Beddington Ornithology Survey Report 2011 MKA Ecology Limited The Holt, 5 The Sidings, Shepreth, Hertfordshire, SG8 6PZ Tel: 01763-262211 Fax: 01763-261001 e-mail: info@mkaecology.co.uk VAT Registration No 825137440 Registered in England no. 5858121Registered office as above www.mkaecology.co.uk Submission Date: May 2012 Author: Oliver Richings Checked by: Will O Connor
CONTENTS MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 2
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MKA Ecology Ltd is commissioned by Viridor Waste Management on an annual basis to undertake an ecological monitoring programme at the Beddington site in south London. The monitoring programme incorporates an ornithological assessment to identify bird species and describe their distribution and use of the site throughout the year. An Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) development has been proposed for the Beddington site. The development footprint falls within the north-eastern corner of the site. The ornithological surveys undertaken at Beddington are considered to provide suitable ecological baseline data for an assessment of the impacts of the proposed ERF in relation to bird species at the site. The ornithological monitoring at Beddington comprises three sections. A survey of wintering and passage bird species was undertaken by MKA Ecology Ltd between July 2010 and March 2011. A breeding bird survey was undertaken by MKA Ecology Ltd between March 2011 and July 2011. These surveys followed standardised survey techniques. A Tree Sparrow nest box scheme is run and monitored by the Beddington Farmland Bird Group at the site. The assessment of wintering and passage birds at Beddington, between 2010 and 2011, shows that the site supported 84 species during this period and of these 48 are considered to be of conservation concern. The footprint of the proposed ERF covers habitats which are likely to support a number of these species of conservation concern including passerines such as Dunnock, Song Thrush, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Linnet and Reed Bunting. Water birds such as Mallard, Snipe and Green Sandpiper are likely to utilise the aquatic habitat present within the development footprint. Other key species such as Teal, Gadwall and Lapwing are likely to use the habitats in close proximity to the proposals. Thirty-three species of bird were recorded breeding or holding territories during the 2011 breeding season at Beddington, 13 of which were considered to be of conservation concern. Six species of conservation concern were recorded breeding or holding territories on or close to the proposed ERF footprint. These species were Dunnock, Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Starling, Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow. Furthermore Reed Warbler, which is a target species at the site, was also recorded holding territories within and close to the proposed development footprint. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 3
2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 Rationale MKA Ecology Ltd is commissioned by Viridor Waste Management on an annual basis to undertake an ecological monitoring programme at Beddington. The purpose of this monitoring programme is to assess changes and impacts, in relation to the landfill operations, on key and target species. The programme of monitoring encompasses a bat and habitat assessment at the site as well as ornithological monitoring. The data gathered during the monitoring programme provides a suitable baseline for an ecological assessment of the impacts of a proposed Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at Beddington. The data presented in this report provides a representation of the ornithological activity during the breeding season in 2011 and the passage/wintering period of 2010/2011. 2.2 Site description The Beddington site is shown in Figure 1 together with the names allocated to the separate compartments within the site. Beddington is located within South London, in the Borough of Sutton, centred on OS grid reference TQ289663. The site is an active landfill and comprises large areas of bare ground as a result of these operations. Peripheral areas are more vegetated with plantation and semi-natural woodland. Undisturbed areas contain early successional and ruderal vegetation. Within the site are two areas managed by Thames Water as part of their sewage treatment operations. These areas, Hundred Acre and South-east Corner, perform a dual function and act as displacement habitats to serve target bird species directly impacted by work taking place within the Beddington Landfill. Aquatic habitats are present and these include open water with two large lakes to the south-west of the site with further areas of open water in the displacement habitats at Hundred Acre and South-east Corner. Smaller areas of swamp and reedbed are also present. Beddington is located within a largely urban environment comprising residential and commercial properties. Although situated within this urban context the site is well connected to local greenspace including Beddington Park directly to the south and Mitcham Common to the north. Beddington is host to an important assemblage of bird species throughout the year with significant assemblages present during the breeding season as well as passage and wintering periods. The site was designated as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation for its populations of bird species which rely on the habitats present. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 4
