6. Discussion

6.1 Nature Conservation Designations

6.1.1 Overview

As identified in Section 4.1.1 Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA lies immediately east of Site, with the nearest point directly east of the Site. The SPA is designated primarily for migratory and over wintering species of which five species, black-headed gull, common gull, eider, herring gull and gannet, were recorded during the wintering bird survey.

The Firth of Forth SPA lies 5.9 m north of the Site is designated for a number of migratory and over-wintering species of which a total of nine species, cormorant, curlew, eider, golden plover, grey plover, oystercatcher, pink-footed goose, redshank and wigeon, were recorded during the wintering bird survey.

St Abb's Head to Fast Castle SPA lies 6.9km south-east of the Site and is designated only for its breeding seabirds and is not considered further with respects to wintering birds.

Forth Islands SPA is designated primarily for breeding species but it also qualifies due to the presence of a number of migratory species, one of which, gannet, was recorded during the wintering bird survey.

6.1.2 Evaluation

The Proposed Development lies directly west of the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA but is over 5.5 km from the other SPAs. The proximity of Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA means works may have the possibility to impact on birds within this protected site due to visual and noise disturbance. These impacts are likely to be short term and temporary in nature but will need to be taken into consideration in the development process.

Pink-footed geese, large gulls and golden plover are known to range long distances to forage during both the breeding and non-breeding seasons, meaning in addition to the potential impacts caused by the proximity of protected sites the Proposed Development may impact on gulls, pink-footed geese and golden plover away from protected sites at foraging or roosting sites.

The presence of these long ranging species means there is the potential for connectivity between the Site and the SPA and Ramsar sites and there is a potential for activities associated with the Proposed Development’s construction and operation to result in adverse effects on the qualifying interests and conservation objectives of specific qualifying features. Consequently, a Habitat Regulations Appraisal (HRA) screening exercise was completed and a Report to Inform an Appropriate Assessment (RIAA) was undertaken to assess these potential impacts (ITPE, 2022).

6.2 Species

6.2.1 Peregrine and Merlin

Peregrine and merlin are both Schedule 1 and Annex 1 species and are legally protected accordingly.

A small number of records were made during the winter months and primarily well away from any potential works areas. This means it is unlikely that individuals of these species will be impacted by the works.

6.2.2 Red / Amber Listed / SPL and LBAP Species

The Site contains a number of different habitats which provide suitable habitat for a range for roosting and foraging for a number of wintering wildfowl, wader and coastal species as well as lowland, farmland, and woodland passerine species.

Of the 47 species recorded, redwing, fieldfare and snow bunting are afforded protection the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), the highest level of protection for breeding birds in the UK, 13 of the recorded species are Red listed on the BoCC and a further 13 are Amber listed; of these 47, 19 are also SPL priority species and, as such, are species of conservation concern.

The presence of this wintering bird assemblage is typical of lowland areas around the coastline of Scotland and given the large areas of similar habitat stretching to the north and south of the Site it is considered that impacts on these species will be limited to visual and noise disturbance and species will likely relocate elsewhere until the works are complete.

7. References

East Lothian Council (2017a): East Lothian Biodiversity Action Plan 2008 to 2013. Available online at: https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/27787/technical_note_10_planning_for_biodiversity.pdf (accessed February 2022).

East Lothian Council (2017b): Biodiversity. Available at: https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210569/countryside_and_wildlife/12104/biodiversity (accessed February 2022).

Eaton MA, Aebischer NJ, Brown AF, Hearn RD, Lock L, Musgrove AJ, Noble DG, Stroud DA and Gregory RD (2015). Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the population status of birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. British Birds 108, 708–746. Available online at: www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/BoCC4.pdf (accessed February 2022).

Gilbert G, Gibbons DW & Evans J (2011). Bird monitoring methods, a manual of techniques for key UK species. RSPB, Sandy, Bedfordshire UK.

ITPEnergised (2021). Berwick Bank Ecological Desk Study. Unpublished.

ITPEnergised (2022). Berwick Bank Report to Inform an Appropriate Assessment. Unpublished.

JNCC (2018) SPA Description - Firth of Forth. Available online at http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1979.

NatureScot (2020). SiteLink Map Search. Available online at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/map

NatureScot & JNCC (2021). Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex Special Protection Area (SPA): Draft Conservation Objectives. Joint publication: NatureScot & JNCC, Nov. 2021. Available online at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10478

Scotland’s Environment Interactive Map. Available online at: https://map.environment.gov.scot/sewebmap/ (accessed February 2022).

Scottish Government (2013). Scottish Biodiversity List. Version 1.5. Available online at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Wildlife-Habitats/16118/Biodiversitylist/SBL (accessed February 2022).

Stanbury A, Eaton M, Aebischer N, Balmer D, Brown A, Douse A, Lindley P, McCulloch N, Noble D and Win I (2021). The status of our bird populations: the fifth Birds of Conservation Concern in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man and second IUCN Red List assessment of extinction risk for Great Britain. British Birds 114: 723-747. Available online at https://britishbirds.co.uk/content/status-our-bird-populations (accessed February 2022).

