Database release:
SDF
NATURA 2000 - STANDARD DATA FORM

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

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1.1 Type

A

1.2 Site code

IE0004156

1.3 Site name

Sheep's Head to Toe Head SPA

1.4 First Compilation date

2010-04

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:2006-11
National legal reference of SPA designation No information provided

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:-9.782902
Latitude:51.501278

2.2 Area [ha]

2500.1084

2.3 Marine area [%]

2.5320

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):


No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code Region Name
IE02Southern 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
      MinMax  Pop.Con.Iso.Glo.
BA103Falco peregrinus    p  7  7  p    G  C  B  C  B 
BA009Fulmarus glacialis    r  57  57  p    G  C  C  C  C 
BA184Larus argentatus    r  30  30  p    G  C  C  C  C 
BA018Phalacrocorax aristotelis    r  17  17  p    G  C  C  C  C 
BA346Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax    p  73  73  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
     MinMax C|R|V|PIVVABCD
B  Cepphus grylle    137  137  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
N095.00
N0825.00
N061.00
N0410.00
N0520.00
N011.00
N1415.00
N153.00
N0310.00
N105.00
N125.00

Total Habitat Cover

100

Other Site Characteristics

The Sheep's Head to Toe Head SPA is large site situated on the south-west coast of Co. Cork. It encompasses the high coast and sea cliffs from Sheep's Head to Mizen Head, Brow Head and Crookhaven in the west and from Baltimore to Tragumna Bay, Gokane Point and the Toe Head peninsula in the east. The site includes the sea cliffs, the land adjacent to the cliff edge (inland for 300 m), an area further inland to the east of Dunlough Bay, and also areas of sand dunes at Barley Cove and Crookhaven. The high water mark forms the seaward boundary. Most of the site is underlain by Devonian sandstones and mudstones, though Carboniferous rocks are also found on the Sheep's Head and Toe Head peninsulas.

4.2 Quality and importance

The site supports an important population of breeding Chough, a Red Data Book species that is listed on Annex I of the E.U. Birds Directive; 82 breeding pairs were recorded from the site in the 1992 survey and 73 in the 2002/03 survey. During the winter of 2003/04, flocks of up to 27 birds were recorded within the SPA. The highest densities of breeding Chough are on and around Mizen Head. The site supports an important Peregrine population (8 pairs in 2002); this species is listed on Annex I of the E.U. Birds Directive. The site also holds a nationally important population of Black Guillemot (137 individuals), as well as smaller populations of other breeding seabirds: Fulmar (57 pairs), Herring Gull (30 pairs), Shag (17 pairs), Kittiwake (20 pairs) and Great Black-backed Gull (1 pair) - all seabird data from 1999, 2001 and 2002.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

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

Negative Impacts
RankThreats and pressures [code]Pollution (optional) [code]inside/outside [i|o|b]
MA04i
LK03.04i
LK03.04o
LK03.01o
Positive Impacts
RankActivities, management [code]Pollution (optional) [code]inside/outside [i|o|b]
MA08o

Rank: H = high, M = medium, L = low
Pollution: N = Nitrogen input, P = Phosphor/Phosphate input, A = Acid input/acidification,
T = toxic inorganic chemicals, O = toxic organic chemicals, X = Mixed pollutions
i = inside, o = outside, b = both

4.4 Ownership (optional)


No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

Berrow, S.D., Mackie, K.I., O'Sullivan, O., Shephard, K.B., Mellon, C. and Coveney, J.A. (1992). The Second International Chough Survey Ireland. Irish Birds 5: 1-10. Bullock, I.D., Drewett, D.R. and Mickleburgh, S.P. (1983). The Chough in Britain and Ireland. British Birds 76: 377-401. Environment and Heritage Service (2000). Biodiversity in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Species Action Plan: Chough. Environment and Heritage Service, Belfast. Gray, N., Thomas, G., Trewby, M. and Newton, S.F. (2003). The status and distribution of Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax in the Republic of Ireland 2002/03. Irish Birds 7: 147-156. 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. Madden, B. (in prep.). Breeding Survey of Peregrine Falcons in the Republic of Ireland, 2002. Unpublished report to NPWS, Dublin. Mitchell, P.I., Newton, S., Ratcliffe, N. and Dunn, T.E. (2004). Seabird Populations of Britain and Ireland. Poyser, London. Newton, S., Donagh, A., Allen, D. and Gibbons, D. (1999). Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland. Irish Birds 6: 333-344. 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. Trewby, M., Gray, N., Cummins, S., Thomas, G. and Newton, S. (2006). The Status and Ecology of the Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax in the Republic of Ireland, 2002-2005. BirdWatch Ireland Report, Kilcoole. Trewby, M., Gray, N., Cummins, S., Thomas, G. and Newton, S. (in prep.). The breeding season and foraging behaviour of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax in three Irish Chough Important Bird Areas.

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

SITE DISPLAY