A465 Heads of the Valleys Section 2. Ben Ward s Fields & Mitigation Area Survey of Breeding Lapwing, 2017

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1 A465 Heads of the Valleys Section 2 Ben Ward s Fields & Mitigation Area Survey of Breeding Lapwing, 2017

2 A465 Heads of the Valleys Section 2 Ben Ward s Fields & Mitigation Area Survey of Breeding Lapwing, 2017 Document History TITLE: Ben Ward s Fields & Mitigation Area Survey of Breeding Lapwing, 2017 DOCUMENT REF: A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP-R-0019 A IFU B Chilcott K Roberts K Roberts 11/8/17 P1 S3 B Chilcott K Roberts K Roberts 4/8/17 P S3 For Review B Chilcott K Roberts K Roberts 2/8/17 Revision Status/Purpose Description Originated Checked Approved Authorised Date

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4 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION... 2 Background to the study... 2 Study area METHODS LAPWING MITIGATION AREA HABITAT CONDITION/MANAGEMENT RESULTS... 7 Waders... 7 Lapwing... 7 Snipe... 7 Curlew... 7 Non-wader species of conservation interest EVALUATION AND CONCLUSIONS... 9 Waders... 9 Lapwing... 9 Snipe Curlew Non-wader species of conservation interest Habitats in the Mitigation Area REFERENCES TABLES Table 3.1. Species of conservation importance recorded during the survey and their conservation status FIGURES Figure 1. Area surveyed in Figure 2. Lapwing recorded during the survey in Figure 3. Snipe recorded during the survey in A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP-0019 August 2017

5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY RPS was commissioned to carry out a survey of Lapwing breeding within areas subject to construction activity associated with the A465 Section 2 and the adjacent mitigation area, which is being managed under the scheme to improve its value for lapwing. The survey was based on standard methodologies for breeding waders as outlined in Gilbert et al. (1998) and Bibby et al. (2000). Lapwing were recorded during the survey. Two pairs of lapwing were noted displaying over the western fringes of the Ben Wards Fields mitigation area on 12 th April During the second survey visit. one nest-site was identified and a second pair were thought to be nesting in areas slightly to the west of the lapwing mitigation area. On the third survey visit, it was apparent that the two pairs had nested successfully and had moved the chicks onto the mitigation area, where six fledged juveniles and two adult birds were observed flying off and returning to the mitigation area. One other species of wader (Snipe) was recorded but was not considered to be breeding within the survey area. Observations of snipe were similar in pattern to those of the previous years surveys, but slightly higher numbers were noted. Thirteen non-wader species of conservation interest were recorded during the survey. Since RPS commenced surveys of the area, the number of breeding Lapwing pairs has tended to decline from seven in 2012, to four in 2015 and to zero in The successful breeding by two pairs this year is welcome, but is still a very small number, although it is likely to represent a significant proportion of the Heads of the Valleys population (up to 20%). It is hoped that numbers may increase in coming years with continued management of the mitigation area along with the future restoration of the Ben Wards Fields deposition area, all of which is subject of planning conditions attached to planning permission C/2015/0382. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

6 1 INTRODUCTION Background to the study 1.1 RPS was commissioned to carry out a survey of Lapwing breeding within areas known as Ben Wards Fields and adjacent areas, which are subject to construction activity and storage of materials associated with the A465 Section 2 (Gilwern to Brynmawr); and the adjacent mitigation area. This follows surveys of breeding birds undertaken by RPS in 2012, 2015 and 2016 (RPS 2012; 2015, 2016). Study area 1.2 The survey covered the Ben Ward s Fields deposition and mitigation area, located east of Brynmawr between the A465 and the B4248. A map of the survey area is provided in Figure The Ben Wards Fields deposition area was granted planning permission in 2015 (application number C/2015/0382). As a part of the mitigation measures relating to this scheme, a tract of land to the east comprising some 33ha has been brought under management to improve its potential to support wildlife and, in particular, lapwings. Management measures undertaken in the last year are described in section 3 (results) of this report. 1.4 The majority of the survey area consists of rough and marshy grassland bounded by hedgerows or fences, with smaller areas of mixed and coniferous plantation, scrub, ephemeral/short perennial vegetation and bare ground. Shallow ponds created as part of the lapwing mitigation area were also present. To the west, bare ground and disturbed ground habitats associated with the soil deposition operations are present. 1.5 In line with previous monitoring surveys, the survey includes records of all wader species encountered, and also includes brief records of other bird species of interest encountered during the survey. 1.6 This report includes a description of methods in Section 2, results of the survey and habitat monitoring in Section 3and evaluation and conclusions in Section 4. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

