In order to understand any potential impact on birds from the proposed offshore wind farm, it was vital to undertake a number of differing bird surveys over a prolonged period of time.
As a result, these surveys have provided Scira with research data: the locations, numbers and movements of birds around the Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm site and the north Norfolk coast.
Bird Surveys
Scira designed an intensive 2 year bird survey programme, with advice from Natural England and the RSPB, which included the following types of surveys:
Boat-based Surveys:
Boat based surveys were started in 2004 with the frequency of one to three times a month, depending on the season. Observations are carried out by a 2 person team and followed the protocol of the COWRIE, (Collaborative Offshore Wind Research Into the Environment) – The Crown Estate guidelines.
A total of 29 boat-based surveys were carried out between March 2005 and February 2006.
Aerial Surveys:
Aerial Surveys of the Greater Wash (GW) Strategic Area, including the Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm site, were undertaken from November 2004 to August 2005. They were carried out by the Wetland Advisory Service (WAS) of the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust (WWT) for the DTI.
Radar Surveys:
Radar surveys were carried out during October 2004 and September 2005. The equipment used was located close to the sea level onshore at Weybourne providing an unobstructed view of the offshore area. This provided us with an indication of bird movement and behaviour through the site during autumn migration.
Results of the Surveys:
Although the surveys showed relatively few numbers of birds using or flying through the area, bird species were assessed in relation to their risk of collision and the level of potential disturbance and displacement from the area during construction and operation. This concluded that no single species would be likely to incur impacts that were considered to be significant.
During the surveys, species of note included Sandwich and Common Terns, Little Gulls and Razorbills, Gannets, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Guillemots.
In order to minimise disturbance during operation and to reduce any possible barrier effect, the wind farm will be designed so that the corridors between the rows of turbines are orientated in the main flying direction of the north Norfolk Tern population which travel between breeding sites on the coast and foraging areas of sea to the north east of the wind farm site.
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