Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
development site. Therefore a series of monthly estuarine counts was undertaken between
November 2009 to August 2010 with the aim of covering all stages of the tidal cycle (the time
between two successive high tides, of approximately 12 hours duration) over the survey
period.
12.2.13 Surveys were conducted by an experienced ornithological surveyor from a single point on the
south-western shore of the Forth Estuary (adjacent to the proposed wind energy development
site) at Dunmore Home Farm (NS 8869 9041) overlooking the estuary. Coverage extended to
1km upstream and downstream of the proposed wind energy development site.
12.2.14 The survey area was split into six Zones (A-F). These are illustrated in Figure 12.1. Fiveminute
counts were undertaken in each zone in sequence and repeated over a period of
approximately 3hrs. All target species of conservation concern were recorded by entering
count totals for each species during each five-minute observation period in a particular zone on
to fieldwork forms. Bird behaviour was recorded as either ‘feeding’ or ‘non-feeding’ and the
number of birds observed for each category was recorded separately.
12.2.15 Table 12.1.2, Appendix 12.1, presents a record of the dates, times and timings in relation to
the tide when the individual estuary zone counts were conducted.
Breeding Bird Surveys
12.2.16 Breeding bird surveys were carried out in the spring and summer of 2010 following an adapted
version of the BTO’s Common Bird Census methodology 14 15 with five visits completed
between April and June inclusive. The survey area included the proposed wind energy
development site plus a surrounding buffer of 500m as illustrated in Figure 12.1 while
information on the dates, timing and weather conditions of each survey is given in Table
12.1.3, Appendix 12.1.
Barn Owl Surveys
12.2.17 Potential barn owl nest sites within 1km of the proposed wind energy development site were
checked during an initial visit on 16 February 2010. Information from the Central Scotland
Raptor Study Group (see Table 12.1, Scoping and Consultation Responses) was used to
inform the search for potential nest and roost sites.
12.2.18 A follow up visit to check for occupancy was made on 2 July 2010. Surveys were based on the
methods set out in Hardey et al. (2009) 16 . The coverage of the barn owl surveys is illustrated
in Figure 12.1.
Flight Activity (Vantage Point) Surveys
12.2.19 These surveys are designed to record bird flight activity over the application site. The data
gathered from these surveys allows an estimation of the numbers of each bird species passing
through the airspace as well as providing an indication of their spatial and temporal use of that
airspace.
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 6
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