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

IE0004132

1.3 Site name

Illancrone and Inishkeeragh SPA

1.4 First Compilation date

2005-03

1.5 Update date

2018-09

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 classified as SPA:	2004-12
National legal reference of SPA designation	No information provided

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	-8.490396
Latitude:	54.949455

2.2 Area [ha]

419.4022

2.3 Marine area [%]

94.5310

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	A045	Branta leucopsis			w	235	235	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A195	Sterna albifrons			r	13	13	p		G	B	A	C	A
B	A193	Sterna hirundo			r	59	59	p		G	C	A	C	B
B	A194	Sterna paradisaea			r	224	224	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)

No information provided

4. SITE DESCRIPTION

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4.1 General site character

Habitat class	% Cover
N09	3.00
N05	2.00
N01	95.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

Inishkeeragh and Illancrone are the outermost islands in a group within the Rutland Sound. They are located within 5 km of the mainland and south of Aran Island. Inishkeeragh, the larger of the two, is low-lying and surrounded by extensive reefs and rocks. Previous occupation has resulted in the island being divided into a system of enclosed fields which have now reverted to unimproved dry grassland. Illancrone is a very small grassy island, also surrounded by rocky reefs. The islands are grazed by sheep. The site includes the surrounding and intervening marine waters.

4.2 Quality and importance

The site is one of the most important tern colonies in the region, with nationally important populations of Sterna paradisaea, S. hirundo and S. albifrons. Sterna sandvicensis breeds occasionally and Sterna dougallii has bred in the past. In winter it supports a regular flock of Branta leucopsis that is of national importance. Several gull species have bred in the past but the recent status of these is unknown. Habitat quality for both terns and geese is excellent with no significant disturbance occurring.

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)

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. 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. Merne, O.J. and Walsh, A. (2003). Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis in Ireland, spring 2003. Irish Birds 7: 173-176. Mitchell, C., Walsh, A., Hall, C. and Crowe, O. (2008). Greenland Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis in Britain and Ireland: results of the International Census, Spring 2008. WWT, NPWS and Birdwatch Ireland Report. Mitchell, P.I., Newton, S.F., Ratcliffe, N. and Dunn, T.E. (2004). Seabird Populations of Britain and Ireland. Poyser, London. 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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Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)

Yes X No

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SITE DISPLAY