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Biodiversity Annual Review 2018

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Biodiversity Annual Review 2018 GATWICK’S ANNUAL BIODIVERSITY REVIEW 2018 Annual report summarising our biodiversity work at the airport and updating on the progress with the benchmark award Rachel Bicker, Biodiversity consultant Thomas Errett, Environmental Advisor Thomas Simpson, Gatwick Greenspace Partnership Gatwick Airport, April 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS [1] - YEAR HIGHLIGHTS 3 [2] - MANAGEMENT REVIEW 6 [A] - SURVEILLANCE: BIODIVERSITY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - INVASIVE SPECIES MAPPING 4 - GREAT CRESTED NEWT SURVEYING 7 - REPTILE MONITORING 8 - BREEDING BIRDS 10 [B] - ALL SPECIES REVIEW - AMPHIBIANS 13 - BATS 14 - BIRDS 16 - BOTANY 18 - FUNGI 21 - INVERTEBRATES 22 - TERRESTRIAL MAMMALS 29 [3] - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 30 [4] - PHOTOS 35 2 [1] - YEAR HIGHLIGHTS 2018/2019 The new Biodiversity Action Plan 2018-2023 went live New species for the airport: White-letter Hairstreak Butterfly, Willow Emerald Damselfly, Plain-golden Hoverfly, Fungus Weevil New surveys: butterfly transects, pond invertebrate species Site visit from the Sussex Bee and Wasp Group Retained the Biodiversity Benchmark Award for 2018-2019 Continued engagement of airport staff and local businesses through GGP Project Officer CABI Himalayan balsam rust fungus trial completion Gatwick’s species database created Fourth summer placement ecology students Second year of Long-horned Bee monitoring by University of Sussex Our third Gatwick Wildlife week Our fifth ‘Gatwick Wildlife Day’ biological recording event European Bat Symposium tour of biodiversity areas Grassland scything workshop Gatwick Honeybees are now an Enhanced Sentinel Apiary 3 [2] – ANNUAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW [A] - SURVEILLANCE: BIODIVERSITY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Invasive species mapping There are a group of Biodiversity Performance Indicators that have been adopted by Gatwick to show continual biodiversity protection and enhancement. The mapping of invasive plant species acts as one of our Biodiversity Performance Indicators (BPIs), informing progress of our invasive species control programmes. Our primary invasive plant species on Gatwick’s landholdings is Himalyan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). The following aerial maps highlighting the patches of river which are still afflicted with Himalayan Balsam plants, updated as of August 2018. Some areas of Himalayan Balsam seem to Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) in flower stable in that they are not becoming more dominant and are in mixed stands of competing tall vegetation such as Common Reed and Reed Canary Grass. However, at the point where the River Mole emerges north of the runway, the balsam stands have become relatively denser. Increased targeting of Himalayan Balsam in this particular area should be carried out in 2019, again with the combined action of contractor’s spot-spraying and volunteers hand-pulling. Goat’s Rue (Galega officinalis) is becoming more prevalent in small areas adjacent to Gatwick’s biodiversity sites. One of our new actions is to manage this colonising plant through a combination of cutting and spraying. 4 Fig 1. Invasive species occurring along the River Mole and adjacent areas. North West Zone 2018 5 Fig 2. Invasive species occurring along the Gatwick Stream, woodlands and surrounding grasslands. Land East of the Railway Line 2018 Treatment of Himalayan Balsam along the Gatwick Stream was more extensive this year, with concerted spraying effort by contractors. Some points along the waterways were however missed, generally due to access difficulties. A key area to focus on in 2019 will be the ditch adjacent to the railway line. Goat’s Rue on the northern banks of the Y Lagoon received a cut and a spot-spray, so it will be interesting to see the extent of regeneration in 2019. 6 Great Crested Newt surveying Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) female The biodiversity ponds supporting amphibian populations are surveyed at night using high- powered torches. Peak counts are then made from 4 visits during the breeding season to each pond. Great Crested Newts torchlight survey peak counts 2011-2018 14 12 10 8 6 Pond 3 Pond 4 4 Charlwood 1 Peak no. individuals seen 2 0 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Fig 3. Great Crested Newt survey results 2011-2018 The population at Pond 4 seems to be stable or potentially increasing. Since Pond 3 was electrofished in 2015, low numbers of Great Crested Newts (GCN) have been seen again and laying eggs in this pond. Regular monitoring has been implemented at the Charlwood Park ponds (NWZ) since 2016, and we are beginning to gain a greater understanding of the population here. Eggs have been found on vegetation in consecutive years at all three ponds. 