Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
No. of
visits
recorded
(/6)
No. of
registrations
recorded
Cumulative
total
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 17
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2010 ©
Single
survey
peak
count
Comments (including general
distribution, habitat usage and activity
within the survey area)
Song thrush 3 9 13 9 Scrub within and surrounding proposed
wind energy development site
Yellowhammer 2 7 17 16 Habitats within and surrounding proposed
wind energy development site
Estuary Zone Counts
12.3.23 Table 12.13 presents the monthly peak counts for target species recorded during the Estuary
Zone counts which were undertaken between 11 November 2009 and 8 August 2010.
12.3.24 These figures represent the maximum count for each species recorded across the six count
zones during each monthly 3 hours survey period. As each zone was counted individually at 5
minute intervals, species totals were not summed across zones in order to avoid doublecounting
of birds which may have moved between zones.
12.3.25 Peak counts for each species over the entire survey period are highlighted in bold. For SPA
qualifying species, these figures presented as a percentage of the species’ respective SPA
qualifying populations as listed on the SPA citation.
12.3.26 In total, 31 waterbird species were recorded throughout the survey programme, of which 27
were target species, including 15 qualifying species of the Firth of Forth SPA.
12.3.27 Not-surprisingly the majority of waterfowl and wading bird species were recorded in their
highest numbers during the winter months. With regard to SPA qualifying species, peak
counts representing more than 1% of their respective qualifying populations were recorded for
bar-tailed godwit, cormorant curlew, mallard, red-breasted merganser, Sandwich tern and
wigeon during this time. All other SPA qualifying species were recorded in comparatively low
numbers.
Table 12.13 Forthbank Estuary Zone Count Data 2009/10 (overall peak counts in bold)
Species
Peak counts per monthly visit
11/11/09
04/12/09
20/01/09
18/02/10
27/03/10
16/04/10
25/05/10
10/06/10
23/07/10
08/08/10
Peak
count as
% of SPA
qualifying
population
SPA Qualifying Species
Bar-tailed godwit 1 - 33 - - 13 - - - 1 1.7
Cormorant 10 6 - 4 - - - - 2 - 1.5
Curlew 41 - 73 31 47 8 1 1 8 17 3.8
Dunlin - - - - 4 - - - - -