Description of the Interest Features and their Current Condition

The site is a Special Protection Area (SPA) classified by the EU in October 1990.

The site is notified for the following features:

  • Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), Non-breeding
  • Common scoter (Melanitta nigra), Non-breeding
  • Dunlin (Calidris alpina alpina), Non-breeding
  • Eider (Somateria mollissima), Non-breeding
  • Golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), Non-breeding
  • Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Non-breeding
  • Greylag goose (Anser anser), Non-breeding
  • Light-bellied brent goose (Branta bernicla hrota), Non-breeding
  • Little tern (Sternula albifrons), Breeding
  • Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis), Non-breeding
  • Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator), Non-breeding
  • Redshank (Tringa totanus), Non-breeding
  • Ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula), Non-breeding
  • Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii), Breeding
  • Sanderling (Calidris alba), Non-breeding
  • Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Non-breeding
  • Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), Non-breeding
  • Wigeon (Anas penelope), Non-breeding

Further details of these interest features can be found in the Conservation Advice for the site

The site is designated for the internationally significant numbers of breeding and non-breeding bird species which it supports. During winter, the intertidal mudflats and sandflats at Lindisfarne are an important feeding area for a number of waders and waterfowl, including grey plover, bar-tailed godwit, redshank, dunlin, wigeon, and light-bellied brent goose. Rafts of sea ducks, such as eider and common scoter, are found overwintering in the shallow waters surrounding the island.

The non-breeding SPA features form a wintering waterbird assemblage, which is present in internationally important numbers. Natural England are currently reviewing the waterbird assemblage feature, which is due to be added to the package when it is next updated (September 2018).

During summer, the site is an important breeding ground for Little tern, which also uses the waters around the island for foraging. Breeding Roseate tern is also listed as a designated feature of the site although it has not been present on the reserve in recent years.

The condition of the MPA has yet to be assessed by Natural England. Condition assessments of the underlying SSSI units can be found HERE

Map of Interest Features

No mapping of SPA features is available. Mapping of priority habitats from within the SPA can be viewed on the MAGIC website and is also available from the following sources:

Sensitivities of Interest Features

The summary given below is provided for informal guidance only. Please note that the advice package and accompanying supplementary guidance  produced by Natural England for the site should be referred as the definitive and official source of information about site pressures and sensitivities when making decisions about management activities or preparing Habitats Regulations Assessments.

This site is likely to be sensitive to any activities which may:

  • Negatively affects breeding populations of Little tern
  • Negatively affects the availability and/or quality of breeding habitat for Little tern
  • Increases disturbance to Little tern while nesting, roosting, foraging, feeding, moulting or loafing
  • Negatively affects the safe passage for Little tern between nesting and feeding sites
  • Increases disturbance to wintering waders and waterfowl while roosting, foraging, feeding, or loafing
  • Negatively affects the safe passage for wintering waders and waterfowl between roosting and feeding sites
  • Negatively affects food availability for the species for which the site is designated
  • Negatively affects water quality (including turbidity, nutrient status, contaminants and dissolved oxygen)

Overlap with other sites

This site partially overlaps with the following MPAs:

The following SSSIs overlap partially with this MPA

For more information please see our FAQ’s or you can get in touch