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UK097
Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and the Skerries
Location United Kingdom, Wales
Central coordinates 4o 30.81' West  53o 24.56' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Area 86 ha
Altitude 0 - 15m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds



Site description Ynys Feurig is a group of small, low-lying islands situated up to 1 km offshore, whilst the very exposed Skerries lie 3 km out to sea. The vegetation on most of the islands is sparse. At Cemlyn Bay, a shingle storm-beach forms a bar between a tidal lagoon surrounded by saltmarsh and the open shore. The IBA supports large tern colonies.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis breeding  2000  450 breeding pairs  good  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis breeding  2006  1,273 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii breeding  2000  2 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii breeding  2006  2 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding  2000  184 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding  2006  429 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea breeding  2000  1,705 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea breeding  2006  2,726 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 21,999 protected area overlaps with site 59  
Bae Cemlyn (Cemlyn Bay) Habitats Directive 43 protected area contained by site 43  
Cemlyn Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest 44 protected area contained by site 44  
North Anglesey Coast Heritage Coast 0 protected area overlaps with site 24  
The Skerries RSPB Reserve 18 protected area contained by site 18  
The Skerries Site of Special Scientific Interest 17 protected area contained by site 17  
Ynys Feurig Site of Special Scientific Interest 25 protected area contained by site 25  
Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and The Skerries Birds Directive 86 is identical to site 86  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Coastal lagoons; Mud flats and sand flats; Salt marshes; Shingle or stony beaches; Standing brackish and salt water  -
Coastline Rock stacks and islets  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
not utilised -

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and the Skerries. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013

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