7 2 METHODS 2.1 A survey was undertaken based on standard methodologies for breeding waders as outlined in Gilbert et al. (1998) and Bibby et al. (2000). 2.2 The survey area was walked at a slow pace with regular stops to scan for birds and listen for vocalisations in order to locate and identify all individual waders present. All visits took place in appropriate weather conditions (i.e. periods of heavy or persistent precipitation, poor visibility through fog or mist, and high winds were avoided) and visits were undertaken between 05:00 09:30. Each visit commenced soon after sunrise. This complies with the guidance, but in addition also proved to be a period when minimal construction activity and general use of the adjacent Sustrans cycle route was reduced. 2.3 All parts of the survey area were approached to within at least 100 m during each visit. A predetermined survey route was walked but the direction followed was varied between visits, to ensure that all areas were covered at different times of day across the duration of the survey period. 2.4 Three survey visits were undertaken between April and June 2017 as follows: 12 th April 2017; 10 th May 2017; and 22 nd June 2017 (originally scheduled for 14 th June, but postponed due to poor visibility on site). 2.5 All wader species seen or heard were recorded directly onto field maps, with particular attention paid to recording evidence of breeding, e.g. display or song, the presence of nests, eggs or young, repeated alarm calling, distraction displays or territorial disputes, and on recording different individuals of the same species simultaneously, indicating separate breeding territories. 2.6 Data analysis followed procedures detailed in Gilbert et al. (1998). For each species, all sightings recorded during the survey visits were combined onto a single map, to enable analysis of the number of pairs/territories present. 2.7 The following definitions have been used to identify the breeding status of the species recorded: 2.8 Breeding: species for which territories were positively identified as a result of the recording of displaying or singing birds, the presence of nests, eggs or young, birds repeatedly alarm calling, distraction displays or territorial disputes. 2.9 Non-breeding: species observed in suitable breeding habitat but where behaviour indicative of breeding was not observed, and species observed flying over the site but not considered to be breeding within the boundaries of the survey area. This may include species for which no suitable habitat is present, species foraging over the site but nesting outside the boundaries of the site, or those recorded on a single date during the passage period and suspected to be on migration. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

8 2.10 In addition, non-wader species of conservation interest were recorded during the survey. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