7 Reptile monitoring A young Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica) basking No further sightings of Slow Worms (Anguis fragilis) have been made in the LERL since June 2017, which indicates this single individual may no longer be present. The habitat is still deemed suitable and the field is bordered by residential gardens which may hold populations. Grass Snakes (Natrix helvetica) are still widespread across the biodiversity sites and despite the occasional anecdotal report of Adder (Vipera berus), evidence of presence of this species is yet to be found. Below are the results of regular monthly monitoring of Grass Snakes through the use of reptile mats covering fixed areas on both the NWZ and LERL sites. 8 16 14 12 2012 10 2013 2014 8 2015 2016 6 2017 2018 Peak numbersseen 4 2 0 Fig 4. North West Zone Grass Snake peak counts by month 2012-2018 2018 was a good year for Grass Snake activity in the North West Zone. This may be reflecting a temporary increase in population due to the translocation activity from the Boeing Hangar project site (taken under licence). The usual peak count seems to occur in May, with a record count in the past year of 14 individuals. 9 8 7 6 2013 5 2014 4 2015 3 2016 Peak numbersseen 2 2017 1 2018 0 Fig 5. Land East of the Railway Line Grass Snake peak counts 2013-2018 Grass Snake counts also peaked during May in the Land East, with the highest count of 8 individuals seen in one day. It is typical that no reptiles are found in the survey areas during March, despite a combination of high and low-lying areas being checked. It is also normal that records tail off during September, however there was a small resurgence during September 2018. 9 As recommended by Common Standards Monitoring Guidance, our targets here include presence of both adults and juveniles of less than 1yr old (around 20cm in length), which indicates successful breeding. Each year we have witnessed both adult and juvenile Grass Snakes on our main sites, which is evidence of a healthy breeding population. Breeding birds Linnet (Linaria cannabina) in the North West Zone Two common resident bird species (Blackbird and Wren) were selected as comparable indicators against two red and two amber status species. These species are chosen as they are consistently interacting with the habitats present on the respective transects. In the Land East of the Railway Line, BPIs are Grey Wagtail and Marsh Tit (red listed), and Bullfinch and Dunnock (amber listed). For the North West Zone, they are Linnet and Mistle Thrush (red listed), and Kingfisher and Reed Bunting (amber listed). Continual monitoring may help pick up any significant issues and population trends for birds will be important for long term monitoring to detect any significant changes over time. 10 North West Zone BPI bird species 2013-2018 25 20 15 2013 2014 10 2015 Year peakcount 2016 2017 5 2018 0 Mistle Thrush Linnet Kingfisher Reed Bunting Blackbird Wren Fig 6. North West Zone BPI bird species 2013-2018 Mistle Thrush has been missed from our last couple of surveys in the North West Zone. Populations of Linnet and Kingfisher are typically low, with Kingfisher only sporadically recorded. This is likely due to this species being harder to detect, as it does not carry out regular territorial singing like song birds. Counts of Reed Bunting, Blackbird and Wren continue to be high. 11 Land East of the Railway Line BPI bird species 2012-2018 30 25 20 2012 15 2013 2014 10 2015 2016 Peak countsthroughoutyear 5 2017 2018 0 Grey Wagtail Marsh Tit Bullfinch Dunnock Blackbird Wren Fig 7. Land East of the Railway Line BPI bird species 2013-2018 The data shows that Grey Wagtail and Marsh Tit are present in low numbers most years. Bullfinch fluctuate in numbers but are consistently present. Dunnock are also consistent, and Blackbird and Wren counts remain high. 12 [B] - ALL SPECIES REVIEW The following section summarises our species monitoring, with tables for quick referencing of what is present on site. In the main, lists have been made for those which currently have an official designation, are uncommon, or have some ecological significance in the local area. Various naturalists have contributed to this section of the report and we are grateful for their assistance. Amphibians Common Toad (Bufo bufo) Surveys and other methods of detection for amphibians include refugia checks, regular torching of ponds and roving records (walkover surveys). Our species list remains the same and there have been no observed significant changes in amphibian populations and activity across the sites. Common name Species name NWZ LERL Common Frog Rana temporaria 2018 2018 Common Toad Bufo bufo 2018 2018 Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus 2018 2018 Marsh Frog Pelophylax ridibundus 2018 N/A Palmate Newt Lissotriton helveticus N/A 2018 Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris 2014 2018 13 Bats Bat activity surveys Four surveys were carried out by Laurie Jackson in 2018, which were a combination of the established River Mole and Rolls Farm transects. Four species of bat were recorded - Brown long- eared (Plecotus auritus), Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Noctule (Nyctalus noctula), and Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), none were new species to Gatwick. Compared to previous years surveys in 2009 and 2014, there are fewer ‘BLE’s and more Noctule, likely due to the recent changes in the habitat from cluttered landscape of Brown Long-eared Bats (Plecotus auritus) in a box hedgerows, to open wet grassland.
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