Conservation management activities at the site are guided by the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) (SLR Consulting Ltd, 2005). Target species are set out within the CMP and these are as follows; Lapwing Redshank Yellow Wagtail Tree Sparrow Little Ringed Plover Ringed Plover Common Tern Water Pipit Green Sandpiper Reed Warbler Sedge Warbler Reed Bunting Furthermore the CMP focuses on other passage and wintering species such as Teal, Shoveler and Snipe. 2.3 Proposed development An ERF has been proposed for the Beddington site. The proposed facility would be located to the north east of Beddington. An existing building, concrete hardstanding and some vegetated habitats are currently present in this location. The location of the proposed development is shown in Figure 1. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 5
Figure 1: Map showing the Beddington site and compartments therein and the location of the proposed ERF facility MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 6
3. METHODS 3.1 Non-breeding bird survey During the 2010/11 non-breeding period (late July 2010 to mid-march 2011) the site was surveyed once per month. Each survey took two days (or a single day with two surveyors) during which a standard route was walked through six traditional count areas. All observed species (other than those clearly not using the site, e.g. birds flying over) were counted and allocated to an area. Maximum and mean numbers of all species were calculated for each count area at the end of the season. The dates of the non-breeding bird survey are shown in Table 3.1 below. Table 3.1: Timetable of non-breeding bird survey visits at Beddington, 2011 Winter/passage surveys 26 27 July 2010 24 25 August 2010 5 6 October 2010 3 4 November 2010 20 21 November 2010 22 23 December 2010 26 January 2011 23 24 February 2011 17 18 March 2011 3.2 Breeding bird survey During the 2011 breeding season (late March to mid-july), standard survey and analysis methods for determining territory clusters from registration maps were used (see Bibby et al., 2000). The survey site was divided into nine key areas to aid assessment of the distribution of bird territories (Figure 1). For each species, all sightings made during the total of eight, two-day survey visits (or a single day with two surveyors) were combined onto a single map, to facilitate analysis of territory clusters. Observations of a species displaying behaviour suggestive of breeding in the same location on a minimum of three visits, or an occupied nest were taken to constitute a confirmed breeding territory. Tree Sparrow was excluded from the territory mapping analysis. Instead, monitoring of the breeding Tree Sparrow population at Beddington was carried out through the analysis of data gathered and supplied by the Beddington Farmlands Bird Group (BFBG) through regular monitoring of nest box use through the breeding season. Tree Sparrow is a semi-colonial nesting species, for which territory mapping analysis is inappropriate. The dates of the breeding bird survey are shown in Table 3.2 below. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 7
Table 3.0: Timetable of breeding bird survey visits at Beddington, 2011 Breeding bird surveys 31 March 2011 7 8 April 2011 27 28 April 2011 12 13 May 2011 25 26 May 2011 16 17 June 2011 28 29 June 2011 7 8 July 2011 MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 8
4. RESULTS 4.1 Non-breeding bird survey A total of 84 species were recorded during the non-breeding survey (see Table 4.1 below). Of these, 48 are species of conservation concern. These included three species listed on Annex I of the EC Birds Directive, 14 UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Priority Species, 14 Greater London BAP (LBAP) Priority Species (London Biodiversity Partnership, 2012), 14 species included in the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) (Eaton et al. 2009), and 34 species included in the Amber List of BoCC. Table 4.1: Max and mean counts for species recorded at Beddington during the non-breeding bird survey. Common Name Systematic name Winter 2010/2011 Conservation status Max count Mean count Mute Swan Cygnus olor 6 2.78 Canada Goose Branta canadensis 66 38.78 Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 2 0.22 Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 7 2.56 Amber List Wigeon Anas penelope 1 0.11 Amber List Gadwall Anas strepera 14 6.22 Amber List Teal Anas crecca 507 213.11 Amber List Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 