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FR064
Cap Gris-nez
Location France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Central coordinates 1o 35.00' East  50o 52.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C2, C3, C4
Area 8,950 ha
Altitude 0 - 50m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Ligue Pour La Protection des Oiseaux



Ornithological information The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds on passage, on a regular basis. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet criteria: Aythya nyroca (passage and wintering).

Site description A largely marine area with sand and shingle beaches, cliffs, heathlands, meadows and arable fields.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Brent Goose Branta bernicla passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata passage  1997  500-1,000 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Northern Pintail Anas acuta passage  1997  500-1,000 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena passage  1997  100-500 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia passage  1991  100-500 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus winter  1997  338-13,044 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus passage  1997  500-1,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata winter  1997  75-1,408 individuals  -  B2  Near Threatened 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Near Threatened 
Common Redshank Tringa totanus passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Dunlin Calidris alpina passage  1997  10,000-20,000 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Herring Gull Larus argentatus winter  1997  80-30,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Herring Gull Larus argentatus passage  1997  10,000-20,000 individuals  -  B1i  Least Concern 
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus passage  1997  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis passage  1991  10,000-20,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii passage  1991  10-100 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo passage  1991  10,000-20,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea passage  1991  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Little Tern Sterna albifrons passage  1991  1,000-10,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds passage  1997  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Cap Gris-Nez - FR3110085 Birds Directive 56,224 protected area overlaps with site 8,434  
Cap Griz-nez Hunting Reserve 8,600 protected area contained by site 8,600  
FALAISES DU CRAN AUX OEUFS ET DU CAP GRIS-NEZ, DUNES DU CHATELET, MARAIS DE TARDINGHEN ET DUNES DE WISSANT - FR3100478 Habitats Directive 1,023 protected area overlaps with site 845  
RECIFS GRIS-NEZ BLANC-NEZ - FR3102003 Habitats Directive 29,156 protected area overlaps with site 7,818  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland Heathland  -
Grassland Humid grasslands  -
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams; Standing brackish and salt water  -
Sea Open Sea  95%
Coastline Sand dunes & beaches; Sea cliffs and rocky shores; Shingle & stony beaches  -
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land; Ruderal land  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
fisheries/aquaculture -
hunting -
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -

Management considerations Oil pollution of marine areas from shipping (`Other' threats, above) is a major threat and frequently affects seabirds.

Protection status National High International High8,600 ha of IBA covered by Hunting Reserve (Cap Gris-nez, 8,600 ha). 8,600 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Cap Gris-nez, 8,600 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Cap Gris-nez. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife