SUMMARY REPORT Of WOODLARK Lullula arborea SURVEYS On LAND AT BILSTHORPE BUSINESS PARK & CUTT’S WOOD BILSTHORPE, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE March – May 2014 Waxwings Ornithology Sunnybank Cottage Ruston Parva Driffield East Yorkshire YO25 4DG Report Prepared by; Completed; David M. Pearce (Consultant Ornithologist) 19th May 2014 Waxwings Ornithology Sunnybank Cottage Ruston Parva Driffield East Yorkshire YO25 4DG Telephone (01377) 254775 Mobile 07867 642501 Email [email protected] On behalf of; Argus Ecology Unit 14 The Greenhouse Greencroft Industrial Park Annfield Plain County Durham DH9 7XN Survey Address; Bilsthorpe Business Park Bilsthorpe Nottinghamshire 1. INTRODUCTION Waxwings Ornithology was commissioned by Argus Ecology in February 2014 to undertake surveys to determine the presence or absence of breeding Woodlark Lullula arborea at two adjacent sites in Nottinghamshire in spring 2014. This summary report presents results of Woodlark surveys undertaken at Bilsthorpe Business Park, a restored colliery site, and an area of old clear-fell on the western side of Cutt’s Wood, c.1km north-west of the Business Park in March, April and May 2014. The survey was commissioned with regard to the proposed Bilsthorpe Energy Centre (BEC) development being promoted by Peel Environmental Management UK Limited and Bilsthorpe Waste Limited at Bilsthorpe Business Park and potential impact upon the local population of Woodlark in the Sherwood Forest area; Woodlark were reported to have bred successfully within two kilometres of both sites in 2010 (SLR 2013). In addition, a full list of bird species recorded at both sites on each survey visit is contained in a separate spreadsheet. 1.1 Status of Woodlark in Britain The current breeding distribution of Woodlark in Britain includes strongholds in Devon, the New Forest, the Thames Basin and East Anglia with populations also now present in the West Midlands, northern England and South Wales (Balmer et al 2013). Woodlarks breed in a variety of habitats usually on acidic, sandy soils, providing a mosaic of short vegetation and bare ground where birds forage, longer vegetation where birds nest and isolated or scattered trees from which birds sing. Traditional habitats include lowland heathland, downland, rough pasture and woodland clearings, but in recent decades, clear-felled and re-planted conifer plantations have become second in importance only to heathlands. Breeding territories are comparatively large, often exceeding three hectares (Brown & Grice 2005) and birds can be present on breeding territories by mid-February, remaining until late July. In Britain the Woodlark is currently an amber listed species of conservation concern, listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and also a United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan species. The 1997 national Woodlark survey (Wotton & Gillings 2000) revealed an increase in the number of occupied territories in Nottinghamshire from one to 30 since 1986, with success partly attributed to increases in breeding success but also range expansion due to felling and re-planting of forestry plantations, providing the open ground with scattered bushes that the species favours (Parkin & Knox 2010). The most recent population estimate of 3064 territories in Britain was derived from the 2006 national Woodlark survey and included the largest regional increase in range at the 10 kilometre square level in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire (Conway et al 2009). Furthermore, the breeding distribution in Britain has expanded by 107% in range up to 2008 – 2011 including consolidation in the Thames Basin and East Anglia and further expansion into central and northern England (Balmer et al 2013). 1.2 Summary of Relevant Legislation with Regard to Birds The primary legislation affecting wild birds in England and Wales is the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) as amended. The basic principle of this act is that all wild birds, their nests, and eggs are protected by law and some rare species are afforded additional protection from disturbance during the breeding season. The Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) states that ‘it is an offence, with certain exceptions, to: 1. intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird, 2. intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built, 3. intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird, 4. intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building or is in, on or near a nest with eggs or young; or disturb the dependant young of such a bird.’ 1.3 United Kingdom Conservation Status of Birds The fourth major review of the status of birds occurring in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man – Birds of Conservation Concern 3 (Eaton et al 2009) presents lists of conservation concern based on assessments using objective listing criteria and most recent data. The listing criteria assess global conservation status, historical population decline, recent population decline (numbers and geographical range), European conservation status, rarity, localised distribution, and international importance of populations. Lists are denoted Red, Amber and Green in a simple ‘traffic light’ system to provide a single, easily understood measure for each species to convey concern and hence to help set priorities for conservation action. Species are assigned to each list depending upon the scale of population decline and concern which includes breeding and non-breeding populations. Red list criteria – Severe population decline over 25 years/longer term. Amber list criteria – Moderate population decline over 25 years/longer term. Green list criteria – Species not currently considered of conservation concern United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan Bird Species are those identified as being the most threatened and requiring conservation action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) and included on a list of priority bird species, initially created between 1995 and 1999, and subsequently updated in response to the Species and Habitats Review Report published in 2007. The UK BAP has recently (July 2012) been succeeded by the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework which is focused at a country-level rather than at a UK-level with the list of priority bird species remaining an important reference source for bird conservation. 2. METHODOLOGY Three visits were made to each site from early March to early May 2014. Survey visits were undertaken by David M. Pearce, an experienced field ornithologist, with extensive experience of recording Woodlark in Britain including migrant and breeding birds in various habitats in Norfolk, Hampshire and Yorkshire over the past thirty five years and also extensive survey experience for this species at sites within the Norfolk core breeding area in the Breckland region between March 2010 and June 2011. Equipment used - binoculars (10 x 42 magnification) and shoulder pod mounted telescope (22 x 60 magnification). Each site was covered comprehensively on each survey visit, covering all habitats and areas within the site boundary and survey routes were reversed on each subsequent visit to alleviate recording bias. No survey constraints were identified. Survey visits followed standard methodology which recommends three visits between mid-February and the end of May, visits falling within the following time periods: visit 1 from 15th February to 21st March, visit 2 from 22nd March to 25th April and visit 3 from 26th April to 1st June. Visits to be made before midday on clear, dry days with little wind. Areas should be covered to within 100m of every point within the survey boundary, recording the position of all singing males (birds which sing are assumed to be males), flying birds, feeding pairs (any pairs observed assumed to be one male and one female), possible nests and adults feeding chicks (Gilbert, Gibbons & Evans 1998). Table 1. Survey Visit Schedule Bilsthorpe Business Park Visit Date Time Weather Conditions 1 05/03/2014 0655 – 1015 F2 SW wind, 7/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cold, occasional bright intervals, no rain 2 08/04/2014 0625 – 0945 F2 SW wind, 4/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cool, sunny intervals, no rain 3 08/05/2014 0620 – 0940 F2 SW wind, 8/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cool, occasional bright intervals, no rain Cutt’s Wood 1 05/03/2014 1015 – 1145 F2 SW wind, 7/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cold, occasional bright intervals, no rain 2 08/04/2014 0945 – 1115 F2 SW wind, 4/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cool, sunny intervals, no rain 3 08/05/2014 0940 – 1110 F2 SW wind, 8/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cool, occasional bright intervals, no rain 3. RESULTS Results of the Woodlark survey visits to Bilsthorpe Business Park and Cutts Wood revealed no Woodlarks present at either site on any of the survey visits. All bird species were recorded for each site during the survey visits and these results are presented in a separate spreadsheet to show the numbers recorded and categories of conservation concern for each species. Totals of 53 bird species were recorded at the Bilsthorpe Business Park site and 32 at the Cutts Wood site over three visits to each site location. 4. DISCUSSION Although the restored colliery site at Bilsthorpe Business Park includes several habitat types including short vegetation and bare ground, longer vegetation and scattered trees which Woodlark require for breeding and foraging the overall habitat quality for breeding Woodlark is considered to be very low. One of the main reasons for this largely relates to soil type within the site boundary which as a restored former colliery site does not consist of light, dry, sandy soils preferred by this species. The national Woodlark survey in 2006 identified a fairly consistent association for Woodlark breeding territories and soil type, with between 70% and 100% of territories associated with sandy soils within the Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire areas (Conway et al 2009). In addition, areas of grassland across much of the site are largely improved and intensively managed, further reducing potential breeding and foraging opportunities for Woodlark.