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close| Location | Iceland, Árnessýsla |
| Central coordinates | 21o 7.00' West 63o 52.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A4i, B1i |
| Area | 4,300 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 5m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information Thousands of breeding, staging and wintering waterbirds use the area, particularly the coast. In particular, the shore from the mouth of the ölfusá river to Loftsstadir farm is one of the most important for waterbirds in Iceland. A wide variety of waterbirds breed, including Sterna paradisaea (1,000-2,000 pairs). Staging birds in May 1990 included Calidris alpina (2,000) and Arenaria interpres (200).
Site description A coastal wetland in southern Iceland, by the villages of Stokkseyri and Eyrabakki, which extends from the river outlet of ölfusá to Loftsstadir farm. Habitats comprise fresh water, brackish pools, saltmarshes and an adjacent extensive area of beaches and intertidal flats. The shoreline is mainly rocky. Land-use also includes tourism, e.g. kayaking along the coast, lakes and rivers.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | passage | - | 250 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | passage | 1990 | 7,600 individuals | medium | B1i | Least Concern |
| Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima | winter | 1987 | 255-617 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | Mesophile grasslands | 10% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing brackish and salt water; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | - |
| Sea | Sea inlets and coastal features | 40% |
| Coastline | Mud flats & sand flats; Sea cliffs and rocky shores | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Management considerations The introduced American mink Mustela vison is a threat, and tourism causes disturbance to birds. Part of the area may be threatened by urban development. The area is on the list of sites of conservation interest in the Nature Conservation Register.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Stokkseyri-Eyrarbakki. 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
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