Site description The IBA comprises a north-facing sea loch over 5 km in length, and adjacent grassland, heathland, saltmarsh, mudflat and sand-dune habitats. The site is important for wintering waterbirds. Anser albifrons are the flavirostris subspecies, while Branta leucopsis are from the Greenland breeding population.
Populations of IBA trigger species
Protected areas
| Protected area |
Designation |
Area (ha) |
Relationship with IBA |
Overlap with IBA (ha) |
|
| Gruinart Flats |
Birds Directive |
3,262 |
is identical to site |
3,244 |
|
| Gruinart Flats |
Site of Special Scientific Interest |
3,261 |
is identical to site |
3,170 |
|
| Gruinart Flats, Islay |
Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) |
3,261 |
is identical to site |
3,244 |
|
| Loch Gruinart/Ardnave |
RSPB Reserve |
2,780 |
protected area overlaps with site |
1,470 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat |
Habitat detail |
Extent (% of site) |
| Forest |
Mixed woodland |
- |
| Shrubland |
Heathland |
- |
| Grassland |
Humid grasslands; Mesophile grasslands |
- |
| Wetlands (inland) |
Blanket bogs; Mud flats and sand flats; Rivers and streams; Salt marshes; Sand dunes and beaches; Standing freshwater |
- |
| Sea |
Sea inlets and coastal features |
- |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) |
Arable land |
- |
Land use
| Land-use |
Extent (% of site) |
| agriculture |
30% |
| nature conservation and research |
30% |
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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gruinart Flats. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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