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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
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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/.
