ANNEX C: Breeding Bird Survey, Coxford Abbey Quarry Report prepared by Norfolk Wildlife Services Ltd on behalf of Longwater Gravel Ltd. November 2012 Reference: 2012/022 Table of contents 1. Background .................................................. 1 2. Methodology ................................................ 1 2.1. Desktop Study....................................... 1 2.2. Bird Survey ........................................... 2 3. Results ......................................................... 2 3.1. Bird habitats present ............................. 2 3.2. Desktop survey ...................................... 3 3.3. Bird Survey ........................................... 3 Bird species of principal biodiversity concern ..................................................... 5 Protected bird species .............................. 6 Species of local significance ..................... 6 3.4. Limitations ............................................. 7 4. Summary ...................................................... 7 5. References .................................................. 7 6. Appendices .................................................. 8 NORFOLK WILDLIFE SERVICES 2 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY / BACKGROUND / DESKTOP STUDY CURRENT VERSION DATE :18/12/12 1. Background Report produced by Client details Chris Smith / John Williamson Simon Smith Norfolk Wildlife Services Longwater Gravel Co. Ltd. Longwater Business Park Bewick House Costessey 22 Thorpe Road Norwich Norwich NR5 0JS NR1 1RY NORFOLK NORFOLK Tel 01603 743767 Tel 01603 625540 Fax 01603 747302 Fax 01603 598300 1.1. Norfolk Wildlife Services was contacted by Longwater Gravel Co. Ltd. in May 2012 with regard to undertaking a bird survey at Coxford Abbey quarry near Fakenham which is proposed for extension. The proposed extension areas surround the existing main quarry and are divided into 4 separate zones: West extension, North extension, East extension and South extension. 1.2. Following the initial ecological assessment of the quarry owned by Longwater Gravel Co. Ltd. (NWS 2010) it was recommended that full bird surveys were carried out if works were to be conducted during the bird breeding season, particularly considering the site’s proximity to Syderstone SSSI. 1.3. The work was completed by John Williamson between the 6th and 21st July 2012. The contract was managed by Chris Smith of Norfolk Wildlife Services. Norfolk Wildlife Services is a member of the Association of Wildlife Trust Consultancies (AWTC) which is also a corporate member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). 1.4. The work involved the following elements: Conduct a modified Common Bird Census survey of site to identify bird interest; Make recommendations for enhancement for wildlife; Complete a report detailing the above 2. Methodology 2.1. Desktop Study 2.1.1. A review of the existing reports from prior to commencement of work on the planning application was made. 2.1.2. Desktop records for protected species were searched from three sources: Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) record systems Norfolk Biological Information Services (NBIS) records www.nbis.org.uk National Biodiversity Network www.nbn.org.uk 2.1.3. Any records from within 1km of the site were included for the assessment of possible presence of bird species on the site. NORFOLK WILDLIFE SERVICES 1 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY / BACKGROUND / DESKTOP STUDY CURRENT VERSION DATE :18/12/12 2.2. Bird Survey 2.2.1. A visual assessment was made of the habitats on site. These are described below and on Map 2 ‘Key Features’. 2.2.2. A bird survey was completed to identify species present in the area surrounding the main Coxford Abbey quarry. The survey used a modified Common Bird Census method. 2.2.3. Three separate surveys were made of the site, each comprising two day’s field work. The surveys were timed to be 7-10 days apart, and each commencing at 06.00 BST. Table 1 : Summary of survey visits to land surrounding Coxford Abbey quarry Date Areas covered Weather 06/06/12 N, E & W 90-100% cloud cover, mod S wind, 13ºC 07/06/12 S 90% cloud cover, light/mod S wind, 13ºC 13/06/12 N, E & W 10% cloud cover, light SW wind, 6 - 15 ºC 14/06/12 S 90% cloud cover, light SE wind, 8 ºC 20/06/12 N, E & W 30-40% cloud cover, 0-1 variable wind, 10-17 ºC 21/06/12 S 100% cloud cover, 3-4 S wind, 12 ºC 3. Results 3.1. Bird habitats present 3.1.1. The site is located less than 1km south of the village of Syderstone, and 8km West of the town of Fakenham, grid reference TF828310. The main quarry is accessed from the B1454. Existing sites 3.1.2. The main existing workings consist of bare sand and gravel as well as areas of ruderals and weeds. North Extension 3.1.3. This was largely planted Corsican pines Pinus nigra with some beech Fagus sylvatica along the southern edge. Leylandii were present in