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Survey of Breeding Birds 1. Introduction

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Survey of Breeding Birds 1. Introduction Appendix 12.3 Gwent Farmers Community Solar Scheme- Survey of Breeding Birds 1. Introduction 1.1 Survey Context and Aims In March 2015, Smiths Gore commissioned Ecus Ltd to undertake a survey of breeding birds to accompany a planning application for the development of a solar scheme located on agricultural land around Llanwern near Newport, Gwent (centred around Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: ST 33761843). The purpose of the survey of breeding birds was therefore to: describe the assemblage of birds present on the site during the breeding season and assess the importance of the various habitats to breeding species and, provide sufficient information to facilitate an assessment of the impact of the solar farm development on breeding birds that range from high to low conservation status. The level of survey undertaken is described below and is considered sufficient to meet the aims of the project with the level of coverage appropriate to the complexity and size of the site. The survey was not intended to census every individual bird or count and map every breeding territory. Details related to Wildlife & Countryside Act (as amended) Schedule 1 species are provided in a separate Confidential Annex. 1.2 Policy and Legislative Context There is a considerable body of international and UK policy and legislation related to wild bird populations. This is supplemented by additional supportive guidance on the protection and conservation status of those populations and species. The following documents are relevant to this survey: EU Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the ‘Birds Directive’) 1979; the Severn Estuary is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the Directive;1 The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention; the Severn Estuary is designated as a Ramsar site under this Convention;2 1 Natura 2000 Standard Data Form UK9015022 Severn Estuary Update 2015-12. Online (accessed 20/09/16). Available from: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/SPA/UK9015022.pdf Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended legally protects Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Schedule 13 to the Act lists a number of species that are protected by special penalties at all times; the Severn Estuary is designated for several Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and the sub- units are part of the Gwent Levels - Whitson SSSI and the Gwent Levels - Nash & Goldcliff SSSI. Birds of Conservation Concern 4 (BoCC4); this assessment by experts from a number of NGOs presents an up to date review of the conservation status of birds in the UK using standardised criteria (Appendix 5).4 Full details of national, regional and local planning policy and relevant legislation relating to nature conservation have been included in the Ecology and Nature Conservation chapter of the full Environmental Statement. 2. Survey Method 2.1 Survey Area The study area incorporated the application area within the red line boundary (Figure 1) with observations also made over adjacent land including the area of the Severn Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) closest to the Application Area. For the purpose of the transect surveys the study site was considered as four sub- units as shown in Figure 1 (although a number of other areas were originally included before being removed from the scheme): Whitson (c. Fields 1 – 11 centred 2.6 km north of the Severn Estuary Half Acre (c. Fields 12 – 38) centred 1.8 km north of the Estuary Broadstreet North (c. Fields 39 – 44) centred 2.7 km north Broadstreet Chapel (c. Fields 45 – 53) centred 1.8 km north. Application Site boundaries changed during the survey periods and transects were amended were possible. While not all the field were surveyed on every occasion, the surveys undertaken to date are considered adequate to give a baseline of bird activity in what is an area of relatively consistent habitat type. 2.2 Survey Description The survey method involved walked transects surveys repeated across the breeding season. A modified version of the winter bird survey transect route was adopted for the 2 Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) online. (accessed 3/10/15). Available from: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/RIS/UK11081.pdf 3 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended); Schedule 1 Part 1 4 Eaton MA, Aebischer NJ, Brown AF, Hearn R, Lock L, Musgrove AJ, Noble DG, Stroud D and Gregory RD (2015) Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the population status of birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. British Birds 108, pp708-745. breeding bird surveys and