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UK267
West Westray
Location United Kingdom, Scotland
Central coordinates 3o 0.70' West  59o 17.92' North
IBA criteria A4iii, B1ii, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 349 ha
Altitude 0 - 169m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds



Site description The site comprises Old Red Sandstone cliffs along the western coast of Westray, together with adjoining areas of grassland and maritime sedge-heath. The site is very exposed. The IBA holds breeding seabirds and waterbirds.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea breeding  2000  2,166 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Common Guillemot Uria aalge breeding  2007  50,613 individuals  good  B1ii, C3  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - seabirds breeding  1999-2002  43,019 breeding pairs  good  A4iii, C4   
A4iii Species group - waterbirds breeding  1999-2002  37,500 breeding pairs  good  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
West Westray Birds Directive 351 is identical to site 349  
West Westray Site of Special Scientific Interest 372 is identical to site 349  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland Heathland  -
Grassland   -
Coastline Sea cliffs and rocky shores  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 100%
nature conservation and research -

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: West Westray. 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