrocorax aristotelis and Larus canus populations are of national importance. The wintering population of Branta leucopsis is of national importance and is notable as it is the most southerly population 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)

Berrow, S.D., Mackie, K.L., O'Sullivan, O., Shepherd, K.B., Mellon, C. and Coveney, J.A. (1992). The Second International Chough Survey in Ireland, 1992. Unpublished report to IWC and RSPB, Dublin. Goodwillie, R. (1976). A Preliminary Report on Areas of Scientific Interest in County Kerry. An Foras Forbartha, Dublin.Hannon, C. (1997). The 1995 All-Ireland Tern Survey. BirdWatch Ireland Conservation Report No. 97/1. Hannon, C., Berrow, S.D., and Newton S.F. (1997). The status and distribution of breeding Sandwich Sterna sandvicensis, Roseate S. dougallii, Common S. hirundo, Arctic S. paradisaea and Little Terns S. albifrons in Ireland in 1995. Irish Birds 6: 1-22.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). Lloyd, C. (1982). Inventory of Seabird Breeding Colonies in Republic of Ireland. Unpublished report, Forest and Wildlife Service, Dublin.Lloyd, C., Tasker, M.L. and Partridge, K. (1991). The Status of Seabirds in Britain and Ireland. Poyser, London. 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. Merne, O.J. and Walsh, A. (1994). Barnacle Geese in Ireland, spring 1993 and 1994. Irish Birds 5: 151-156.Merne, O.J. and Walsh, A. (2002). Barnacle Geese in Ireland, spring 1999. Irish Birds 7: 53-56. Mitchell, P.I., Newton, S., Ratcliffe, N. and Dunn, T. (In prep.). Seabird 2000: The Status of Breeding Seabirds in Britain and Ireland. Parnell, J.A.N., Wyse Jackson, P.S. and Akeroyd,J.R. (1983). The flora of the Magharee Islands, Co. Kerry. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 7: 45-54. Picton, B.E. and Costello M.J. (eds). (1997). BioMar Biotope Viewer: a Guide to Marine Habitats, Fauna and Flora of Britain and Ireland (Ver. 2.0). Environmental Sciences Unit, Trinity College, Dublin. (Compact Disc).Walsh, A. and Merne, O.J. (1988). Barnacle Geese in Ireland, spring 1988. Irish Birds 3: 539-550. West, B., Cabot, D. and Greer-Walker, M. (1975). The food of the Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo at some breeding colonies in Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 75B: 285-305. Whilde, A. (1985). The All Ireland Tern Survey 1984. Unpublished report for the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, 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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INSPIRE ID:	IE.NPWS.PS.NATURA2000.SPA.IE0004125
Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)
Yes X No

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SITE DISPLAY