9 3 LAPWING MITIGATION AREA HABITAT CONDITION/MANAGEMENT 3.1 A habitat management plan was produced in support of planning permission application number C/2015/0382 (RPS 2016). This included measures to: Control and reduce levels of rush growth in areas where this is prejudicial to use by lapwing Maintaining suitably low stocking/grazing levels during the spring nesting season Creation and maintenance of wet scrapes and wet grassland to increase potential diversity of habitats and improve value for invertebrates, important as food sources for lapwing chicks. 3.2 During 2016/2017 the following management activities have been undertaken: Improvement of the four lapwing scrapes initially formed winter 2015 each scrape has been enlarged as much as possible, consistent with maintaining a shallow cross section within the existing topography. Where possible the scrapes capacity to hold water has been improved by increased connectivity with the ditch-line which is present on the mitigation area. Rush cutting activities where initiated in March 2016 prior to nesting season and were further undertaken in autumn 2016 after the ground-nesting bird season. In addition, weed-wiping was undertaken in very early March 2017 after a review to ensure no ground-nesting bids had begun to use the area. Further rush management is scheduled for autumn 2017, after nesting is completed. This will include further flailcutting and potentially weed-wiping. In addition, the placement of a temporary small piped section will be put into the ditch to improve access across this to the north east section of the mitigation area by machinery. In autumn 2016, in order to try and reduce opportunities for corvid perching and persecution of ground nesters and lapwings, fence posts which provide vantage and view-points over the mitigation area were fitted with anti-perching spikes as used in many urban locations to deter birds. These were placed on fence-lines on the brow of the hills. Grazing pressure was monitored during the nesting season of 2017 during each of the survey visits and at no time did it exceed the recommended rate of 1 stock unit per hectare through the nesting season. At its highest level (late July), the mitigation area of 33ha was stocked with 25.8 units, consisting of 19 cows, 5 calves, 5 ponies and 8 sheep. 3.3 Management has resulted in improvement of habitats, and continued rush treatment should improve the situation further please see the photographs below. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

10 Anti-corvid/bird spikes installed November 2016 Scrapes and rush cutting November 2016 Rush treatment and scrapes February 2017 A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

11 4 RESULTS Waders Lapwing 4.1 Lapwing were recorded during the survey. Four individuals were noted carrying out initial display flights over areas on the western margins of the Ben wards Fields mitigation area on 12 th April, although no nesting behaviour was identified, with birds probably investigating potential nesting sites. See Figure Nesting activity by one pair was identified on the second visit, and the second pair of lapwings were noted in the area, although a second nest-site could not be located. 4.3 On the third visit, the chicks had apparently been moved to the south and east and were discovered on the Mitigation area, were they were able to fly. On this occasion, six juveniles and two adult birds were observed taking off from and flying over the mitigation area as shown in Figure Lapwing generally lay four eggs, and are not thought to rear more than one brood in a year. The presence of six fledged juveniles along with the previous presence of two pairs observed on the previous survey visits, strongly suggest that both pairs were, at least in part, successful in breeding young this year. Chicks are particularly vulnerable during the early migration between the nest and alternative feeding areas prior to fledging. 4.5 Productivity of lapwings is normally expressed by recording the number of active nests the proportion of active pairs with chicks, and the number of young reaching half adult size divided by the number of breeding pairs. For 2017 this would be expressed as: Snipe Number of active nests: 2 Proportion of active pairs with chicks (2 pairs both with chicks) = 100% Number of young reaching half adult size/number of breeding pairs = 6/2 = Four birds were recorded during the survey. All were recorded on 12 th April, two within the mitigation area and two immediately adjacent to its western boundary. As in previous years, no behaviour indicative of breeding was observed. All individuals recorded are thought to either be birds breeding nearby (e.g. at Waunafon Bog) or to be birds on migration. A map showing the location of snipe is shown in Figure 3. Curlew 4.7 No curlew were recorded during this year s survey visits. A single bird was recorded in 2016, but was thought to be a bird on migration. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

12 Non-wader species of conservation interest 4.8 During the wader survey the following 13 additional (non-wader) species of conservation interest were noted. Table 3.1 lists the species recorded and their conservation status. This compares to 17 such species recorded in Table 3.1. Species of conservation importance recorded during the survey and their conservation status. Species Species of Principal Importance 1 Birds of Conservation Concern 2 Cuckoo Red (UK & Wales) Swift Amber (UK & Wales) Skylark Red (UK), Amber (Wales) Swallow Amber (UK & Wales) Meadow Pipit Amber (UK & Wales) Dunnock Amber (UK & Wales) Song Thrush Red (UK), Amber (Wales) Mistle Thrush Amber (UK & Wales) Willow Warbler Amber (UK), Red (Wales) Long-tailed Tit Amber (Wales) Coal Tit Amber (Wales) Starling Red (UK & Wales) House Sparrow Red (UK), Amber (Wales) Local BAP Priority Species No species afforded special statutory protection under Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC) or under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981, as amended 1985) were recorded during the survey Nine species were recorded that are included on the list of Species of Principal Importance prepared under Section 42 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006; 17 species were recorded that are included within the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) Red and Amber Lists for the UK (Eaton et al., 2015) and Wales (Anon. 2009); and three priority species within the Monmouthshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) (Monmouthshire Biodiversity Partnership 2005) were recorded. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

