SPA description
(information as published 2001)
Papa Stour
Papa Stour lies on the west coast of mainland Shetland in
northern Scotland. The SPA comprises the northern and western parts
of Papa Stour and consists of rocky hillsides rising to about 90 m,
a number of lochs and a few offshore skerries. The main vegetation
is a lichen-rich heath that has developed on substrates that
formerly consisted of peat and turf. The island is an important
breeding site for Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea and Ringed
Plover Charadrius hiaticula. The terns feed outside the
SPA in the waters around the islands.
Qualifying species
For individual species accounts visit the Species
Accounts section
This site qualifies
under Article 4.1 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by
supporting populations of European importance of the following
species listed on Annex I of the Directive:
During the breeding season;
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea, 1,000 pairs
representing at least 2.3% of the breeding population in Great
Britain (Seabird Census Register)
This site also qualifies under Article 4.2 of
the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European
importance of the following migratory species:
During the breeding season;
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula, 89 pairs
representing at least 0.6% of the breeding Europe/Northern Africa -
wintering population
Note:
Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of
a site in these pages does not imply any right of public
access.
