Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Wigeon
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
International
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
the SPA qualifying population per year. Consequently, the
collision risk for shelduck is considered to be well within
acceptable limits and thus will not significantly affect the SPA
qualifying population (neutral).
Habitat Loss No loss of habitat which is of value to the species (neutral). Not significant N/A at operation N/A
Disturbance &
Displacement
Wigeon were only recorded at Forthbank during the winter
and passage periods with counts of over 100 birds being
regularly recorded during the winter months. The peak count
of 223 (December winter walkover) represented 10.4% of the
SPA qualifying population. Birds were found throughout the
estuarine habitats although the highest concentrations were
typically found on the south side of the Forth Estuary near the
South Alloa bend (approximately 500m upstream of the
application site) and around the mouth of the River Black
Devon (within 100m of the application site). Although no
information was found regarding the disturbance of wigeon by
wind farms this species is known to be particularly sensitive to
disturbance. Consequently, the disturbance distance is
predicted to be more than that stated for mallard (300m) and
is more likely to be similar to that quoted for curlew (500m).
Given the close proximity of the observed wigeon
congregating areas to the application site there is a high
potential for the large winter flocks which occur at Forthbank
to be disturbed by construction activities if they are
undertaken during winter months. This has the potential to
result in the temporary displacement of these birds elsewhere
within the Forth Estuary. Although the majority of this stretch
of the Forth Estuary lies outwith the Firth of Forth SPA the
numbers recorded at Forthbank indicate that parts of the
survey area of particular importance to the species during at
least part of the winter. However, wigeon numbers did
fluctuate quite markedly throughout the winter and therefore it
is likely that alternative foraging and roosting sites exist
elsewhere within the Upper Forth Estuary (e.g. Alloa Inches).
Therefore, the magnitude of any disturbance effects on
wigeon is predicted to be low. However, the impact
significance is predicted to be on the higher end of the scale
because the availability of alternative estuarine roost sites for
this species is likely to be more restricted than that for species
such as curlew which may also make use of inland areas such
as arable fields).
Moderate
As previously mentioned, many of the wigeon recorded during
the ornithological surveys were present within approximately
500m of the application site (the precautionary displacement
range for this species). Consequently there is a reasonably
high likelihood that a significant proportion (i.e. ≥1%) of the
Firth of Forth SPA population will be displaced from traditional
foraging and roosting grounds located within this distance
throughout the lifespan of the proposed wind energy
development due to the presence of the turbines. However,
given that the majority of the survey area does not include the
Firth of Forth SPA, and considering the likely availability of
suitable alternative foraging and roosting grounds in the
surrounding area it is considered highly unlikely that birds will
be displaced entirely from the Forth Estuary. Indeed, any
displaced birds are likely to remain within Upper Forth Estuary.
Given the above, such an effect is predicted to be of low
magnitude, although given the number of birds recorded the
impact significance is predicted to be on the higher end of the
scale.
Moderate
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 59
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