Seagreen Wind Energy Ltd July 2012 Seagreen Firth of Forth Offshore Wind Farm Development Offshore Transmission Assets Project - Ornithological Technical Report NIRAS Consul ti ng Ltd Reg. No.: 07470870 T: +44 (0)1223 370181 Sheraton House, Castle Hill England & Wales F: +44 (0)1223 370040 Cambridge CB3 0AX, UK www.niras.com/uk @: tno@ni ras .c om Contents Glossary ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1. I ntr oduc ti on ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1. The Seagreen Project .............................................................................................................................. 6 1.2. Avifauna of the Firth of Forth region ..................................................................................................... 6 1.2.1. Seabirds .......................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.2. Coastal species – waders and wildfowl ........................................................................................ 7 1.3. Tec hnical Repor t O bj ec ti ves ................................................................................................................... 8 2. Assessment Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 11 2.1. Over vi ew of Sur veys.............................................................................................................................. 11 2.1.1. Intertidal Vantage Point Survey (ECR corridor) ......................................................................... 11 2.1.2. Offshore Boat-Based Survey (offshore Firth of Forth Zone)..................................................... 11 2.1.3. Offshore Aerial Survey (offshore Firth of Forth Zone) .............................................................. 11 2.2. Other Data Sources and Informati on................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1. ESAS databas e .............................................................................................................................. 12 2.2.2. Foraging ranges............................................................................................................................ 12 2.2.3. Individual tracking of selected bird species ............................................................................... 13 2.2.4. Wetland Bird Survey (export cabl e route) ................................................................................. 13 2.2.5. Reference works .......................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.6. Species populations and conservation status............................................................................ 14 2.3. Summary of application of data sources ............................................................................................. 14 3. The Existing Environment .............................................................................................................................. 14 3.1. Seagreen Project ECR corridor desk study .......................................................................................... 14 3.2. Intertidal Vantage Point Survey (ECR corridor)................................................................................... 16 3.3. Offshore Boat-Based Survey (offshore Firth of Forth Zone) .............................................................. 18 3.4. Offshore Aerial Survey (offshore Firth of Forth Zone)........................................................................ 20 3.5. Offshore Aerial data – analysis of ECR corri dor .................................................................................. 21 3.6. Wetland Bird Survey Data .................................................................................................................... 23 4. Defini ng s peci es i mportance ......................................................................................................................... 24 5. Transmission Asset Project: Important Ornithological Receptors.............................................................. 26 5.1. Species Accounts – OSPs and HV cabl es.............................................................................................. 30 5.1.1. Gannet .......................................................................................................................................... 30 5.1.2. Ful ma r........................................................................................................................................... 30 5.1.3. Manx shearwater ......................................................................................................................... 31 2 5.1.4. Shag............................................................................................................................................... 31 5.1.5. Kittiwake ....................................................................................................................................... 32 5.1.6. Herring gull ................................................................................................................................... 33 5.1.7. Lesser black-backed gull .............................................................................................................. 34 5.1.8. Gr ea t blac k-backed gull ............................................................................................................... 34 5.1.9. O ther gull s peci es......................................................................................................................... 35 5.1.10. Terns ............................................................................................................................................. 35 5.1.11. Skuas ............................................................................................................................................. 36 5.1.12. Guillemot ...................................................................................................................................... 36 5.1.13. Razorbill ........................................................................................................................................ 37 5.1.14. Puffin............................................................................................................................................. 38 5.1.15. Divers ............................................................................................................................................ 39 5.1.16. Wildfowl ....................................................................................................................................... 39 5.1.17. Wading bi rds ................................................................................................................................ 40 5.2. Species Accounts – ECR corridor seaward element............................................................................ 40 5.2.1. Gannet .......................................................................................................................................... 40 5.2.2. Ful ma r........................................................................................................................................... 40 5.2.3. Manx shearwater ......................................................................................................................... 40 5.2.4. Shag............................................................................................................................................... 41 5.2.5. Kittiwake ....................................................................................................................................... 41 5.2.6. Herring gull ................................................................................................................................... 41 5.2.7. Lesser black-backed gull .............................................................................................................. 41 5.2.8. Gr ea t blac k-backed gull ............................................................................................................... 41 5.2.9. Terns ............................................................................................................................................. 41 5.2.10. Guillemot ...................................................................................................................................... 41 5.2.11. Ra zorbill ........................................................................................................................................ 42 5.2.12. Puffin............................................................................................................................................. 42 5.3. Species Accounts – ECR intertidal / nearshore element .................................................................... 42 5.3.1. Gannet .........................................................................................................................................