41 13.89 Amber List Pintail Anas acuta 2 0.22 Amber List Shoveler Anas clypeata 61 32.56 Amber List Pochard Aythya farina 4 1.00 Amber List Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 83 24.11 Amber List Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 2 0.56 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 2 0.33 Annex 1, Amber List Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 70 37.56 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 9 3.22 Amber List Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 84 24.11 Coot Fulica atra 51 29.33 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 78 29.33 UK BAP, Red List, Dunlin Calidris alpina 2 0.33 Red List Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus 1 0.11 Amber List Snipe Gallinago gallinago 33 11.00 Amber List Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 5 0.56 UK BAP, Red List Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 7 1.44 Amber List Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 34 9.22 Amber List Greenshank Tringa nebularia 4 0.44 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 1 0.11 Annex 1, Amber List Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus 11133 5368.67 Amber List ridibundus Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 1 0.22 Annex 1, Amber List Common Gull Larus canus 340 81.89 Amber List Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 247 159.00 Amber List MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 9
Common Name Systematic name Winter 2010/2011 Conservation status Max count Mean count Herring Gull Larus argentatus 6860 3287.89 UK BAP, Red List, Yellow-legged Gull Larus micahellis 3 0.56 Amber List Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans 1 0.22 Great Black-backed Larus marinus 33 5.33 Amber List Gull Magpie Pica pica 25 16.78 Jay Garrulus glandarius 4 1.78 Jackdaw Corvus monedula 330 151.44 Carrion Crow Corvus corone 403 220.78 Goldcrest Regulus regulus 2 0.33 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 30 12 Great Tit Parus major 52 34.44 Coal Tit Periparus ater 10 1.22 Skylark Alauda arvensis 29 3.78 UK BAP, Red List, Sand Martin Riparia riparia 6 0.89 Amber List, House Martin Delichon urbicum 4 0.89 Amber List Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus 26 7.78 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus colybita 16 5.78 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 3 0.44 Amber List Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 15 2.78 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin 1 0.11 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca 5 0.78 Whitethroat Sylvia communis 12 2.67 Amber List Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus 2 0.22 schoenobaenus Reed Warbler Acrocephalus 11 2.22 scirpaceus Nuthatch Sitta europaea 1 0.11 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 26 15.44 Starling Sturnus vulgaris 747 450.33 UK BAP, Red List, Blackbird Turdus merula 23 15.44 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris 64 8.56 Red List Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 12 4.11 UK BAP, Red List, Redwing Turdus iliacus 26 7.67 Red List Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 1 0.11 Amber List Robin Erithacus rubecula 50 21.78 Stonechat Saxicola torquatus 1 0.22 Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 1 0.11 Amber List Dunnock Prunella modularis 32 17.00 UK BAP, Amber List, House Sparrow Passer domesticus 27 11.89 UK BAP, Red List, Tree Sparrow Passer montanus 97 64.22 UK BAP, Red List, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 2 0.22 UK BAP, Red List, Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 6 2.67 Amber List Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba 16 6.89 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 26 9.33 Amber List MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 10
Common Name Systematic name Winter 2010/2011 Conservation status Max count Mean count Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta 4 1.22 Amber List Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 32 13.78 Brambling Fringilla montifringilla 1 0.11 Greenfinch Chloris chloris 40 15.56 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 65 21.67 Linnet Carduelis cannabina 34 12.56 UK BAP, Red List, Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret 2 0.22 UK BAP, Red List, Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1 0.11 UK BAP, Amber List, Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 12 4.67 UK BAP, Amber List, The development footprint of the proposed ERF falls within the Springmead recording area of the Beddington site. Table 4.2 shows the max and mean counts for bird species recorded at Springmead during the winter and passage period of 2010/2011. Table 4.2: Max and mean counts of species recorded in Springmead during the passage and wintering period of 2010/2011 Common Name Systematic name Winter 2010/2011 Conservation status Max count Mean count Canada Goose Branta canadensis 3 0.78 Gadwall Anas strepera 