East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology Preliminary Environmental Information Volume 1 Document Reference – EA2-DEVWF-ENV-REP-IBR- 000818 Prepared by: Checked by: Approved by: www.scottishpowerrenewables.com East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm Preliminary Environmental Information Report Revision Summary Rev Date Document Prepared by Checked by Approved by Status 01 11/01/2019 For Issue Paolo Pizzolla Julia Bolton Helen Walker Description of Revisions Rev Page Section Description 01 n/a n/a Final Draft EA2-DEVWF-ENV-REP-IBR-000818 Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology ii East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm Preliminary Environmental Information Report Table of Contents 23 Onshore Ornithology 1 23.1 Introduction 1 23.2 Consultation 1 23.3 Scope 6 23.4 Assessment Methodology 11 23.5 Existing Environment 24 23.6 Potential Impacts 34 23.7 Cumulative Impacts 68 23.8 Inter-relationships 75 23.9 Interactions 76 23.10 Summary 76 23.11 References 81 EA2-DEVWF-ENV-REP-IBR-000818 Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology iii East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm Preliminary Environmental Information Report Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology figures are presented in Volume 2: Figures and listed in the table below. Figure Number Title Figure 23.1 Onshore Ornithology Study Area Figure 23.2 Onshore Ornithological Designated sites within 10km Figure 23.3 - CONFIDENTIAL Woodlark Observations 2018 Figure 23.4 - CONFIDENTIAL Nightjar Observations 2018 Figure 23.5 Turtle Dove Observations 2018 Figure 23.6 Nightingale Observations 2018 Figure 23.7 Marsh Harrier Observations 2018 Figure 23.8 Other Target Species Observations 2018 Figure 23.9 – CONFIDENTIAL Other Schedule 1 Target Species Records 2018 Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology appendices are presented in Volume 3: Appendices and listed in the table below. Appendix Number Title Appendix 23.1 Onshore Ornithology Bird Surveys 2018 Appendix 23.2 Cumulative Impact Assessment with the Proposed East Anglia ONE North Project EA2-DEVWF-ENV-REP-IBR-000818 Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology iv East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm Preliminary Environmental Information Report Glossary of Acronyms AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty BBPP Breeding Bird Protection Plan BBS Breeding Bird Survey BoCC Birds of Conservation Concern BCT Bat Conservation Trust BTO British Trust for Ornithology CCS Construction Consolidation Site CoCP Code of Construction Practice CIEEM Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management CIA Cumulative Impact Assessment CIRIA Construction Industry Research and Information Association CMS Construction Method Statement CRoW Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 CWS County Wildlife Site DCO Development Consent Order DECC Department of Energy and Climate Change EA Environment Agency EcoW Ecological Clerk of Works EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMF Electro-magnetic fields ES Environmental Statement ETG Expert Topic Group ha hectares HDD Horizontal Directional Drilling HRA Habitats Regulations Assessment ICZM Integrated Coastal Zone Management IOFs Important Ornithological Features IPC Infrastructure Planning Commission JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee km Kilometres LNR Local Nature Reserve LSE Likely Significant Effect LWS Local Wildlife Site NERC Natural Environment and Rural Communities NNR National Nature Reserve NPS National Policy Statements NSIP Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project OCoCP Outline Code of Construction Practice EA2-DEVWF-ENV-REP-IBR-000818 Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology v East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm Preliminary Environmental Information Report OHL Overhead Line PEI Preliminary Environmental Information PEIR Preliminary Environmental Information Report PIDs Public Information Days SAC Special Area of Conservation SoS Secretary of State SPA Special Protection Area SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest EA2-DEVWF-ENV-REP-IBR-000818 Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology vi East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm Preliminary Environmental Information Report Glossary of Terminology Applicant East Anglia TWO Limited. Construction Compounds which will contain laydown, storage and work areas for onshore consolidation sites construction works. The HDD construction compound will also be referred to as a construction consolidation site. Development area The area comprising the Proposed Onshore Development Area and the Offshore Development Area East Anglia TWO The proposed project consisting of up to 75 wind turbines, up to four project offshore electrical platforms, up to one offshore construction operation and maintenance platform, inter-array cables, platform link cables, up to one operational meteorological mast, up to two offshore export cables, fibre optic cables, landfall infrastructure, onshore cables and ducts, onshore substation, and National Grid infrastructure. European site Sites designated for nature conservation under the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive, as defined in regulation 8 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and regulation 18 of the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. These include candidate Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Community Importance, Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas. Evidence Plan A voluntary consultation process with specialist stakeholders to agree the Process approach to the EIA and the information required to support HRA. Horizontal directional A method of cable installation where the cable is drilled beneath a feature drilling (HDD) without the need for trenching. Jointing bay Underground structures constructed at regular intervals along the onshore cable route to join sections of cable and facilitate installation of the cables into the buried ducts. Landfall The area (from Mean Low Water Springs) where the offshore export cables would make contact with land, and connect to the onshore cables. Link boxes Underground chambers or above ground cabinets next to the cable trench housing electrical earthing links. Mitigation areas Areas captured within the Development Area specifically for mitigating expected or anticipated impacts. National Grid A National Grid substation, connection to the existing electricity pylons and infrastructure National Grid overhead line realignment works which will be consented as part of the proposed East Anglia TWO project Development Consent Order but will be National Grid owned assets. National Grid Works required to upgrade the existing electricity pylons and overhead lines overhead line to transport electricity from the National Grid substation to the national realignment works electricity grid National Grid The proposed area for National Grid overhead line realignment works. overhead line realignment works area EA2-DEVWF-ENV-REP-IBR-000818 Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology vii East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm Preliminary Environmental Information Report National Grid The substation (including all of the electrical equipment within it) necessary substation to connect the electricity generated by the proposed East Anglia TWO project to the national electricity grid which will be owned by National Grid but is being consented as part of the proposed East Anglia TWO project Development Consent Order. National Grid The proposed location of the National Grid substation. substation location Natura 2000 site A site forming part of the network of sites made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive. Onshore cable The corridor within which the onshore cable route will be located. corridor Onshore cable route This is the construction swathe within the onshore cable corridor which would contain onshore cables as well as temporary ground required for construction which includes cable trenches, haul road and spoil storage areas. Onshore cables The cables which would bring electricity from landfall to the onshore substation. The onshore cable is comprised of up to six power cables and two fibre optic cables. Indicative onshore The area in which the landfall, onshore cable corridor, onshore substation, development area mitigation areas, temporary construction facilities (such as access roads and construction consolidation sites), and the National Grid Infrastructure will be located. Proposed onshore A refined version of the indicative onshore development area. development area Onshore infrastructure The combined name for all of the onshore infrastructure associated with the proposed East Anglia TWO project from landfall to the connection to the national electricity grid. Onshore substation The East Anglia TWO substation and all of the electrical equipment, both within and connecting to the National Grid infrastructure. Onshore substation The proposed location of the onshore substation for the proposed East location Anglia TWO project. Transition bay Underground structures at the landfall that house the joints between the offshore export cables and the onshore cables. EA2-DEVWF-ENV-REP-IBR-000818 Chapter 23 Onshore Ornithology viii East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm Preliminary Environmental Information Report 23 Onshore Ornithology 23.1 Introduction 1. This chapter of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) considers the potential effects on onshore ornithology associated with the construction, operation and decommissioning of the proposed East Anglia TWO project. 2. The specific objectives of this chapter are to: • Describe the ornithological baseline; • Describe the assessment methodology and significance