2015 12 - katie clark

Identification of wintering waterbird high tide roosts on the Severn Estuary (Brean Down to Clevedon)Katie Clark

Severn Estuary TeamSomerset, Avon and Wiltshire

The Severn Estuary European Marine Site

The Estuary supports a wide range of habitats and species of International importance for nature conservation, and is designated as:

SACSPARamsarSSSI

http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/3977366

The Severn Estuary SPA features

WeBs data

• Natural England uses WeBS data for site management and in Habitats Regulation Assessments to determine whether a proposed development plan or project could result in impacts on SPA features.

• WeBS data is assigned to sectors as a whole, and not to the individual roost site.

The High Tide Roost Study

• Natural England commissioned James Latham (an independent Ecological Consultant) to carry out a study to:

• (a) identify the locations of any waterbird high tide roost sites between Brean Down and Clevedon; and

• (b) characterise the habitat(s), waterbird composition and any existing sources of human disturbance associated with each roost site.

Study Area

The study area was sub-divided into four sectors:

• Brean Down to Anchor Head

• Anchor Head to Sand Point

• Sand Point to the River Yeo confluence

• The River Yeo confluence to Clevedon

13411

14451

60402

14401

13402

60420

60422

60426

14402

60401

14404

61405

14413

60419

15404

15407

15405

14412

15413

14403

14454

14455

13404

14406

60350

14408

13415

13403

15406

60040

1440914411

61408

14415

60041

60404

Methods

Waterbird and roost data was collected from the following sources:

• WeBS core count (ie, high tide) data supplied by the BTO;

• interviews with the WeBS counters for the study area;

• Individual site visits with the WeBs counter to each of the sectors within the study area.

Results

35 high-tide waterbird roost sites were identified by this study: • 20 (57%) support mixed

flocks of waterbirds

• 9 (26%) support waders only

• 3 (8.5%) support wildfowl only

• 3 (8.5%) support gulls only

Results

Results

Description of Habitat/Feature/

SPA

Q

S

SPA

Q

A

SSSI Substrate

Shelduck L 20-50 100 PossibleDunlin L 10-200 100 Possible

Redshank L 100-200 100 YesWigeon L Oct-20 100 -

Teal L 20-50 100 -Knot N-L 01-Oct 50 -

Black-tailed godwit

N-L 01-May 50 -

Bar-tailed godwit

N-L 0-3 10 -

Dunlin L 10-200 50 Possible

Redshank L 100-200 50 YesMallard N-L 20-50 100 -Dunlin L May-20 75 No

Ringed plover L May-20 75 -Sanderling N-L 0-6 Variable -Shelduck L Oct-20 100 No

Dunlin L Oct-20 50-75 NoRedshank L 100-200 50-75 Yes

Teal L Oct-50 100 -

1FST 31190

57210Mixed

waterbirdSaltmarsh Possible

1DST 33820

58290Mixed

waterbird

Saltmarsh margins (all species) and open water

(mallard only)

Possible

1EST 31000

58630Wader Sandflats Possible

Percentage presence at

roost site (%)2

SPA Primary Roost3

Significant Existing

Disturbance4

1CST 33630

58490Mixed

waterbird

Saltmarsh and associated

creek/channelPossible

Roost ID

Grid Referenc

e

Roost Type

Species Composition

StatusNumber of birds1

How is this report being used?

• The report has improved our evidence base for the SPA features in this area, and has so enabled us to give more tailored advice to proposed plans or projects in this area

In particular we will use the data to inform:

• the route of the proposed England coast path along this stretch

• The Severn Estuary Wintering Wader Refuge Area Plan and/or other Mitigation Measures for potentially disturbing activities.

Future Work

Natural England have just commissioned the next two phases of the study

• Clevedon to Oldbury• Bridgwater Bay

• We are also linking in with the The ‘Coming Home to Roost Project’, part of ‘A Forgotten Landscape – Restoring the Heritage of the Lower Severn Vale Levels’ partnership. Further information is available at http://www.aforgottenlandscape.org.uk/.

For more information please contact:

Katie Clark katie.clark@naturalengland.org.uk

Colin Leppard colin.leppard@naturalengland.org.uk