South Walney

For the district of Barrow-in-Furness, see Walney South.

South Walney
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
The shingle beach on the seaward side of the reserve photographed in 2009
Map
LocationCumbria, United Kingdom
Area130 ha

South Walney is one of two nature reserves on Walney Island, England. The nature reserve has an area of 130 ha leased from Holker estates. It has been managed by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust since 1963.[1] The reserve is notable for being a colony for gulls and grey seals.

The gull colony contains both lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls.[2] Numbers have declined considerably since the 1970s.[3] Among the reasons for the decline has been predation. In 2021 Cumbria Wildlife Trust reported that a predator-proof fence had protected chicks at the reserve.[4]

The reserve is the only grey seal colony in Cumbria.[5] Numbers have increased since the 1970s. Until recently South Walney was classed as a haul-out site rather than a breeding colony, but two pups were born in 2015,[6][7] and 46 pups have been born since, with nine pups born in 2023[8]

Other breeding bird species include common eider, Eurasian oystercatcher and common ringed plover.[9] The reserve is the home of the Walney Bird Observatory which collates bird records from across the island. Around 300 species of bird have been recorded on Walney Island since the foundation of the bird observatory in 1964.[10]

Facilities

South Walney Nature Reserve is open daily 10am to 5pm (4pm in winter). The road to the reserve can be affected by high tides. There are bird hides. A seal webcam went live in 2016.[11]

Protection

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

South Walney and Piel Channel Flats are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for biological and geological interest. The SSSI includes the South Walney part of the Walney Island Geological Conservation Review Site. The SSSI is contiguous with two other SSSIs:

Special Protection Area

Both the Duddon Estuary and Morecambe Bay were designated Special Protection Areas (a protected area under the European Union Birds Directive). In 2016, before the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, there were consultations on a successful proposal that Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary be combined in a new SPA. The combined SPA includes a marine extension west of Walney Island to protect foraging areas of terns.[13] This marine extension is not to be confused with the "West of Walney" Marine Conservation Zone (designated in January 2016), which is some kilometres from the coast.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "All at sea - unexpected changes at South Walney Nature Reserve". Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Lesser black backed gull". The Wildlife Trusts. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  3. ^ Copping, Jasper (2013). "The coast where they want their seagulls back". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Predator-proof fence revives". Cumbria Wildlife Trust. 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Massive seal study will test the old grey matter". Lakeland Echo (Morecambe, England). Johnston Publishing Ltd. 2007. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014. Accessed via HighBeam Research.
  6. ^ "South Walney Nature Reserve's first ever seal pup born". BBC. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Second seal pup born at South Walney Nature Reserve". North-West Evening Mail. 29 November 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Grey seal and shark populations on Cumbria coast increase in 2023". BBC News. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Cumbria seabirds' breeding success after tough few seasons". BBC News. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Walney Bird Observatory". Walney Bird Observatory. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Seal cam goes live". September 2016.[1]
  12. ^ "South Walney & Piel Channel Flats" (PDF). Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Proposals for a Special Protection Area on Morecambe Bay and the Duddon Estuary and adjacent coast". Natural England. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  14. ^ "West of Walney Marine Conservation Zone". Retrieved 3 September 2016.

54°02′55″N 3°11′58″W / 54.0486°N 3.1995°W / 54.0486; -3.1995