2 0.33 Amber List Teal Anas crecca 82 33.33 Amber List Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 5 1.22 Amber List Shoveler Anas clypeata 1 0.22 Amber List Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 4 1.89 Coot Fulica atra 8 1.00 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 14 1.78 UK BAP, Red List, Snipe Gallinago gallinago 13 3.11 Amber List Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 2 0.56 Amber List Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus 364 81.89 Amber List ridibundus Common Gull Larus canus 6 1.33 Amber List Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus 21 3.44 Amber List Gull Herring Gull Larus argentatus 160 27.33 UK BAP, Red List, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 11 1.78 Amber List Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta 1 0.11 Amber List Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba 1 0.22 Wren Troglodytes 6 1.56 troglodytes Dunnock Prunella modularis 6 2.00 UK BAP, Amber List, Robin Erithacus rubecula 8 2.67 Blackbird Turdus merula 5 2.56 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 2 0.67 UK BAP, Red List, MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 11
Common Name Systematic name Winter 2010/2011 Conservation status Max count Mean count Redwing Turdus iliacus 4 0.44 Red List Reed Warbler Acrocephalus 1 0.11 scirpaceus Whitethroat Sylvia communis 5 0.78 Amber List Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 3 0.33 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus colybita 4 0.67 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 5 1.33 Great Tit Parus major 11 4.78 Jay Garrulus glandarius 1 0.11 Magpie Pica pica 8 3.67 Jackdaw Corvus monedula 114 24.67 Carrion Crow Corvus corone 210 52.22 Starling Sturnus vulgaris 220 29.22 UK BAP, Red List, House Sparrow Passer domesticus 6 0.67 UK BAP, Red List, Tree Sparrow Passer montanus 35 9.67 UK BAP, Red List, Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 3 0.67 Greenfinch Chloris chloris 6 1.22 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 56 9.78 Linnet Carduelis cannabina 2 0.33 UK BAP, Red List, Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 2 0.44 UK BAP, Amber List Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret 2 0.22 UK BAP, Red List, Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca 1 0.11 The data collected during the non-breeding season is only specific to the recording area. It is not possible to ascertain which records correspond directly to the area of the proposed ERF footprint. The habitats that fall within the footprint include woodland, ephemeral vegetation, a small pond with swamp/marginal vegetation and ruderal vegetation. The species which are likely to use these habitats are shown in bold on Table 4.2. Species such as Canada Goose, Gadwall, Teal and Lapwing are likely use habitats which are more open in nature, focussing on the sludge beds and the lakes. Some sludge beds are directly adjacent to the proposed ERF footprint. Table 4.3 shows the species of conservation concern, recorded within the Springmead area, which are likely to use the habitats present within the footprint of the proposed ERF. Table 4.3: 2010/2011 wintering and passage species likely to use habitats in the footprint of the proposed ERF at Beddington Species Sch 1 UKBAP Red List Amber List Mallard Snipe Green Sandpiper Black-headed Gull MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 12
Total territories 2011 Humus Tanks Phase 1/Works South-east Corner South Central Hackbridge Corner Central Main Lake Springmead Hundred Acre Species Sch 1 UKBAP Red List Amber List Herring Gull Meadow Pipit Water Pipit Dunnock Song Thrush Redwing Whitethroat Starling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Linnet Reed Bunting Lesser Redpoll 4.2 Breeding bird survey Eighty-two bird species were recorded at Beddington during the 2011 breeding season. These species are shown in Table 4.4 below. Of these species 33 were considered to be breeding at the site. Table 0.4: Species recorded during the 2011 breeding season at Beddington together with total territory numbers for each survey area, stars denote presence Area Species Little Grebe 1 1 * 2 Cormorant * 0 Grey Heron * * * 0 Mute Swan 1 1 2 Canada Goose 7 1 4 1 * * * 13 Egyptian Goose * * 0 Shelduck * * * * 0 Gadwall 1? * 1 Teal * * * * * * 0 Mallard 2 * * * * * * 2 Shoveler * 0 Tufted Duck * * * * 0 Pochard * 0 MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 13
Total territories 2011 Humus Tanks Phase 1/Works South-east Corner South Central Hackbridge Corner Central Main Lake Springmead Hundred Acre Area Species Red Kite * 0 Sparrowhawk * * 0 Hobby * * 0 Kestrel * * * * 0 Peregrine * * 0 Moorhen 12 3 1 2 8 2 28 Coot 5 1 14 10 * * 30 Oystercatcher * * 0 Avocet * 0 Little Ringed Plover * 1 * 1 Lapwing 12 * * 12 * 24 Snipe * * 0 Redshank * 0 Greenshank * 0 Common Sandpiper * * 0 Green Sandpiper * * * 0 Black-headed Gull * 0 Lesser Black-backed Gull * 0 Herring Gull * 0 Common Tern * 0 Stock Dove * * * * * 0 Woodpigeon * 1 * 2 * 2 * 1 6 Collared Dove 2 * 2 Ring-necked Parakeet * * * * 0 Cuckoo * 0 Common Swift * * * * 0 Kingfisher * * 0 Green Woodpecker * * * 0 Great spotted woodpecker 1 * * * 1 Skylark * * 0 Sand Martin 2 7 9 Barn Swallow * * 0 House Martin * 0 Meadow Pipit * 0 Water Pipit * 0 Yellow Wagtail * * * * * 0 Grey Wagtail * 0 Pied Wagtail * * * * 0 0 * 1 1 Wren 16 13 7 5 3 2 16 6 8 76 Dunnock 11 8 7 5 1 1 10 4 4 51 Robin 6 8 4 1 1 2 5 1 4 32 Wheatear * * * 0 Blackbird 4 3 3 1 4 1 1 17 Fieldfare * 0 MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 14
