SPA description
(information as published 2001)
The Swale
The Swale is located on the south side of the outer part of the
Thames Estuary in south-eastern England. The Swale is an estuarine
area that separates the Isle of Sheppey from the Kent mainland. To
the west it adjoins the Medway Estuary. It is a complex of brackish
and freshwater, floodplain grazing marsh with ditches, and
intertidal saltmarshes and mud-flats. The intertidal flats are
extensive, especially in the east of the site, and support a dense
invertebrate fauna. These invertebrates, together with beds of
algae and Eelgrass Zostera spp., are important food
sources for waterbirds. Locally there are large Mussel Mytilus
edulis beds formed on harder areas of substrate. The SPA
contains the largest extent of grazing marsh in Kent (although much
reduced from its former extent). There is much diversity both in
the salinity of the dykes (which range from fresh to strongly
brackish) and in the topography of the fields. The wide diversity
of coastal habitats found on the Swale combine to support important
numbers of waterbirds throughout the year. In summer, the site is
of importance for Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus,
breeding waders and Mediterranean Gull Larus
melanocephalus. In spring and autumn migration periods, as
well as during winter, the Swale supports very large numbers of
geese, ducks and waders.
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;
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, 103 pairs representing
at least 17.5% of the breeding population in Great Britain (RBBP
1996)
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, 24 pairs
representing at least 15.0% of the breeding population in Great
Britain (Count, as at 1995)
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus, 12 pairs
representing at least 120.0% of the breeding population in Great
Britain (RBBP 1996)
Over winter;
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, 89 individuals
representing at least 7.0% of the wintering population in Great
Britain (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, 542 individuals
representing at least 1.0% of the wintering population in Great
Britain (Count as at 91/92-95/96)
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, 2,862 individuals
representing at least 1.1% of the wintering population in Great
Britain (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, 23 individuals
representing at least 3.1% of the wintering population in Great
Britain (Count as at 1996/8)
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:
On passage;
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula, 683 individuals
representing at least 1.4% of the Europe/Northern Africa -
wintering population (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Over winter;
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, 1,755
individuals representing at least 2.5% of the wintering Iceland -
breeding population (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola, 2,021 individuals
representing at least 1.3% of the wintering Eastern Atlantic -
wintering population (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Knot Calidris canutus, 5,582 individuals representing
at least 1.6% of the wintering Northeastern
Canada/Greenland/Iceland/Northwestern Europe population (Count as
at 91/92-95/96)
Pintail Anas acuta, 966 individuals representing at
least 1.6% of the wintering Northwestern Europe population (5 year
peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Redshank Tringa totanus, 1,640 individuals
representing at least 1.1% of the wintering Eastern Atlantic -
wintering population (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Shoveler Anas clypeata, 471 individuals representing
at least 1.2% of the wintering Northwestern/Central Europe
population (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Assemblage qualification: A wetland of international
importance.
The area qualifies under Article 4.2 of the
Directive (79/409/EEC) by regularly supporting at least 20,000
waterfowl
Over winter, the area regularly supports 65,390 individual
waterfowl (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6) including:
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons albifrons, Golden
Plover Pluvialis apricaria, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa
lapponica, Pintail Anas acuta, Shoveler Anas
clypeata, Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola, Knot
Calidris canutus, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
islandica, Redshank Tringa totanus, Avocet
Recurvirostra avosetta, Cormorant Phalacrocorax
carbo, Curlew Numenius arquata, Dark-bellied Brent
Goose Branta bernicla bernicla, Shelduck Tadorna
tadorna, Wigeon Anas penelope, Gadwall Anas
strepera, Teal Anas crecca, Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus,
Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina, Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis.
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.