13 5 EVALUATION AND CONCLUSIONS Waders Lapwing 5.1 In 2012 seven pairs of Lapwing were located within the Ben Ward s Fields area. Breeding success was seemingly low (only one or two territories remained occupied on the second survey visit on 21 st May 2012 and no Lapwing were present on the third survey visit on 11 th June 2012). 5.2 At the time of the survey in 2012, the Welsh population was thought to number approximately 600 pairs with the local, Heads of the Valleys, area holding 60 pairs (RSPB 2010) and Gwent holding approximately 220 pairs (Venables et al. 2008). 5.3 The estimate of seven pairs present within and, immediately adjacent to, the survey area in 2012 therefore represented 1.2% of the Welsh population, 3.2% of the Gwent population and 11.7% of the Heads of the Valley population (RPS 2012). 5.4 In 2012, the area occupied by Lapwing was subjected to low levels of disturbance from traffic along the minor Blaen-afon Road to the south, and cyclists and pedestrians (including dogwalkers) using the Sustrans route which crosses an area in which the Lapwing were breeding. 5.5 In 2015 four pairs of Lapwing were located during the survey of the Ben Ward s Fields area. Whilst breeding success was seemingly low (three pairs appeared to fail early in the breeding season and vacated the site), one pair was present throughout the survey and exhibited behaviour suggestive of young being present on 16th June (probably from a second breeding attempt/brood). 5.6 At the time of the survey in 2015, the Welsh and local Gwent populations (including part of the Heads of the Valleys population) had continued to decrease in abundance and distribution. The Gwent population was estimated at a minimum of just 41 pairs (Coleman 2014) of which nine were in the Heads of the Valleys area. 5.7 Therefore, the estimate of four or five pairs present within the survey area in 2015, was considered to represent more than 1% of the Welsh population, and more than 5% of the Gwent and Heads of the Valleys populations (RPS 2015). 5.8 During the survey in 2015, an area in the northwest of the survey area was being used as a soil storage area as a part of the main Heads of the Valleys Section 2 scheme. Disturbance from the heavy vehicle movements associated with the soil moving and storage and was minimised by means of the area being fenced with screening material to reduce visual disturbance. As in 2012, the area occupied by Lapwing was also subjected to low levels of disturbance from traffic along the Blaen-afon Road, and cyclists and pedestrians using the Sustrans route which crosses one of the areas in which Lapwing were breeding. 5.9 In 2016 no Lapwing were recorded. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