Total territories 2011 Humus Tanks Phase 1/Works South-east Corner South Central Hackbridge Corner Central Main Lake Springmead Hundred Acre Area Species Redwing * 0 Song Thrush * 2 1 * 2 5 Mistle Thrush * 0 Sedge Warbler * * * 0 Reed Warbler 10 6 2 2 4 24 Lesser Whitethroat * * * 0 Whitethroat 7 11 3 3 1 4 12 4 45 Blackcap 3 5 4 3 1 6 * * 22 Garden Warbler 1 1 Chiffchaff 4 1 1 2 8 Willow Warbler * * * 0 Long-tailed Tit * * * 0 Blue Tit * * 1 * 1 * * 2 Great Tit 6 7 2 2 * * 2 4 1 24 Jay * * * * * 0 Magpie * * * 1 * 1 2 Carrion Crow * 2 * * * 2 Starling * 2 * * 2 House Sparrow * * * * 3 3 Tree Sparrow 1 0 27 7 13 9 8 0 10 0 74 Greenfinch 3 6 * 1 * * 3 1 * 14 Goldfinch * * * * * 0 Linnet * * * * 0 Chaffinch 1 1 2 Reed Bunting 1 2 1 4 Total confirmed territories 2011 109 83 69 20 24 12 92 24 25 458 Notes 1 Surveyed through nest box observations and not treated with those species surveyed by Common Bird Census methods. The values given in the table refer to the number of nest boxes occupied in 2011. Thirteen of the 33 species considered to be breeding at the site are species of conservation concern (see Table 4.5 below). These included one species listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), as amended, seven UK BAP Priority Species, eight Greater London BAP Priority Species, five species included on the Red List of BoCC, and seven species included on the Amber List of BoCC. Table 4.5: Breeding species of conservation concern at Beddington 2011 Species Sch 1 UKBAP Red List Amber List Gadwall Mallard MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 15
Species Sch 1 UKBAP Red List Amber List Little Grebe Little Ringed Plover Lapwing Sand Martin Whitethroat Starling Song Thrush Dunnock House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Reed Bunting Of these species of conservation concern the following held territories within the Springmead recording area; Sand Martin Dunnock Song Thrush Whitethroat Starling Tree Sparrow Reed Bunting Figures 2 to 12, provided in Appendix 1, show the territories of species of conservation concern recorded during the 2011 breeding season at Beddington. A figure is not provided for Sand Martin as this species breeds exclusively at the Sand Martin bank on the North Lake and in an area to the west of Springmead. Figure 13 shows the territories of Reed Warbler which is a target species at the Beddington site. Other species which held territories within, or on the boundary of, the proposed development footprint were; Great Tit (six territories) Robin (six territories) Coot (one territory) Wren (seven territories) Greenfinch (one territory) Moorhen (two territories) Blackbird (one territory) MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 16
Blackcap (two territories) Carrion Crow (two territories) Woodpigeon (one territory) These territories are focussed on the semi-natural woodland directly north of and around the site office, Cuckoo Lane (which forms the boundary of Springmead and Hundred Acre) and the seminatural woodland and trees which are present along the proposed access route for the ERF. Tree Sparrows The Tree Sparrow population at Beddington is monitored by the BFBG. The results of this monitoring for 2011 are shown in Table 4.6 below. The areas highlighted in bold are directly adjacent to or fall within the development footprint of the proposed ERF. Table 4.6: Results of the Tree Sparrow box monitoring at Beddington, 2011 Location Available Used 1 brood 2 broods 3 broods Maurice Stacey Allotments 4 0 0 0 0 Cuckoo Lane 8 0 0 0 0 Eggs Young Per box MEC 15 10 1 3 6 125 102 10.2 Silt lagoon 23 16 3 4 9 180 133 8.3 Oak Beds 2 0 0 0 0 0 Recycling Centre 11 1 1 0 0 5 5 5.0 Lake (N) 21 7 2 2 3 65 57 8.1 Lake (S) 13 9 3 2 4 93 81 9.0 Old Sports Field 27 10 3 5 2 87 76 7.6 Site Office 9 3 1 1 1 30 28 9.3 Pongo Park Mound 3 0 0 0 0 Pylon Beds 29 0 0 0 0 Mile Road 11 8 3 3 2 79 64 8.0 Works 57 10 4 4 2 85 61 6.1 Storm Tanks 19 0 0 0 0 Total 252 74 21 24 29 749 607 8.2 The data show that four areas fall within or are adjacent to the proposed ERF footprint; Cuckoo Lane, Oak Beds, Recycling Centre and Site Office. Of these areas the boxes at Cuckoo Lane and Oak Beds were not used during the 2011 breeding season. Of the boxes at Recycling Centre only one was used. The boxes surrounding the site office were more successful with three boxes used and six broods. A total of 28 young were raised in this area. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 17