Annex A – Desk study results

Table A1 – Desk study results

Vernacular Name	Scientific name	EU Birds Directive: Annex 1	Schedule 1 Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981	Scottish Priority List	Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) 4
Lesser Redpoll	Acanthis cabaret			X	Red
Common Redpoll	Acanthis flammea				Amber
Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis		X
Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus
Marsh Warbler	Acrocephalus palustris		X		Red
Sedge Warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus			X
Common sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos				Amber
Skylark	Alauda arvensis			X	Red
Razorbill	Alca torda				Amber
Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	X	X	X	Amber
Little Auk	Alle alle
Pintail	Anas acuta				Amber
Teal	Anas crecca				Amber
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos				Amber
European White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons albifrons
Greylag Goose	Anser anser				Amber
Pink-footed Goose	Anser brachyrhynchus				Amber
Snow Goose	Anser caerulescens
Bean Goose	Anser fabalis			X	Amber
Rock Pipit	Anthus petrosus
Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis				Amber
Water Pipit	Anthus spinoletta				Amber
Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis			X	Red
Swift	Apus apus			X	Amber
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
Turnstone	Arenaria interpres				Amber
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus	X		X	Amber
Long-eared Owl	Asio otus
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris
Pochard	Aythya ferina			X	Red
Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula				Green
Scaup	Aythya marila		X	X	Red
Waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus
Brent Goose	Branta bernicla				Amber
Greater Canada Goose	Branta canadensis
Barnacle Goose	Branta leucopsis	X		X	Amber
Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula				Amber
Buzzard	Buteo buteo
Rough-legged Buzzard	Buteo lagopus
Lapland Bunting	Calcarius lapponicus		X		Amber
Sanderling	Calidris alba				Amber
Dunlin (schinzii race)	Calidris alpina schinzii	X			Amber
Baird’s Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii
Knot	Calidris canutus				Amber
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea				Amber
Purple Sandpiper	Calidris maritima		X	X	Amber
Little Stint	Calidris minuta
Ruff	Calidris pugnax	X	X	X	Red
Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis
Black Guillemot	Cepphus grylle				Amber
Treecreeper	Certhia familiaris
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius		X
Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula				Red
Black Tern	Chlidonias niger	X	X		Green
Black-headed gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus			X	Amber
Dipper	Cinclus cinclus				Amber
Hen Harrier	Circus cyaneus	X	X	X	Red
Long-tailed Duck	Clangula hyemalis		X		Red
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes			X	Red
Stock Dove	Columba oenas				Amber
Raven	Corvus corax
Hooded Crow	Corvus cornix			X
Quail	Coturnix coturnix		X		Amber
Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus			X	Red
Blue Tit	Cyanistes caeruleus
Whooper swan	Cygnus cygnus	X	X	X	Amber
Mute swan	Cygnus olor				Amber
House Martin	Delichon urbicum				Amber
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos major
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	X			Green
Reed Bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus			X	Amber
Shore Lark	Eremophila alpestris		X		Amber
Robin	Erithacus rubecula
Merlin	Falco columbarius	X	X	X	Red
Peregrine	Falco peregrinus	X	X	X
Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus			X	Amber
Pied flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca				Red
Red-breasted Flycatcher	Ficedula parva	X
Puffin	Fratercula arctica				Red
Brambling	Fringilla montifringilla		X	X
Coot	Fulica atra
Fulmar	Fulmarus glacialis				Amber
Snipe	Gallinago gallinago				Amber
Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Black-throated Diver	Gavia arctica	X	X	X	Amber
Great Northern Diver	Gavia immer	X	X	X	Amber
Red-throated Diver	Gavia stellata	X	X	X	Green
Crane	Grus grus	X			Amber
Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus				Amber
Swallow	Hirundo rustica				Green
Storm Petrel	Hydrobates pelagicus	X		X	Amber
Little Gull	Hydrocoloeus minutus		X		Green
Red Grouse	Lagopus lagopus
Red-backed Shrike	Lanius collurio	X	X	X	Red
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus			X	Red
Common Gull	Larus canus				Amber
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus				Amber
Iceland Gull	Larus glaucoides				Amber
Glaucous Gull	Larus hyperboreus				Amber
Great black-backed Gull	Larus marinus				Amber
Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica	X		X	Amber
Linnet	Linaria cannabina			X	Red
Twite	Linaria flavirostris			X	Red
Grasshopper warbler	Locustella naevia			X	Red
Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra		X
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica	X	X
Jack Snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus				Green
Velvet Scoter	Melanitta fusca		X		Red
Common Scoter	Melanitta nigra		X	X	Red
Smew	Mergellus albellus	X		X	Amber
Goosander	Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator
Bee-eater	Merops apiaster		X
Red Kite	Milvus milvus	X	X	X	Green
Gannet	Morus bassanus				Amber
Pied Wagtail	Motacilla alba
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea				Red
Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava			X	Red
Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata			X	Red
Curlew	Numenius arquata			X	Red
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus		X		Red
Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe				Green
Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus		X		Red
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	X	X	X	Amber
Great Tit	Parus major
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus			X	Red
Tree sparrow	Passer montanus			X	Red
Grey Partridge	Perdix perdix			X	Red