Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
VOR
Peregrine
Barnacle goose
Common tern
Short-eared owl
Recorded Presence at Forthbank
(Vantage Point (VP), Winter Walkover (WW), Breeding Bird
Surveys (BBS), Estuary Count (EC), and Barn Owl (BO) Surveys)
Present in the BBS area but with no evidence of breeding.
EC Surveys:
• Not recorded.
VP Surveys:
• 12 flight events comprising 12 birds of which just 7 flight events
comprising 7 birds were “at risk”.
• Peak count 1.
WW Surveys:
• Recorded on 1 of 6 visits. Peak count 1.
BBS:
• Not recorded.
EC Surveys:
• Not recorded.
VP Surveys:
• 1 flight event comprising 4 birds. This was not considered to be
“at risk”.
• Peak count 4.
WW Surveys:
• Recorded on 1 of 6 visits. Peak count 4.
BBS:
• Not recorded.
EC Surveys:
• Not recorded.
VP Surveys:
• 1 flight event comprising 1 bird. This was not considered to be
“at risk”.
• Peak count 1.
WW Surveys:
• Not recorded.
BBS:
• Not recorded within the proposed wind energy development site.
Present in the BBS area but with no evidence of breeding.
EC Surveys:
• Recorded on 2 of 10 visits. Peak count 4.
VP Surveys:
• 5 flight events comprising 5 birds. No flight events were ”at risk”.
Conservation
Designation
1981 (as
amended); and
• Scottish
Biodiversity List.
• Annex 1 of the
EU Birds
Directive;
• Schedule 1 of the
Wildlife and
Countryside Act
1981 (as
amended); and
• Scottish
Biodiversity List.
• Annex 1 of the
EU Birds
Directive; and
• Scottish
Biodiversity List.
• Annex 1 of the
EU Birds
Directive; and
• Scottish
Biodiversity List.
• Annex 1 of the
EU Birds
Comments
of local importance for this species.
Being listed on Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive, peregrine is a
species of International importance.
Thirteen records of single peregrine(s) were recorded flying within
and adjacent to the application site. The frequency of this species
presence is considered to be low with birds most likely coming to
the site to make opportunistic hunting forays. As such, the site is
considered to be of local importance for peregrine.
Being listed on Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive, barnacle goose
is a species of International importance.
Barnacle goose was not recorded within the application site and
was only recorded twice during the Forthbank surveys, with two
separate records of four individuals, both occurring during the
spring passage period. Given the infrequent presence and low
abundance of this species, the site is considered to be of
negligible importance for barnacle goose.
Being listed on Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive, common tern is
a species of International importance.
Small numbers of common tern were occasionally recorded within
the survey area (e.g. along the River Forth) during the summer
months. These birds were most likely foraging along the river,
although this part of the Forth Estuary is not known to be
particularly important as a tern foraging ground. As such, the site
is considered to be of negligible importance for common tern.
Being listed on Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive, short-eared owl
is a species of International importance.
Species Conservation
Value (Sp) and Level
of Importance at
Forthbank (Site)
Sp: International
Site: Local
Sp: International
Site: Negligible
Sp: International
Site: Negligible
Sp: International
Site: Negligible
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 30
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