Creag Riabhach Wind Farm: 2012-13 Ornithology and Protected Mammal Surveys

Quality Control

Method steps

1. Flight activity surveys were undertaken following the methodology detailed in the SNH guidance document "Survey Methods for Use in assessing the Impacts of Onshore Wind farms on Bird Communities" current at the time (SNH 2010). Watches were undertaken from several vantage point (VP) overlooking the survey area and surrounding area between September 2012 and August 2013 inclusive, in order to map flight activity of target bird species. A minimum of 36 hours of observations was completed or exceeded at each VP location for each discrete season. The breeding bird survey involved three survey visits covering the core survey area and 500m buffer zone between April and June 2013 using the a variation of the Brown and Shepherd (1993) survey method designed to record upland breeding waders. The method was adapted such that all birds seen or heard (i.e. not only waders) were recorded, including their behaviour. A survey to determine the presence of protected mammals was conducted within the core survey area indicated in Figure 5.1 between 1st and 4th March 2013. This survey targeted otter, water vole, badger, red squirrel, pine marten and Scottish wildcat, although signs or observations of other species were also to be recorded. The survey was completed by an experienced mammal ecologist, and followed standard methodologies (Chanin 2003a; Chanin 2003b; Strachan et al. 2011; SNH 2001). A camera trap was also employed to aid detection of cryptic species such as wildcat and pine marten. As the core survey area itself offered poor habitat for these species, the trap was located in the best habitat nearby in order to detect their presence in the wider area. In addition, any field signs or observations of protected species were to be recorded during other ecology and ornithology survey routines completed between August 2012 and August 2013.