Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
VOR
Greylag goose
Mute swan
Shoveler
Recorded Presence at Forthbank
(Vantage Point (VP), Winter Walkover (WW), Breeding Bird
Surveys (BBS), Estuary Count (EC), and Barn Owl (BO) Surveys)
BBS:
• Not recorded.
EC Surveys:
• Not recorded.
VP Surveys:
• 10 flight events comprising 141 birds, of which 5 flight events
comprising 32 birds were ”at risk””.
• Peak count 40.
WW Surveys:
• Not recorded.
BBS:
• Only recorded flying over the BBS area.
EC Surveys:
• Recorded on 1 of 10 visits. Peak count 8.
VP Surveys:
• 16 flight events comprising 21 birds of which 2 flight events
comprising 4 birds were “at risk”.
• Peak count 2.
WW Surveys:
• Recorded on 5 of 6 visits. Peak count 4.
BBS:
• One pair/territory recorded in the BBS area, but not within the
proposed wind energy development site (see Figure 12.6).
EC Surveys:
• Recorded on 2 of 10 visits. Peak count 2.
VP Surveys:
• Not recorded.
WW Surveys:
• Recorded on 1 of 6 visits. Peak count 1.
BBS:
• Present in the BBS area but no evidence of breeding, and no
recordings in the proposed wind energy development site.
EC Surveys:
Conservation
Designation
Comments
Forth Estuary during which the peak count was of just 2 birds (e.g.
September winter walkover). Given the infrequent occurrence and
low abundance of this species, the site is considered to be of
negligible importance for gannets.
Greylag goose is found in internationally-important numbers in the
UK and qualifies as an SPA species under Article 2.1 of the EU
Birds Directive at sites which regularly hold populations of
international importance. As such this species is considered to be
of International importance.
Greylag geese were recorded infrequently at Forthbank, with
sporadic sightings only occurring during the winter and autumn
passage months during which the peak count of 40 was recorded.
Greylag geese are relatively common in Scotland during the winter
with a population of over 85,000 birds 23 of which an average of
1306 occur within the Forth Estuary (5-year (2004/05-2008/09)
peak mean 24 . Thus the peak count recorded at Forthbank
represents approximately 3% of this regional district. Furthermore,
the species conservation status is considered to be is considered
to be favorable 27 . Therefore, the site is only considered to be of
local importance for this species.
Mute swan is common and widespread throughout the UK and is
not a species of high conservation concern. Consequently this
species is considered to be of International importance.
Mute swan was recorded for much of the year and a single pair
was identified as breeding outside of the application site. Mute
swan is a familiar and widespread resident species in Scotland
with at least 1012 breeding pairs and a wintering population of
between 5000 and 8000 birds 23 . Therefore, given the low
abundance of this species at Forthbank the site is only assessed
as being of local importance.
Shoveler is also included on the amber list of BoCC (see common
sandpiper above for definition). As such shoveler is considered to
be of regional importance.
Shoveler was only recorded infrequently and in very low
abundance both during the winter and breeding bird surveys and
was not identified as breeding. Considering the infrequent
occurrence of this species at Forthbank the site is assessed as
being of negligible importance for whimbrel.
Species Conservation
Value (Sp) and Level
of Importance at
Forthbank (Site)
Sp: International
Site: District
Sp: Local
Site: Local
Sp: Regional
Site: Negligible
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 35
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