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UK241
Scapa Flow
Location United Kingdom, Scotland
Central coordinates 3o 6.19' West  58o 52.82' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, B1ii, B2, C2, C3, C6
Area 25,122 ha
Altitude 0 - 32m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds



Site description A large sea area that separates the islands of Orkney Mainland, Hoy and South Ronaldsay, important for wintering waterbirds. An oil terminal occupies part of the IBA.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca winter  1988-1989  41 individuals  good  B2  Not Recognised 
Common Loon Gavia immer winter  2000-2001  141 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3, C6  Least Concern 
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus winter  2000-2001  141 individuals  good  B1i, C2  Least Concern 
European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis winter  1988-1989  2,800 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata winter  2001-2006  1,812 individuals  good  B2  Near Threatened 
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle breeding  1999-2000  721 individuals  good  B1ii, B2, C3  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Sand dunes and beaches; Shingle or stony beaches  -
Sea Open Sea; Sea inlets and coastal features  -
Coastline Rock stacks and islets; Sea cliffs and rocky shores  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture -
other -

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Scapa Flow. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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