I-WeBS Blackwater Estuary Trends Report
I-WeBS Trends Report 1994/95 – 2019/20
Published 2022-04-01
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 Blackwater Estuary (site code 0M404) 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
| Species | Blackwater Estuary - 5 Year | Blackwater Estuary - 12 Year | Blackwater Estuary - 23 Year | Long Term Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Plover | -75.4 | -98.0 | -97.8 | Large Decline |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | -69.3 | -93.3 | -95.7 | Large Decline |
| Dunlin | -55.9 | -85.1 | -95.6 | Large Decline |
| Mute Swan | -92.0 | -71.2 | -94.9 | Large Decline |
| Red-breasted Merganser | -67.5 | -90.6 | -92.5 | Large Decline |
| Lapwing | -61.6 | -89.3 | -90.7 | Large Decline |
| Turnstone | -58.0 | -74.7 | -59.6 | Large Decline |
| Wigeon | -15.6 | -30.6 | -54.5 | Large Decline |
| Mallard | -43.8 | -54.7 | -50.2 | Large Decline |
| Curlew | 9.0 | -11.7 | -40.2 | Moderate Decline |
| Redshank | -13.0 | -52.7 | -39.7 | Moderate Decline |
| Shelduck | -34.3 | -35.8 | -27.7 | Moderate Decline |
| Oystercatcher | -57.0 | -32.2 | -23.5 | Intermediate Decline |
| Teal | -21.1 | -12.5 | -16.1 | Intermediate Decline |
| Greenshank | -44.7 | -60.6 | -12.9 | Intermediate Decline |
| Cormorant | -37.4 | -41.4 | -12.0 | Intermediate Decline |
| Grey Heron | -48.7 | -21.4 | -5.4 | Intermediate Decline |
| Knot | 850.0 | -54.8 | -5.0 | Intermediate Decline |
| Little Egret | -9.0 | -19.0 | 123.7 | Stable or Increasing |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 17.6 | 17.6 | 168.7 | Stable or Increasing |
| Light-bellied Brent Goose | -32.5 | 76.6 | 538.5 | Stable or Increasing |
| Great Crested Grebe | -41.0 | -7.3 | 580.0 | Stable or Increasing |
Species Analysis
Light-bellied Brent Goose
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -32.5 | 76.6 | 538.5 |
| National | -11.2 | 1.2 | 93.3 |
Mute Swan
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -92.0 | -71.2 | -94.9 |
| National | 4.6 | 9.6 | 13.8 |
Shelduck
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -34.3 | -35.8 | -27.7 |
| National | 6.3 | -0.8 | 9.3 |
Wigeon
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -15.6 | -30.6 | -54.5 |
| National | 0.9 | -17.0 | -18.2 |
Mallard
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -43.8 | -54.7 | -50.2 |
| National | -11.3 | -19.7 | -19.1 |
Teal
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -21.1 | -12.5 | -16.1 |
| National | 1.8 | 5.7 | 19.4 |
Red-breasted Merganser
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -67.5 | -90.6 | -92.5 |
| National | -12.9 | 5.2 | -14.7 |
Great Crested Grebe
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -41.0 | -7.3 | 580.0 |
| National | -39.5 | -6.1 | -10.8 |
Oystercatcher
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -57.0 | -32.2 | -23.5 |
| National | -17.5 | -31.1 | 10.8 |
Lapwing
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -61.6 | -89.3 | -90.7 |
| National | -6.5 | -45.1 | -63.9 |
Golden Plover
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -75.4 | -98.0 | -97.8 |
| National | -16.9 | -58.1 | -54.1 |
Curlew
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | 9.0 | -11.7 | -40.2 |
| National | -9.4 | -23.7 | -43.1 |
Bar-tailed Godwit
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -69.3 | -93.3 | -95.7 |
| National | -32.6 | -13.9 | -5.1 |
Black-tailed Godwit
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | 17.6 | 17.6 | 168.7 |
| National | 22.5 | 25.0 | 92.3 |
Turnstone
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -58.0 | -74.7 | -59.6 |
| National | -33.6 | -46.0 | -23.7 |
Knot
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | 850.0 | -54.8 | -5.0 |
| National | 0.0 | -12.2 | -9.8 |
Dunlin
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -55.9 | -85.1 | -95.6 |
| National | 5.9 | -21.2 | -45.2 |
Redshank
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -13.0 | -52.7 | -39.7 |
| National | -14.0 | -28.4 | 6.7 |
Greenshank
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -44.7 | -60.6 | -12.9 |
| National | 0.9 | 7.3 | 41.0 |
Cormorant
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -37.4 | -41.4 | -12.0 |
| National | 38.5 | 8.4 | 42.9 |
Grey Heron
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -48.7 | -21.4 | -5.4 |
| National | 1.0 | -4.9 | 6.6 |
Little Egret
| Site | 5 Year | 12 Year | 23 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Estuary | -9.0 | -19.0 | 123.7 |
| 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)