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close| Location | United Kingdom, South West |
| Central coordinates | 1o 57.63' West 50o 45.71' North |
| IBA criteria | B2, C6 |
| Area | 10,577 ha |
| Altitude | 4 - 92m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Site description A large, fragmented area situated around Poole Harbour and to the west of Wareham, overlying the infertile and acidic Bagshot Beds. The area comprises mainly lowland heathland and mires, with associated woodland and grassland. The IBA holds important populations of specialist heathland birds.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus | winter | 1992 | 12 individuals | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus | breeding | 2004 | 690 males only | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis | resident | 1993 | 155 breeding pairs | good | B2 | Not Recognised |
| Wood Lark Lullula arborea | breeding | 2006 | 106 males only | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata | breeding | 2006 | 728 males only | good | C6 | Near Threatened |
| Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus | breeding | 1993 | 750 breeding pairs | good | B2 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | 112,900 | protected area overlaps with site | 3,595 |
|
| Dorset Heathlands | Birds Directive | 8,190 | protected area contained by site | 8,098 |
|
| Dorset Heathlands | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 6,730 | protected area contained by site | 6,730 |
|
| Holt and West Moors Heaths | Site of Special Scientific Interest | 767 | protected area overlaps with site | 686 |
|
| Morden Bog and Hyde Heath | Site of Special Scientific Interest | 660 | protected area contained by site | 662 |
|
| Povington and Grange Heaths | Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) | 1,227 | protected area overlaps with site | 1,118 | |
| Purbeck | Heritage Coast | 16,512 | protected area overlaps with site | 2,090 |
|
| Studland and Godlingston Heath | National Nature Reserve | 625 | protected area overlaps with site | 568 |
|
| Studland and Godlingston Heaths | Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) | 759 | protected area contained by site | 759 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland | - |
| Shrubland | Heathland; Scrub | - |
| Grassland | - | |
| Wetlands (inland) | Fens, transition mires and springs; Salt marshes; Water fringe vegetation | - |
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Dorset Heaths and Forests. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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