undertaken by an experienced ornithologist. The transect route was modified so that: (a) changes in habitat focus and development footprints could be taken into account; (b) all parts of the survey area could be approached by the surveyor to within approximately 50 metres or could be observed from a observation point where access was not feasible; (c) where changes in water levels in ditches and reens affecting access; (d) the surveyor could focus on more complex and/or dense areas of vegetation where less visible species could otherwise be overlooked and (e) the presence of cattle. The route was walked at a steady pace with each bird identified by sight or song/call and the route reversed on alternate visits to prevent any temporal bias. Observations/records of birds were marked on a field map using standard BTO species symbols (Appendix 3) and bird activity codes (Appendix 4). Generalised transect routes are shown in Figure 2. Time did not allow for nest searching and, in the context of the survey aims, this was not considered necessary. Signs of breeding activity were noted and used as criteria in assessing breeding status based on European Ornithological Atlas Committee guidelines5; these are described in Table 1. Table 1: Breeding Activity Assessment Breeding Status Activity in the field Possible Species observed in breeding season in possible nesting habitat Singing male(s) present (or breeding calls heard) in breeding season. Probable A pair observed in suitable nesting habitat in breeding season; Permanent territory presumed through registration of territorial behaviour (song, etc.) on at least two different days; Courtship and display; Visiting probable nest-site Brood patch on adult examined in the hand Nest-building or excavating of nest-hole Confirmed Distraction-display or injury-feigning; Used nest or eggshells found (occupied or laid within period of survey); Recently fledged young (nidicolous species) or downy young (nidifugous species)*; Adults entering or leaving nest-site in circumstances indicating occupied nest (including high nests or nest holes; Adult carrying a faecal sac or food for young; Nests containing eggs Nests with young seen or heard * Some bird species can move significant distances from the nest shortly after fledging therefore the presence of juvenile birds from highly dispersive species with no records of previous signs of 5 European Bird Census Council. European Breeding Bird Census Methodology. Last accessed 09/08/15. Available from: http://www.ebcc.info/wpimages/video/EBBA2_methodology_final.pdf Breeding Status Activity in the field breeding within the study area would be treated as a likely breeding record only. 2.3 Survey Timings & Conditions Seven survey visits were undertaken between March and July 2015 giving cross- season coverage. Based on prior knowledge of the site and particularly the winter avifauna, it was considered that lowland waders (Lapwing Vanellus, Redshank Tringa totanus, Snipe Gallinago gallinago, Curlew Numenius arquata), Skylark (Alauda arvensis) and Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti) were potential breeding species and hence the survey programme was based around the standard methodologies for those taxa6,7. The suggested three survey periods for the waders being 1) 15 – 30 April, 2) 1 – 21 May, 3) 22 May – 18 June. These periods also gave coverage for Cetti’s Warbler and Skylark with additional March and April visits to ensure early breeders were covered and a July visit to assess juvenile and family party presence. Details of the survey visits are provided in Table 2. Table 2: Survey Visit Details Approximate Approximate Survey Survey Date Temp. Cloud o Wind Precip’n time of High tide height Code & Time C (oktas) tide/ Low tide (m) 18/03/15 HW=06:05 & HW=11.3m & N 8 – 12 NE 1-2 0 - 6 Dry 12:00–19:05 LW=00:13 LW=2.6m 16/04/15 HW=05:48 & HW=11.3m & O 7 - 13 1 NE/SE 1 - 6 Dry 06:30-12:00 LW=12:25 LW=1.2m 28/04/15 HW=03:21 & HW=8.9m & P 8 - 12 1 – 3 SW 3 - 5 Dry 06:15-12:10 LW=09:13 LW=3.4m 15/5/15 HW=05:20 & HW=11.1m & Q 6 - 11 0 3 - 6 Dry 06:00-12:00 LW=11:54 LW=1.3m 08/06/15 8 - HW=11:53 & HW=11.0m & R N 1 0 Dry 05:00-12:00 12.5 LW=05:48 LW=1.2m 29/06/15 HW=05:35 & HW=11.2m & S 14 - 25 SW 0 - 1 5 Dry 05:00-12:03 LW=12:11 LW=2.5m T 30/07/15 13 - 19 NW 2 -0 3 - 5 Dry HW=07:48 & HW=12.9m & 05:50- 11:40 LW=14:38 LW=1.4m 6 O’Brien, M and Smith, K.W. 1992 Changes in the status of waders breeding on wetland grassland in England and Wales between 1982 and 1989. Bird Study 39: 165-176. 7 Gilbert G., Gibbons D W, Evans J. 2011. Bird Monitoring Methods: a manual of techniques for key species. RSPB. Sandy, Bedfordshire. In addition to diurnal surveys, crepuscular and nocturnal visits were made as a number of species, particularly waders, move and feed in the hours of darkness especially in response to tidal influence.
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