South Walney

{{For|the district of Barrow-in-Furness |Walney South}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

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| name = South Walney

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| iucn_category = IV

| photo = The beach at South Walney nature reserve - geograph.org.uk - 1453817.jpg

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| photo_caption = The shingle beach on the seaward side of the reserve photographed in 2009

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| location = Cumbria, United Kingdom

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| area = 130 ha

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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.{{cite web|url=http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/news/2014/02/27/all-sea-unexpected-changes-south-walney-nature-reserve|title=All at sea - unexpected changes at South Walney Nature Reserve|publisher=|accessdate=15 April 2017}}

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.{{cite web | url=http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/lesser-black-backed-gull | title=Lesser black backed gull | publisher=The Wildlife Trusts | accessdate=30 July 2014}} Numbers have declined considerably since the 1970s.{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/10154741/The-coast-where-they-want-their-seagulls-back.html | title=The coast where they want their seagulls back | work=telegraph.co.uk | date=2013 | accessdate=27 August 2016 | author=Copping, Jasper}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Predator-proof fence revives |url=https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/news/predator-proof-fence-revives-gull-population-south-walney |access-date=14 November 2022 |website=Cumbria Wildlife Trust}}

The reserve is the only grey seal colony in Cumbria.{{cite web | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-188652064.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808042452/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-188652064.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=2014-08-08 | title=Massive seal study will test the old grey matter | publisher=Johnston Publishing Ltd. | work=Lakeland Echo (Morecambe, England) | date=2007 | accessdate=30 July 2014}} Accessed via HighBeam Research. 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,{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-34854269 | title=South Walney Nature Reserve's first ever seal pup born | publisher=BBC | date=18 November 2015 | accessdate=26 August 2016}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/News/Walney/Second-seal-pup-born-at-South-Walney-Nature-Reserve-3ddec9bf-66ab-49a1-8e0e-a2a03c09be1d-ds |title=Second seal pup born at South Walney Nature Reserve |work=North-West Evening Mail |access-date=16 April 2017 |publication-date=29 November 2015}} and 46 pups have been born since, with nine pups born in 2023{{Cite web |date=2023-12-29 |title=Grey seal and shark populations on Cumbria coast increase in 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw0l1lyjvk4o |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Other breeding bird species include common eider, Eurasian oystercatcher and common ringed plover.{{Cite news |date=2023-10-21 |title=Cumbria seabirds' breeding success after tough few seasons |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-67158770 |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Walney Bird Observatory |url=http://walneybo.blogspot.com.es/ |access-date=8 March 2024 |website=Walney Bird Observatory}}