Bat, Bird of Prey & Barn Owl Surveys for Proposed Wind
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WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN BAT, BIRD OF PREY & BARN OWL SURVEYS FOR PROPOSED WIND TURBINE Brynawelon, Tegryn, Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire SA35 0BN DATE: 23RD- 30TH SEPTEMBER 2013 Name: DC21 Group Ltd Dene House, North Road, Kirkburton, Huddersfield, HD8 0RW. Tel: +44 1484 607808 On behalf of :- Client: Mr O’Brien, Brynawelon, Tegryn, Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire SA35 0BN Contact Nos: 01239 810878 & 07967 010014 Grid Reference: SN22242 34820 – turbine positions Report: Wind Turbine Protected Species Survey for Bats, birds of prey and barn owls Report ref: SA35 0BN/Frenni Fach, Llanfyrnach/O’Brien/Ashton Smith Walked Transects: 23rd September 2013 Deployed bat detectors on site for 5 nights: Date of survey: 1. 23rd to 30th September 2013 Anna Sutcliffe, B.Sc. (Hons.), MIEEM. CCW licence 35227:OTH:CSAB:2011 and Steve Surveyed by: Sutcliffe accredited agent DC21 Group through Charles Ashton of Ashton Smith Architect/Agent: Email : [email protected] Planning ref and For one medium sized 50Kw turbine. date: Issue: Revision: Stage: Date: Prepared by: Approved by: Draft report for 1 08.10.13 A Sutcliffe S Sutcliffe review Report finalisation WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN Report finalisation License N/a Disclaimer This document has been prepared by Biodiversity Solutions Limited for Mr O’Brien solely as a Protected Species Survey for birds of prey and bats. Biodiversity Solutions Limited accepts no responsibility or liability for any use that is made of this document other than by the Client for the purposes for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. We Mr O’Brien have read the contents of this document and understand our legal obligations regarding any protected species and habitats that may be present at this Site. Signed …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Date …………………………………………….. 2013 WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN Executive Summary DC21 Group through their agents Ashton-Smith Assoiates contracted Anna Sutcliffe of Biodiversity Solutions Ltd [qualifications found in Appendix 6] to carry out surveys on behalf of Mr O'Brian at Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach to ascertain the protected species use of the site over a period of 5 nights combined with one transect during the month of September 2013. The results are to inform the planning authority of the risks to these protected species from the two turbines once erected and operational. Turbine details – One turbine of 50Kw. Height to hub= 36.6m with a blade diameter of 19.2m, classified as medium turbines, are proposed. The turbine site is to be on a heavily grazed field with no hedges. The turbine site is 30m from each site feature. The features are: Heathland with scattered small trees Overgrazed fields with evergreen trees on the west of the track [dark blue] that runs next to the field Pipistrelle roost at associated property Wet valley and heathland plus scrub Low evergreen trees on the west Open heather moorland to the east with very occasional 1-2m trees WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN Pipistrelle bat roost in the on the clients associated property245m away from turbine site Sunken lane Planning permission is sought for one turbine in the middle of the field. Activity surveys – continuous 2.5 hrs transect circuits were walked on the 23rd September in good calm and dry weather. The transect followed each of the lanes adjacent to the site and northwards towards road. One period of 5 nights deployment of bat detectors between 23rd September to the morning of the 30th September 2013. Bat detector locations are noted on the map and are on: a. at the edge of the turbine site to the east for 3 nights and the west for two nights. The detector was not in the middle of the field because of the horses The survey intensity was planned using information from the Wind Turbine section of the Bat Survey Guidelines written by Lisa Hundt:BCT 2nd Edition and then adjusted to suit the site through detailed discussions with Natural Resources Wales. Results in summary:- The transect was completed in good weather One of the nights during the deployment were interrupted by light drizzle and heavy mist which was a local phenomenon but on the whole the weather was dry, the temperatures never dropped below 12oC and the wind was between than 8-19miles per hour[F1-4] No barn owls or tawny owls were observed on the transect visit - a tawny owl was calling from the woodland to the south west. No noctules or any other bat species were recorded on site by the detectors although two records in the local records centre information sweep show that noctule bats are within 5Km of the site, the nearest being at Cwm Blaen 9 miles away. There are no significant areas of mature trees close by Conclusion The conclusion from the surveys is that the collision risk of bats with turbines is low during calm to light winds when the risk is very low or negligible . Nevertheless as the local topography slopes upwards to the east and bats were foraging over the heather in this area we recommend that the turbine site is at least 50m from the eastern boundary of the field. in medium to strong winds for 99.9% of the year most bats are most likely to hug the sunken lane even more closely and not venture into the middle of the field or any other open space. WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN 1.0 Introduction This bat survey was to advise on the potential effect on bats of the proposed erection of one medium sized turbine at Frenni Fach near Tegryn, Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire SA35 0BN. [See figure 1 & 2 below.] Map 1 - Aerial photograph of the habitat around the turbine field WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN Map 2 – map showing location of the turbine site Aims - The aim of the survey is to provide more specific information about the use of the proposed turbine site and its immediate surroundings by bats and other protected species. The 2013 survey was completed in September. The information will help inform the planning authorities in their assessment of the likely impact of these turbines on protected species and the surrounding habitats. Proposed work is to erect one medium sized turbines of 50Kw. Height to hub= 36.6m with a blade diameter of 19.2m, so effectively 46.2m high and 19.2m wide. 1.1 Desk Study – a desk study was completed in 2013 highlighting the protected species in the area and the protected sites which may or may not be affected by the installation of more wind turbines in the area. For the purposes of this survey the West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre provided results for a 5Km radius search of all protected species. WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN 2.0 Habitat Survey - an extended Phase 1 survey has been completed at a different date 3.0 Site description The turbine site is to be on a heavily grazed field with no hedges. There is a small group of evergreen trees on the western boundary Open heather moorland to the east with very occasional 1-2m trees There are stone lanes to both sides of the field - partially sunken below the field level. The field is fenced with a few groups of gorse along the boundary The clients associated property is 245m to the south east - there is a pipistrelle bat roost here. Map 3 – close up aerial of site showing WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN WIND TURBINE SURVEY FOR BATS AND birds of prey on Frenni Fach above Llanfyrnach Pembrokeshire CLIENT: Mr O’Brien of Brynawelon, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BN 4.0 Surveys and site assessment 4.1 Turbine field survey- methods Protected Species – On the same date as the start of the detector deployment on the 23rd September, the field was surveyed during the day for badger activity and signs of any potential for other protected species. The field is currently grazed by two horses. A survey of the bird species on site was conducted. A bat transect walk is conducted on that evening for c.2.5 hours The transect covered the field edges in a continuous slow walk. The transect was to assess how and to what extent bats were using the actual proposed turbine site and the adjacent edges and nearby habitats. Before the bat activity transect was started the remote detector were put in place. One was not placed in the middle of the field because of the risk of damage by the horses. The manned transect evening however did assess the bat behaviour around the field The transect route was walked slowly and continuously during the evening as well as stops of several minutes at key points such as the group of fir trees and along the heather interface.