Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Teal
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
District
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
barrier effect on the movement of this species.
Collision N/A at construction N/A Only a single snow goose flight was recorded during the flight Not
activity surveys and this did not pass through the risk window. significant
Consequently, it is reasonable to assume that this species
rarely flies through the risk window and that the collision risk to
this species is negligible (neutral).
Habitat Loss Although teal were recorded as present within the application
site during the breeding season no evidence of breeding was
recorded and there will be no loss of habitat which is of value
to the species (neutral).
Not significant N/A at operation N/A
Disturbance &
Displacement
Teal were recorded at Forthbank during the winter and
passage periods with counts of up to 150 birds being recorded
during the winter months (January winter walkover). Birds
were found throughout the survey area with the largest
congregations being recorded on the Black Devon Wetlands,
on the north side of the Forth Estuary upstream of the
application site and around the mouth of the River Black
Devon (within 100m of the application site). Given the close
proximity of some of these congregating areas to the
application site and considering the proposed autumn/winter
construction schedule (see Chapter 4: Project Description),
there is a potential for the large winter flocks which occur at
Forthbank to be disturbed by construction activities
undertaken at this time. This could lead to the temporary
displacement of the flock elsewhere within the Forth Estuary.
However, it is recognised that suitable alternative foraging and
roosting grounds are available in the surrounding area (i.e.
elsewhere within the Upper Forth Estuary). Indeed, given this
species wide use of the available habitats at this site, even if
construction activities were to disturb these birds it is
considered unlikely that they would be displaced from the
Forthbank area altogether. Consequently the impact
magnitude is predicted to be low.
Minor
Given the wide use of the available habitats at this site by teal
and considering the availability of suitable alternative foraging
and roosting grounds within the nearby surrounding area, as
mentioned previously, even if the species was disturbed and
subsequently displaced by the operation of the proposed wind
energy development, it is considered unlikely that the species
would be displaced from the Forthbank area entirely.
Consequently the impact magnitude is predicted to be low.
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A Of the 8 recorded teal flights approximately 6 (75%) passed
directly through the proposed wind energy development (the
area enclosed by a line on a map joining the outermost turbine
rotors of the wind farm). Most of the flights were of birds flying
between the lagoons of Black Devon Wetlands, although three
were of birds passing between the Black Devon Wetlands and
the Forth Estuary. However, given the low number of flights
recorded it is unlikely that the proposed wind energy
development will act as a significant barrier to the overall
movement of this species. In any case, birds passing to and
Minor
Not
significant
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 77
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