BAT SURVEYS AT THE PROPOSED SPRINGFIELD WIND FARM SITE AT MULLINAVAT, CO. KILKENNY TO ASSESS ITS POTENTIAL FOR BAT ROOSTING SITES AND FORAGING SITES Leisler’s Bat Copyright Phil Richardson Report Prepared for: Dr George Smith, Blackthorn Ecology By Caroline Shiel B.Sc., Ph.D. Edenville, Kinlough, Co. Leitrim. (071) 9842330 (087) 2851148
[email protected] March 2019 1 SUMMARY Site: Proposed Springfield wind farm, Castlebanny and surrounding townlands, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny Development: Construction of c. 26 turbine wind farm mostly within and around conifer plantations at Castlebanny and surrounding townlands, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny Grid Reference: Approximate Grid Reference of central point S58873 31490; Discovery Map 76 Bat Species Present: Soprano pipistrelle, Common pipistrelle, Leisler’s bat, Natterer’s bat, Brown Long-eared bat, Whiskered bat Proposed Works: Development consisting of the construction of c. 26 wind turbines, site access roads, hard standing areas, underground cabling and all ancillary site works Report by: Dr Caroline Shiel 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page no. 1. Introduction 1.1 Site Location 5 1.2 Designated Protected Areas in Vicinity 5 2. Bats and Wind Farm Developments 2.1 Bat Survey Guidelines 6 2.2 Wind Turbines and Bats 6 2.3 Legislation and Bats 7 3. Information on Bat Species from Proposed development Site 3.1 Desk Study 8 3.2 Bat Conservation Ireland Database Records 9 3.3 Bat Surveys Conducted on Wind Farm Sites in the Area 11 3.4 Bat Species Predicted to be On Site 12 4. Winter Bat Surveys of Springfield Site – January 2017 4.1 Survey of the proposed Springfield Wind Farm for roosting/foraging potential 13 4.2 Survey of Potential Roost sites close to Springfield Wind Farm 16 4.3 Bat Detector Survey 24 4.4 Recommendations for further surveys 24 5.