variable numbers. There was an extensive understorey present comprising largely of mixed rowan, sycamore, oak, birch and sweet chesnut. The ground cover was mostly comprised of fern with some bramble and grasses. South Extension 3.1.4. Mature open Corsican pine woodland was present in the northern most part of this area, with similar semi-mature woodland in the southern part. There was also some elder understorey present across the extension. Ground cover comprised of fern, nettles and bramble. A rough grass strip of approximately 40m across divided the woodland. West Extension 3.1.5. This extension area was bare pig fields at about 70% occupancy. East Extension 3.1.6. This section comprised of approximately 90% haylage with a small close conifer plantation in the south-east corner with some elder understorey and ground cover of nettle. A narrow strip of bare ploughed land was present along the north-east perimeter. NORFOLK WILDLIFE SERVICES 2 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY / RESULTS / BIRD SURVEY CURRENT VERSION DATE :18/12/12 Adjacent habitats 3.1.7. The North extension area directly borders with Syderstone Common SSSI to the NE, separated from the site by the B1454. The South extension area borders directly with County Wildlife Site 589 – Coxford Meadows. The area also has a number of other County Wildlife Sites within 1.5km of the site, including CWS 591 – Sydestone Common North, CWS 1270 – Wicken Pond and CWS 1255 – Tattersett Marsh. 3.2. Desktop survey 3.2.1. The following species records were found during the desktop survey conducted for the planning application (NBIS 2012). Table 2 : Desktop Search results – Protected Species Protected Species Location details Source Barn Owl 2009 Location in Syderstone village TF831326 and Syderstone National Biodiversity Network Common TF8232 between 2003 and 2008. Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Nightjar Syderstone Common SSSI; a regular breeder at the site in small Norfolk Wildlife Trust site numbers; Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) red listed, and management plan (2009) listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Woodlark Syderstone Common SSSI; a regular breeder at the site in small Norfolk Wildlife Trust site numbers; BoCC red listed and listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife management plan (2009) and Countryside Act, 1981. Willow Tit Recorded on Syderstone Common at TF8232 between 2003 and NBIS 2010. BoCC Red Listed and Priority BAP species. Marsh Tit Recorded on Syderstone Common at TF8232 during 2010. BoCC NBIS Red Listed and Priority BAP species Lesser Redpoll Recorded on Syderstone Common at TF8232 during 2008. BoCC NBIS Red Listed and Priority BAP species Common Bullfinch Recorded on Syderstone Common at TF8232 in 1995 and 2005. NBIS Priority BAP species. 3.3. Bird Survey 3.3.1. The results of the bird survey are summarised in Table 3. 3.3.2. Thirty-one bird species were observed displaying breeding bird behaviour on site e.g. singing, territorial displays or disputes, or carrying food, building materials or faecal sacs. 3.3.3. In addition to the confirmed breeding species listed in Table 3, a further twenty species w ere observed on site. A list of these species can be seen in Table 4. Table 3 : Confirmed breeding species, Coxford Abbey quarry. Common Latin Name Estimated Conservation Observations Name Number of Status Territories on Site Blackbird Turdus merula 3 - 5 Recorded in conifer woodland in the North and South extension areas. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 10 - 14 Frequently recorded in North, East and South extension areas, particularly along the NW woodland edge in the South extension, facing the main quarry. Blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus 2 - 3 One territory located in N extension area, with another possible 1-2 in South area. NORFOLK WILDLIFE SERVICES 3 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY / RESULTS / DESKTOP SURVEY CURRENT VERSION DATE :18/12/12 Common Latin Name Estimated Conservation Observations Name Number of Status Territories on Site Buzzard Buteo buteo 1 Potential breeding pair with fledged young in South extension area. Carrion Crow Corvus corone 1 - 3 Observed in North and South extension areas. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 15 - 21 Large number of territories recorded in North and South extensions, and occasional records from the East extension. Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 3 - 7 Recorded in Northern extension. Coal tit Periparus ater 3 - 5 Recorded in North, East and South extension areas. Goldcrest Regulus regulus 4 - 5 Recorded in North and South extension areas. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 1 Breeding territory in West extension area. Great Spotted Dendrocopos major 1 Breeding territory in North extension area. Woodpecker Great Tit Parus major 0