Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Yellowhammer
Common
sandpiper
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
District
District
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
Barrier Effect N/A for this species N/A N/A for this species N/A
Collision N/A for this species N/A N/A for this species N/A
Habitat Loss Yellowhammer were mainly recorded at Forthbank during the Not significant N/A at operation N/A
breeding season. Two pairs/territories were recorded within
the application site during the breeding season with a further
five located in the wider survey area, most of which were
recorded in the scrub along the margins of the River Black
Devon. There is potential for some of the habitat which will be
lost through the installation of the turbines and associated
infrastructure to include areas which are used as foraging of
feeding grounds by yellowhammer. However, it is considered
that the total amount of habitat loss is negligible in the context
of the site and that there is an abundance of suitable
alternative habitat both within and surrounding the application
site. None of the habitat loss is expected to affect areas of
suitable yellowhammer breeding habitat (e.g. scrub).
Consequently the loss of habitat is predicted to be negligible
(neutral).
Disturbance &
Not significant
Displacement
Construction of the proposed wind energy development has
the potential to cause some temporary displacement of
yellowhammer from some breeding and feeding sites.
However, there is considered to be sufficient availability of
suitable alternative habitat in the wider area (i.e. arable fields
and associated scrub/hedgerows) to support any displaced
birds. Consequently, any displacement of yellowhammers is
expected to be of low magnitude and the long-term loss of any
significant proportion of the local population is considered
highly unlikely.
All four turbines will be located within open areas of rough
grassland away from the areas of most suitable habitat for
yellowhammer (e.g. arable fields and associated
scrub/hedgerows). Consequently, given the low intensity of
disturbance associated with operational wind farms, the effect
of disturbance and displacement on this species is expected to
be of negligible magnitude. Furthermore, it is particularly likely
that small birds such as this will become habituated to the
turbines (neutral).
Barrier Effect N/A for this species N/A N/A for this species N/A
Collision N/A for this species N/A N/A for this species N/A
Habitat Loss No loss of habitat which is of value to the species (neutral). Not significant N/A at operation N/A
Disturbance &
Not significant
Displacement
Common sandpiper was only recorded at Forthbank during
the autumn passage period with sightings restricted to the
Forth Estuary foreshore and the margins of the River Black
Devon with the peak count being of 12 birds (July estuary
zone count). Common sandpiper are common at coastal
locations during the autumn following departure from their
breeding grounds 23
and in the context of the wider Forth
Estuary, the peak count is not expected to represent a
significant proportion of the population at the regional level.
However, although these birds were typically recorded in
areas within 100m of the proposed application site, these low
lying areas are largely shielded from the application site by
Given this species habitat preference and characteristic
behaviour, as previously mentioned, it is considered that birds
which occur at Forthbank will almost be segregated from
disturbance associated with the proposed wind energy
development. However even if birds are disturbed and
subsequently displaced by the presence of the proposed wind
energy development, there is considered to be suitable
alternative habitat in the wider Upper Forth Estuary including
the margins of the estuary itself and other small creeks and
channels. Consequently, taking into consideration also the
relatively small numbers of common sandpiper which were
recorded at Forthbank the impact magnitude is predicted to be
Not
significant
Not
significant
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 71
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