Carlingford Lough Ramsar Site
Area: 827.12 hectares
Grid Reference: J 230129
Date Designated: 09/03/98
The Ramsar Site lies between Killowen Point and Soldiers Point on the northern shores of Carlingford Lough and the landward boundary is entirely coincident with that of the Carlingford Lough Area of Special Scientific Interest. The Ramsar Site boundary is also entirely coincident with that of the Carlingford Lough Special Protection Area.
The Ramsar Site includes all lands and intertidal areas seawards to the limits of territorial waters. Marine areas below mean low water are not included.
The site qualifies under Criterion 3c for supporting internationally important breeding populations of Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis. The five year mean for the period 1993 to 1997 is 575 pairs which is 1.2% of international population (13.1% of the Irish population).
The site also qualifies under Criterion 2a by supporting an important assemblage of vulnerable and endangered Irish Red Data Book bird species. The site supports nationally important breeding populations of Common Tern Sterna hirundo. The five year mean for 1993 to 1997 is 339 pairs which is 12.6% of Irish population. Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii have returned to the site after an absence of six years with 2 breeding pairs recorded for 1997. In the recent past the site has also supported nationally important numbers of Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea.
The site forms part of an extended cross-border site. The extended site qualifies under Criterion 3c for regularly supporting internationally important numbers of overwintering Light-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla hrota. The five year peak mean for the period 1991/92 - 1995/96 is 319 birds which is 1.6% of the international population (and 1.6% of the Irish population).
The extended site also supports nationally important numbers of the following wader species: Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (the five year peak mean for the period 1991/92 to 1995/96 is 850 birds - 1.7 % of the Irish population), Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (168 - 1.3%), Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola (58 - 1.5%), Dunlin Calidris alpina (1494 - 1.2%) and Redshank Tringa totanus (640 - 2.6%).