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

IE0004135

1.3 Site name

Ardboline Island and Horse Island SPA

1.4 First Compilation date

2005-03

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:	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:	-8.684937
Latitude:	54.344131

2.2 Area [ha]

148.2933

2.3 Marine area [%]

95.7580

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	85	85	i		G	C	B	C	B
B	A122	Crex crex			r	3	3	p		G	C	B	C	B
B	A184	Larus argentatus			r	11	11	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A017	Phalacrocorax carbo			r	179	179	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		Larus marinus			16	16	i							X
B		Somateria mollissima											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
N09	3.00
N05	2.00
N01	95.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

The site comprises two small, low-lying islands situated within 1 km of the county Sligo coast. The islands are underlain by Carboniferous limestone and support a maritime grassy sward. Both islands are surrounded by rocky reefs. The sea area between and around the islands is included in the site.

4.2 Quality and importance

In winter, the site is utilised by part of the internationally important flock of Branta leucopsis that is based on the mainland at Ballintemple/Lissadell. The geese feed and roost on the islands, which provide an important refuge. The islands support a Phalacrocorax carbo colony that is of national importance. This has been known since at least the 1970s and is one of the largest in the region. Small numbers of Larus gulls also breed, as well as Somateria mollissima. Terns (Sterna spp.) have bred but not in past decades. Crex crex have also been recorded at this site in 2006. Habitat quality is good 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)

Casey, C. (1998). The distribution and conservation of Corncrakes in Ireland, 1993-1998. Irish Birds 6: 159-176. Copland, A. and Donaghy, A. (2001). A Strategy for Corncrake Conservation in Ireland 2001-2010. Unpublished report, BWI, Dublin. Cotton, D.C.F. (unpublished bird records). 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. Macdonald, R.A. (1987). The breeding population and distribution of the Cormorant in Ireland. Irish Birds 3: 405-416. 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.

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