14 5.10 The local and Welsh populations are still thought to be declining. The local Gwent population (including part of the Heads of the Valleys population) has continued to decrease in abundance and distribution, with a minimum of just 23 pairs recorded in Coleman (2015), none of which were in the Heads of the Valleys area, although this may reflect the under-recording of Lapwing away from sites adjacent to the Severn Estuary In 2016, additional parts of the survey area were scheduled for use for soil storage in 2016 and, to reduce the possibility of Lapwing occupying these areas, alarm calls were employed as an exclusion technique. Alarm calls were played at high volume by a member of staff traversing the fields within the planned soil storage areas. The area covered included much of the survey area with the exception of the mitigation area. This may account for lack of lapwing activity on the site in As during previous surveys, the survey area also subjected to low levels of disturbance from traffic along the Blaen-afon Road and cyclists and pedestrians using the Sustrans route The successful breeding of 2 pairs in 2017 may represent up to 20% of the Heads of the Valleys populations. Lapwing productivity was reasonably high in relation to the extremely low numbers and can be expressed as 3, being the number of chicks reaching at least half adult size/number of breeding pairs The lack of breeding success in previous years has also been attributed to reduced success in defending nest sites against predators, particularly corvids. In 2017, it was noted during the survey visits that the adult lapwings were frequently mobbed by corvids whenever they were in the air during the first two survey visits. On the final visit the chicks had been moved to the south-east onto the Mitigation Area, and while the adults and fledged juveniles were flying there was noticeably less interaction with corvids in this location While it is clearly not possible to provide any certainty on the basis of a single observation, the location at which the lapwing were observed coincided with areas in which bird deterrent spikes had been placed on fence-poles in autumn 2016 in an effort to reduce opportunities for corvids to perch and observe potential prey. It will be interesting to see if this is a real trend which continues in future survey seasons The successful breeding by two pairs of lapwing this year suggests that the location maintains features and habitats which lapwings favour for breeding. The nearby earth-works associated with the Heads of the Valleys Section 2 at Ben Wards Fields does not seem to be a significant deterrent to lapwing nesting activity. At its closest, the works were approximately 200m from the confirmed nesting location Snipe 5.17 No Snipe were recorded during the breeding bird survey in During the 2015 breeding bird survey two Snipe were recorded on 9 th April 2015 and one on 23 rd April No further birds were recorded during the survey. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

15 5.19 During the 2016 survey three Snipe were recorded on 7th April. No further birds were recorded during the survey. In 2017 four birds were recorded during the first visit only (12 th April) and were not seen again No behaviour indicative of breeding was recorded; all birds located during the surveys are thought to be birds breeding locally but outside of the survey area, or to be birds on, or yet to begin, migration to their breeding areas. Curlew 5.21 No Curlew were recorded during the surveys undertaken in 2012, 2015 or During the 2016 survey a single bird was recorded on 9th May. This individual is thought to have been a bird on migration. Non-wader species of conservation interest 5.23 In 2016, 17 species (excluding waders) were recorded that meet at least one of a range of criteria relating to conservation importance. During the surveys carried out in 2017, 13 species of conservation importance were recorded. This is considered potentially to be a result of changes in the survey team, rather than a real reduction in species diversity across the site Due to differences in the areas covered during the surveys undertaken in 2012, the number of species of conservation importance is not directly comparable with those of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 surveys. Habitats in the Mitigation Area 5.25 Habitat management of the Ben Wards Fields mitigation area is under way and being carried out in line with the management plan. Condition of scrapes has been improved substantially over the season, with increased area and improved water-holding ability Rush reduction is notoriously difficult to achieve, but as the photographs show, the measures undertaken so far have made noticeable inroads into the worst areas. This improvement should be maintained with further management activity. The aim should not be for total rush eradication, but to achieve a balance of rush clumps, with a mosaic of more open grassland areas and some areas of denser rush available for cover and predator evasion by chicks. The mitigation area currently supports good areas of all these habitats, albeit still currently dominated by dense rush areas, which will benefit from continued efforts to reduce them Grazing levels have remained completely appropriate for the area and in line with the levels set out in the management plan. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