5. DISCUSSION The results of the winter and passage bird survey show that a high diversity of species utilise the Beddington site. A total of 84 species were recorded during the non-breeding survey. Of these, 48 are species of conservation concern. These include three species listed on Annex I of the EC Birds Directive, 14 UK BAP Priority Species, 14 Greater London BAP Priority Species, 14 species included in the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern, and 34 species included in the Amber List of BoCC. The survey does not allow a direct assessment of the species using the habitats which fall within the proposed development footprint of the proposed ERF. However, the habitats present within the proposed footprint are likely to support a number of over wintering and passage species which were recorded during the 2010/2011 season. The habitats are likely to provide cover and foraging opportunities for several species of conservation concern including water birds such as Mallard, Snipe and Green Sandpiper which may utilise the pond which falls within the ERF footprint. A wide variety of passerines of conservation concern are likely to use the vegetated habitat within the ERF footprint and these include species such as Dunnock, Song Thrush, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Linnet and Reed Bunting. Areas of sludge bed, which occasionally hold open water, are in close proximity to the proposed ERF footprint and these provide further habitat which is utilised by species of conservation concern during the wintering and passage period. These species include Gadwall, Teal and Lapwing among other key water bird species at the site. The Beddington site supports an important assemblage of breeding birds and a total of 33 species were considered to be breeding at the site in 2011. Thirteen of the breeding species are considered to be of conservation concern and of these the following species were recorded breeding within the Springmead area; Sand Martin Dunnock Song Thrush Whitethroat Starling Tree Sparrow Reed Bunting Sand Martin breed away from the proposed ERF footprint at the Sand Martin bank which is situated at the south-western corner of the Northern Lake. Another colony of Sand Martin is situated within Springmead but this is located at the western edge of this survey area and away from the proposed development footprint. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 18
Dunnock breeds widely throughout the Beddington site and the territories recorded during the 2011 breeding season are shown in Figure 10. Seven Dunnock territories were situated within or close to the proposed ERF facility. These territories are located in areas of semi-natural woodland, ruderal vegetation and scrub. Dunnock is a UKBAP Priority Species and a LBAP Priority Species. Song Thrush held five territories throughout the 2011 breeding season at Beddington. Figure 9 shows that two of these territories fall within or close to the proposed ERF footprint. These territories are associated with areas of semi-natural woodland and the mature trees on the boundaries of the site. Song Thrush is a UKBAP Priority Species and a LBAP Priority Species. Song Thrush is also on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. Whitethroat territories were recorded across the Beddington site in 2011 as shown on Figure 7. A total of five territories were located close to or within the footprint of the proposed ERF. These territories were associated with scrub and areas of ruderal vegetation. Whitethroat is on the Amber List of Birds of Conservation Concern. Two Starling territories were recorded in 2011 at Beddington, (see Figure 8). Both of these territories fall within or close to the footprint of the proposed ERF and these are associated with the mature trees which are present within this location. Starling is a UKBAP Priority Species and a LBAP Priority Species. Starling is also on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. Figure 12 shows that four Reed Bunting territories were held at Beddington in 2011. Two of these territories are within close proximity of the proposed ERF footprint. These territories are associated with the scrubby marginal habitats. Reed Bunting is a UKBAP Priority Species and a LBAP Priority Species. Reed Bunting is also on the Amber List of Birds of Conservation Concern. Reed Warbler is a target species in the Beddington CMP and this species was considered to have held 24 territories at the site in 2011 (see Figure 13). This species is associated with reedbed and marginal habitats and three territories for this species fall within or close to the footprint of the proposed ERF. Tree Sparrow is a target species in the Beddington CMP and it is also UKBAP Priority Species, LBAP Priority Species and included on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. Tree Sparrow breed widely across the Beddington site within boxes which are managed by the BFBG who monitor the breeding success of this species each year. Results for 2011 provided by the BFBG show that four areas included within their monitoring scheme fall within, or in close proximity, to the proposed ERF footprint. Tree Sparrow did not breed in the boxes at Cuckoo Lane or Oak Beds. The boxes at Recycling Centre and Site Office were used. A total of five young were raised in the boxes at Recycling Centre and 28 young were raised in the boxes at Site Office. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 19
Other species of conservation concern were recorded holding territories within Beddington in 2011 and these include Gadwall, Mallard, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing and House Sparrow. Territories for these additional species were not recorded close to or within the proposed development footprint of the ERF. A number of other species held territories within, or close to, the footprint of the proposed ERF. These include passerine species associated with the scrub and trees in this area. These passerine species were Great Tit (six territories), Robin (six territories), Wren (seven territories), Greenfinch (one territory), Blackbird (one territory), Blackcap (two territories) and Carrion Crow (two territories). A single territory for both Coot and Moorhen, both associated with the aquatic habitats, were also recorded in this area. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 20
6. CONCLUSION The assessment of wintering and passage birds at Beddington, between 2010 and 2011, shows that the site supported a high diversity of species during this period. In total 84 species were recorded and of these 48 are considered to be of conservation concern. The footprint of the proposed ERF covers habitats which are likely to support a number of these overwintering and passage species of conservation concern including passerines such as Dunnock, Song Thrush, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Linnet and Reed Bunting. Water birds such as Mallard, Snipe and Green Sandpiper are likely to utilise the aquatic habitat present and other key species such as Teal, Gadwall and Lapwing are likely to use the habitats in close proximity to the proposals. Thirty-three species of bird were recorded breeding or holding territories during the 2011 breeding season at Beddington, 13 of which were considered to be of conservation concern. Six species of conservation concern were recorded holding territories on, or close to, the proposed ERF footprint. These species were Dunnock, Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Starling, Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow. Furthermore Reed Warbler, which is a target species at the site, was also recorded holding territories within the proposed development footprint. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 21
7. REFERENCES Bibby, C.J., Burgess, N., Hill, D.A. & Mustoe, S.H. (2000) Bird Census Techniques (2 nd Academic Press, London. edition). Eaton, M.A., Brown, A.F., Noble, D.G., Musgrove, A.J., Hearn, R., Aebischer, N.J., Gibbons, D.W., Evans, A., & Gregory, R.D. (2009). Birds of Conservation Concern 3: the population status of birds in the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. British Birds 102: 296-341. London Biodiversity Partnership (2012). Webpage accessed May 2012: http://www.lbp.org.uk/londonpriority.html SLR Consulting Ltd. (2005) Beddington Farm Landfill Conservation Management Plan. MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 22
8. APPENDIX 8.1 Appendix 1: Territories held by species of conservation concern and target species at Beddington 2011 MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 23
Figure 2: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Gadwall MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 24
Figure 3: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Mallard MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 25
Figure 4: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Little Grebe MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 26
Figure 5: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Little Ringed Plover MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 27
Figure 6: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Lapwing MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 28
Figure 7: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Whitethroat MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 29
Figure 8: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Starling MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 30
Figure 9: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Song Thrush MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 31
Figure 10: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Dunnock MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 32
Figure 11: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 House Sparrow MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 33
Figure 12: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Reed Bunting MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 34
Figure 13: Beddington Breeding Season 2011 Reed Warbler MKA Ecology Ltd, May 2012 35