Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
international), which corresponds with SNH policy (2006) which states that: “SNH will not
normally object to a windfarm proposal on account of purely local impacts, if the impacts are
not avoidable by reasonable means, if they do not result in any wider impact on the regional
population, and provided the impacts do not affect populations protected within a designated
site”. These conditions highlighted by SNH have been considered in the impact assessment
process so that no potentially significant effects are omitted.
12.3 Baseline Information
Sources of Data
12.3.1 The predicted effect of the proposed wind farm on VORs was assessed based on information
in the published scientific literature, literature not subject to peer review and expert
judgement.
12.3.2 Estimations of the possible extent and duration of effects are based on studies and key
review papers in the scientific literature on ornithology and wind farms (e.g. Langston and
Pullan, 2003; Drewitt and Langston, 2006). Disturbance and displacement distance ranges
used in this assessment have been based on published reports and papers including
Ruddock and Whitfield (2007) and Pearce-Higgins et al. (2009). Estimations of regional
populations have been gathered and interpreted from most recent published reports such as
Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme annual reports (e.g. Etheridge et al. 2012) and Forrester
et al. (2007).
Baseline Conditions
Ecological Sensitivity Appraisal, Desk Study and Consultation
12.3.3 Between the initial Ecological Sensitivity Appraisal and the more detailed Desk Study several
sites designated for their nature conservation interests were identified within up to 20 km
from the Camilty site. Further details of those sites which are designated for their
ornithological interests are provided below.
12.3.4 In terms of the ornithological value of the site itself this was generally considered to be low
and was expected to support a reasonably limited variety of common bird species throughout
the year. However, the Lothian and Borders Raptor Study Group identified that the woodland
and immediately surrounding habitats have the potential to support goshawk and short-eared
owl and that merlin, osprey, peregrine and long-eared owl had been recorded in the wider
Camilty area in recent years. The appraisal also identified that overwintering waterfowl such
as pink-footed geese may also pass over the site during migration or when commuting
between nearby roosting and foraging grounds.
12.3.5 More recent consultation with Lothian and Borders Raptor Study Group revealed more
detailed and up to date information about breeding raptors at this site. Further details of
which is provided in the Confidential Ornithology Appendix.
12.3.6 Contact was also made with other nature conservation bodies to obtain any relevant data to
inform the baseline situation of bird usage at Camilty. A summary of this correspondence is
shown below in Table 12.8.
March 2013 12-15 ES Chapter 12
Ornithology
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