16 6 REFERENCES Bibby, C.J., Burgess, N.D., Hill, D.A. & Mustoe, S.H. (2000). Bird Census Techniques: 2nd edition. Academic Press, London. Coleman, J. (2014). Gwent Bird Report Gwent Ornithological Society. Abergavenny, Gwent. Coleman, J. (2015). Gwent Bird Report Gwent Ornithological Society. Abergavenny, Gwent. Eaton, M., Aebischer, N., Brown, A., Hearn, R., Lock, L., Musgrove, A., Noble, D., Stroud, D., & Gregory, R. (2015). Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the population status of birds in the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. British Birds 108: EU (2009). On the Conservation of Wild Birds. Council Directive 2009/147/EC. EC, Brussels. Gilbert, G., Gibbons, D.W. and Evans, J. (1998). Bird Monitoring Methods: A manual of techniques for key species. RSPB/BTO/JNCC/WWT/ITE/The Seabird Group. RSPB/BTO, Sandy, Bedfordshire. Monmouthshire Biodiversity Partnership (2005). Monmouthshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Monmouthshire County Council, Cwmbran. RPS (2012). A465 Section 2 Gilwern to Brynmawr: Survey of birds in the breeding season Unpublished report. RPS (2015). A465 Section 2: Survey of breeding Lapwing Unpublished report. RPS (2016). A465 Section 2: Proposed Earthworks for A465 Heads of the Valleys Section 2, Gilwern to Brynmawr Ben Wards Fields, Brynmawr: Lapwing Habitat Management Plan for Mitigation Area. Unpublished report. RPS (2017) A465 Section 2: Survey of Breeding Lapwing Unpublished report. RSPB (2009). The population status of birds in Wales 2. Welsh Ornithological Society, British Trust for Ornithology, Welsh Assembly Government, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Countryside Council for Wales and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Cardiff. RSPB (2010). Heads of the Valleys Lapwing Project. accessed on 29 November The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006). HMSO, London. The Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981). HMSO, London. Venables, W.A,, Baker, A.D., Clarke, R.M., Jones, C., Lewis, J.M.S., Tyler, S.J., Walker, I.R. & Williams, R.A. (2008). The Birds of Gwent. Gwent Ornithological Society/Christopher Helm, London. A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP August 2017

17 FIGURES Figure 1. Area surveyed in A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP-0019 August 2017

18 Legend Path: O:\7400b A465 HoV Section 2 ES Coordination\Tech\Drawings\ mxd Survey Area Survey Area Boundary Figure: Date: 1 Revision: JULY 2017 Drawn: CR 0 Scale: 1:8, m Status: - DRAFT Checked: BC ± Crown copyright and database right 2017.Ordnance Survey Welsh Government. Hawlfraint a hawliau cronfa ddata'r Goron Rhif Trwdded yr Arolwg Ordnans dwg ref:

19 Figure 2. Lapwing recorded during the survey in 2017 A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP-0019 August 2017

20 Legend Mitigation area Ben Wards Fields Deposition Area Approximate area of Lapwing display flights (12/04/2017) x1 - confirmed nest site (11/05/17) x2 - approximate location of 2nd nest site (11/05/17) x3 - location of fledgling site (22/06/17) x1! x2! Path: O:\7400b A465 HoV Section 2 ES Coordination\Tech\Drawings\ mxd x3! Lapwing Recorded During 2017 Survey Figure: Date: 2 Revision: JULY 2017 Drawn: CR 0 Scale: 1:8, m Status: - DRAFT Checked: BC ± Crown copyright and database right 2017.Ordnance Survey Welsh Government. Hawlfraint a hawliau cronfa ddata'r Goron Rhif Trwdded yr Arolwg Ordnans dwg ref:

21 Figure 3. Snipe recorded during the survey in A465HOV2-RPS-EBD-30-RP-0019 August 2017

22 Legend Mitigation area Ben Wards Fields Deposition Area Snipe locations (12/04/2017)!?!?!?!? Path: O:\7400b A465 HoV Section 2 ES Coordination\Tech\Drawings\ mxd!? Snipe Recorded During 2017 Survey Figure: Date: 3 Revision: JULY 2017 Drawn: CR 0 Scale: 1:8, m Status: - DRAFT Checked: BC ± Crown copyright and database right 2017.Ordnance Survey Welsh Government. Hawlfraint a hawliau cronfa ddata'r Goron Rhif Trwdded yr Arolwg Ordnans dwg ref: