1.4. Comparison of Survey and WeBS Data

94. The high tide WeBS data, which cover the period 2014 – 2018 (Skateraw to Dunglass – corresponds to Sectors A and B) and 2015 – 2020 (East Barns to Skateraw – corresponds to Sectors B and C), included the following information:

•         Five-year average monthly counts for each species;
•         Five-year peak monthly counts for each species;
•         Five-year peak counts for both autumn and winter and the month in which they were recorded in; and
•         Details of the international and national importance of the sectors for each species.

95. No low tide count data were available for the area.
96. WeBS count data were obtained from the BTO for the most recent high tide datasets gathered from the survey area which most closely corresponded to Survey Areas 1 and 2. These are the East Barns to Skateraw and the Skateraw to Dunglass count sectors. East Barns to Skateraw data were collected between 2015/2016-2019/20 however the most recent Skateraw to Dunglass data collected was in 2017/18 so data used is between 2014/2015 – 2017/2018.
97. Table 7 to Table 15 present the monthly and overall five year mean peak counts from the relevant count sectors. It is important to note that these count sectors extend further than the intertidal and nearshore survey count sectors (see Figure 4) and therefore are likely to include a higher number of species and records. These should be read in comparison with Table 2 to Table 6 in Section
98. The WeBS data lists 24 species for the East Barns to Skateraw count sector and 26 species for Skateraw to Dunglass. This is lower than the number recorded during the 2020 - 2021 bird surveys. However, the additional species are all represented in very low numbers in the survey data, suggesting that the Survey Area is of negligible importance for them. It also reflects in some instances, the slightly larger offshore extent of the Survey Area.
99. Counts within the Skateraw to Dunglass sector were also only conducted between November and January inclusive.

Waterfowl

100. Larger peak counts of wigeon (146 - December), common scoter (70 - September) and mallard (47 – December) were recorded in the WeBS sectors. This corresponds with the survey data (wigeon – 84, March 2021, common scoter – 47, June 2021 and mallard – 48 November 2020).
101. As with the intertidal and nearshore bird survey data, eider were recorded regularly but in relatively small numbers with a peak of 25 in January.
102. Shelduck were recorded regularly in small numbers within the breeding season which also corresponds with the survey data collected over 2020 - 2021.
103. Goldeneye, goosander, red-breasted merganser and teal also occurred within the WeBS sector, although all were recorded rarely and/or in very small numbers. This corresponds with the intertidal and nearshore survey data which showed low numbers of goldeneye and red-breasted merganser and occasional records of goosander and teal.

Table 7:  Monthly Five-year Peak Mean Counts of Waterfowl Recorded within the WeBS High Tide Count Sector – East Barns to Skateraw

Table 8:  Monthly Five-year Peak Mean Counts of Waterfowl Recorded within the WeBS High Tide Count Sector – Skateraw to Dunglass (N/C = no count)

Wading Birds

104. Oystercatcher was the most abundant and consistently present wading bird species within the WeBS sectors, as was found during the intertidal and nearshore bird surveys. Monthly mean peak counts typically range between approximately 17 and 138 individuals. This corresponds very closely with the combined sector counts for the intertidal and nearshore bird Survey Area as a whole and supports the conclusion that the coastal habitats of the Survey Area are of low to moderate importance for this species. Indeed, the peak count of 138 individuals was well below the 1% threshold of national importance, which is 2,900 individuals.
105. Turnstones also occur within the WeBS sectors throughout most of the year with monthly mean peak counts ranging between lows of fewer than 10 individuals to the highest counts of between 50 and the peak of 95 birds. This also corresponds very well with the combined counts for intertidal and nearshore bird Survey Area as a whole and supports the conclusion that the coastal habitats of the Survey Area are of low to moderate importance for turnstone. The WeBS five-year peak mean count of 95 birds represented only 0.23% of the Great Britain population. The 1% threshold of national importance is set at 400 individuals.
106. Curlew, ringed plover, dunlin and redshank all occur within the WeBS sectors for much of the year, particularly the non-breeding season, but in relatively high numbers with peak counts of 58, 83, 114 and 138 birds respectively. This corresponds reasonably well with the combined counts for the intertidal and nearshore bird Survey Area as a whole and supports the conclusion that the Survey Area is of low to moderate importance for these species. All four species had five-year peak mean counts well below the 1% threshold of national importance.
107. Grey plover, purple sandpiper, sanderling and bar-tailed godwit regularly occur within the WeBS sectors. However, numbers are generally low with peak counts of 28, 6, 19 and 12 birds respectively. This corresponds reasonably well with the combined counts for the intertidal and nearshore bird Survey Area as a whole and supports the conclusion that the Survey Area is of low importance for these species. The WeBS five-year peak mean counts for grey plover, purple sandpiper, sanderling and bar-tailed godwit were below the 1% threshold of national importance.
108. Knot and golden plover were recorded occasionally and in small numbers in the WeBS sectors. Although the number of counts corresponds well with the survey data, occasional larger counts were recorded during the 2020-2021 surveys. The WeBS five-year peak mean counts for knot and golden plover were below the 1% threshold of national importance.
109. Whimbrel, snipe and woodcock were recorded rarely in small numbers on WeBS counts. This corresponds well with the intertidal and nearshore survey data.

