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UK173
Bridgend Flats, Islay
Location United Kingdom, Scotland
Central coordinates 6o 15.67' West  55o 46.43' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Area 329 ha
Altitude 0 - 15m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds



Site description The site includes large sea loch of Indaal and the sheltered Bridgend Flats. Saltmarsh and mudflat communities occur that are scarce within the Inner Hebrides. The IBA is important for wintering geese and other wildfowl. Branta leucopsis are from the Greenland breeding population.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis winter  1997  10,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Greater Scaup Aythya marila winter  2001-2004  666 individuals  good  B2  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Bridgend Flats Site of Special Scientific Interest 331 is identical to site 329  
Bridgend Flats, Islay Birds Directive 331 is identical to site 329  
Bridgend Flats, Islay Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 331 is identical to site 329  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Mud flats and sand flats; Salt marshes  13%
Sea Sea inlets and coastal features  87%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture minor

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Bridgend Flats, Islay. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

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