Introduction

This report presents site trends based on the data gathered by the Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS). Only species with sufficient data at Lough Swilly (site code 0A401) are presented.

This report is part of the I-WeBS National and Site Trends Report 1994/95 – 2019/20.

For guidance on how to interpret these trends, please see the I-WeBS Trends Report Guidance.

For details on the methods used to generate these trends, please see the I-WeBS Trends Report Methodology.

Site Summary

Trend (%)
Species Lough Swilly - 5 Year Lough Swilly - 12 Year Lough Swilly - 23 Year Long Term Trend
Scaup -15.4 -86.9 -88.3 Large Decline
Grey Plover -76.4 -83.8 -74.9 Large Decline
Pochard 93.3 -29.3 -61.3 Large Decline
Goldeneye -36.5 -38.2 -55.0 Large Decline
Dunlin -3.8 -18.7 -46.4 Moderate Decline
Golden Plover -36.9 -53.2 -45.9 Moderate Decline
Great Crested Grebe -46.3 -22.0 -38.9 Moderate Decline
Curlew -7.8 -17.2 -29.8 Moderate Decline
Coot -19.2 -28.9 -24.6 Intermediate Decline
Ringed Plover -46.1 -48.8 -17.0 Intermediate Decline
Lapwing 2.9 2.9 -15.0 Intermediate Decline
Mallard -13.3 -14.6 -13.3 Intermediate Decline
Turnstone -34.8 -54.5 -0.8 Stable or Increasing
Redshank -20.0 -31.1 14.8 Stable or Increasing
Red-breasted Merganser -2.4 20.9 15.7 Stable or Increasing
Wigeon 19.2 25.5 18.0 Stable or Increasing
Oystercatcher -24.2 -18.8 19.0 Stable or Increasing
Mute Swan 5.2 12.2 23.2 Stable or Increasing
Shelduck 21.7 38.6 34.6 Stable or Increasing
Grey Heron 33.3 14.9 35.1 Stable or Increasing
Tufted Duck 6.6 -13.3 35.4 Stable or Increasing
Teal -0.8 9.3 50.0 Stable or Increasing
Knot 11.4 27.3 55.6 Stable or Increasing
Little Grebe -12.3 -2.6 56.2 Stable or Increasing
Greenshank -0.9 10.9 60.0 Stable or Increasing
Bar-tailed Godwit -22.5 127.7 109.8 Stable or Increasing
Shoveler 121.8 121.8 133.8 Stable or Increasing
Light-bellied Brent Goose 0.0 31.7 176.7 Stable or Increasing
Gadwall 241.4 140.6 201.3 Stable or Increasing
Sanderling -61.9 42.6 206.4 Stable or Increasing
Pintail 202.2 202.2 226.4 Stable or Increasing
Cormorant 173.3 241.7 272.7 Stable or Increasing
Black-tailed Godwit 136.5 355.6 515.0 Stable or Increasing
Little Egret 284.2 461.5 942.9 Stable or Increasing

Species Analysis

Light-bellied Brent Goose

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 0.0 31.7 176.7
National -11.2 1.2 93.3

Mute Swan

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 5.2 12.2 23.2
National 4.6 9.6 13.8

Shelduck

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 21.7 38.6 34.6
National 6.3 -0.8 9.3

Shoveler

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 121.8 121.8 133.8
National 23.0 -21.3 -10.8

Gadwall

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 241.4 140.6 201.3
National -26.5 4.3 24.4

Wigeon

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 19.2 25.5 18.0
National 0.9 -17.0 -18.2

Mallard

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -13.3 -14.6 -13.3
National -11.3 -19.7 -19.1

Pintail

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 202.2 202.2 226.4
National -0.8 -6.0 -13.7

Teal

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -0.8 9.3 50.0
National 1.8 5.7 19.4

Pochard

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 93.3 -29.3 -61.3
National -19.8 -60.4 -79.1

Tufted Duck

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 6.6 -13.3 35.4
National -20.7 -28.9 -17.9

Scaup

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -15.4 -86.9 -88.3
National -33.6 -82.9 -89.2

Goldeneye

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -36.5 -38.2 -55.0
National -32.5 -39.0 -66.9

Red-breasted Merganser

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -2.4 20.9 15.7
National -12.9 5.2 -14.7

Coot

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -19.2 -28.9 -24.6
National -10.1 1.1 -23.2

Little Grebe

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -12.3 -2.6 56.2
National 6.1 16.7 38.2

Great Crested Grebe

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -46.3 -22.0 -38.9
National -39.5 -6.1 -10.8

Oystercatcher

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -24.2 -18.8 19.0
National -17.5 -31.1 10.8

Lapwing

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 2.9 2.9 -15.0
National -6.5 -45.1 -63.9

Golden Plover

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -36.9 -53.2 -45.9
National -16.9 -58.1 -54.1

Grey Plover

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -76.4 -83.8 -74.9
National -30.6 -39.4 -57.8

Ringed Plover

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -46.1 -48.8 -17.0
National -4.3 -26.8 -1.1

Curlew

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -7.8 -17.2 -29.8
National -9.4 -23.7 -43.1

Bar-tailed Godwit

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -22.5 127.7 109.8
National -32.6 -13.9 -5.1

Black-tailed Godwit

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 136.5 355.6 515.0
National 22.5 25.0 92.3

Turnstone

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -34.8 -54.5 -0.8
National -33.6 -46.0 -23.7

Knot

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 11.4 27.3 55.6
National 0.0 -12.2 -9.8

Sanderling

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -61.9 42.6 206.4
National -23.8 -11.1 84.6

Dunlin

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -3.8 -18.7 -46.4
National 5.9 -21.2 -45.2

Redshank

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -20.0 -31.1 14.8
National -14.0 -28.4 6.7

Greenshank

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly -0.9 10.9 60.0
National 0.9 7.3 41.0

Cormorant

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 173.3 241.7 272.7
National 38.5 8.4 42.9

Grey Heron

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 33.3 14.9 35.1
National 1.0 -4.9 6.6

Little Egret

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Lough Swilly 284.2 461.5 942.9
National 34.6 61.5 483.3

Citations

Please cite this work as follows:

Kennedy, J., Burke, B., Fitzgerald, N., Kelly, S.B.A., Walsh, A.J. & Lewis, L.J. 2022. Irish Wetland Bird Survey: I-WeBS National and Site Trends Report 1994/95 – 2019/20. BirdWatch Ireland Waterbird Report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. BirdWatch Ireland, Wicklow. (https://birdwatchireland.ie/app/uploads/2022/04/iwebs_trends_report.html)