Table 9:  Monthly Five-year Peak Mean Counts of Wading Birds Recorded within the WeBS High Tide Count Sector - East Barns to Skateraw

Table 10:  Monthly Five-year Peak Mean Counts of Wading Birds Recorded within the WeBS High Tide Count Sector - Skateraw to Dunglass

Divers and Grebes

110. Red-throated divers were only recorded in November and January with no counts conducted between February and October and therefore no comparison was possible with the 2020 – 2021 survey data.

Table 11:  Monthly Five-year Peak Mean Counts of Divers and Grebes Recorded within the WeBS High Tide Count Sector - Skateraw to Dunglass

Gulls and Terns

111. With only one month of counts included in the WeBS data, no comparison was possible for gulls and terns with the 2020 – 2021 survey data.

Table 12:  Monthly Five-year Peak Mean Counts of Gulls and Terns Recorded within the WeBS High Tide Count Sector - East Barns to Skateraw

Table 13:  Monthly Five-year Peak Mean Counts of Gulls and Terns Recorded within the WeBS High Tide Count Sector - Skateraw to Dunglass

Other Seabirds

112. Cormorants occur within the WeBS sectors throughout the year with larger numbers recorded within the Skateraw to Dunglass Sector. Although these counts are much lower than numbers recorded within the 2020 – 2021 surveys, it is important to remember that the Survey Area covers a larger offshore area than the WeBS count sectors.
113. Shags were only counted between November and January so no full comparison can be made, however similar numbers were recorded during the 2020 – 2021 surveys.
114. There were no records of other seabirds in the WeBS data as these species are not assessed by WeBS.

Table 14:  Monthly Five-year Peak Mean Counts of Seabirds Recorded within the WeBS High Tide Count Sector - East Barns to Skateraw

Table 15: Monthly Five-year Peak Mean Counts of Seabirds Recorded within the WeBS High Tide Count Sector - Skateraw to Dunglass.

Overview

115. Overall, the WeBS data suggest that the coastal habitats of the Survey Area support a similar diversity and abundance of waterbird species to that recorded by the 2020-2021 intertidal and nearshore bird surveys. Therefore, the intertidal and nearshore bird survey data are considered to provide a comprehensive and robust baseline, identifying the diversity and abundance of the birds occurring within the Survey Area.

1.5.        Characterisation of the Export Cable Corridor Beyond the Nearshore Environment to the Berwick Bank Wind Farm

1.5. Characterisation of the Export Cable Corridor Beyond the Nearshore Environment to the Berwick Bank Wind Farm

116. The characterisation of bird abundance and distribution for this section of the export cable corridor (beyond 1.5km of the shoreline) used a combination of:

• Desk study of pre-existing published data, notably Waggit et al. (2019)[4] , Wakefield et al. (2017)[5] , Cleasby et al. (2020)[6] and European Seabird at Sea (ESAS) data;
• Datasets used in the designation of the Outer Firth of Forth and St. Andrews Bay Complex SPA provided by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and NatureScot; and
• Aerial survey data for the section falling within the 16km aerial survey buffer (see Figure 1), including ‘hot and cold spot’ mapping completed by RPS using a 14km buffer during the design process for Berwick Bank.

117. In addition, consideration was given to contextual data, notably bathymetry, fish spawning grounds and benthic habitats, as potential influences on bird distribution and abundance.
118. For ease of reference, available datasets were reviewed using the online web portal ‘Osprey Online’ that has been developed as part of RPS’s input into the Berwick Bank project.
119. The results of the desk study review characterising bird interests of the export cable corridor are given in Table 16.

Table 16:  Characterisation Export Cable Corridor Bird Interest for Qualifying Species of the Outer Firth of Forth and St. Andrews Bay Complex SPA

1.6.        Summary of Survey Results of the Intertidal and Nearshore Habitats Specifically in Relation to Outer Firth of Forth and St. Andrews Bay Complex SPA