SPA description
(information as published 2001)
Rinns of Islay
The Rinns of Islay SPA is located on the Hebridean island of
Islay on the west coast of Scotland. It comprises extensive areas
of the western side of the island, being a mosaic of natural and
semi-natural habitats including bog, moorland, dune grassland,
maritime grassland, marsh and farmland. Much of the natural
vegetation is utilised as rough grazing for sheep and cattle and is
managed extensively. These habitats are used by an extremely rich
assemblage of scarce bird species throughout the year. The site is
of particular importance for a number of breeding and wintering
birds, including raptors, Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser
albifrons flavirostris and Chough Pyrrhocorax
pyrrhocorax. The Choughs depend on the diverse mix of habitats
present and their continued low-intensity agricultural
management.
The site also includes the subsumed SPAs of Glac na Criche and
Feur Lochain, which were subject to separate classification.
Qualifying species
For individual species accounts visit the Species
Accounts section
This site qualifies under Article 4.1 of the
Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European
importance of the following species listed on Annex I of the
Directive:
During the breeding season;
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, 31 pairs representing
at least 9.1% of the breeding population in Great Britain (Count,
as at 1998)
Corncrake Crex crex, 2 individuals representing at
least 0.4% of the breeding population in Great Britain (5 year
mean, 1993-1997)
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, 7 pairs representing at
least 1.4% of the breeding population in Great Britain (Count, as
at 1998)
On passage;
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, 140 individuals
representing at least 2.5% of the population in Great Britain
(Count, as at 1988)
Over winter;
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, 62 pairs representing
at least 9.0% of the wintering population in Great Britain (Count
as at 1998)
Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
flavirostris, 1,600 individuals representing at least 11.4% of
the wintering population in Great Britain (Count, as at
1993/4)
This site also qualifies under Article 4.2 of
the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European
importance of the following migratory species:
During the breeding season;
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra, 10 pairs representing
<0.1% of the breeding Western Siberia/Western & Northern
Europe/Northwestern Africa population (Count, as at 1997)
Note:
Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of
a site in these pages does not imply any right of public
access.
Note that sites selected for waterbird species on the basis of
their occurrence in the breeding, passage or winter periods also
provide legal protection for these species when they occur at other
times of the year.