Ecology and Ornithology

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) was consulted to review the proposed methodology for assessing ecological issues. The assessments carried out included habitat, breeding birds, geese, bats, and mammals. The main findings of the surveys:-

Habitat: The proposed erection of three wind turbines and the construction of a short section of new track is likely to present a very low significance level of direct impact on low sensitivity habitats present within the immediate development area.

Bats: The woodland on the site provides good bat foraging habitat. The development of the wind cluster will not require any removal of trees or vegetation. No bats were recorded on the higher open ground where turbines will be located.	Otter: No signs of otter were observed during surveys of the water courses on site.
Badger: Suitable habitat exists within the study area for badgers in the form of woodland, hedgerows and ditches. However no signs of badger were recorded.	Raptors (birds of prey): None were recorded breeding or were observed in the general area during surveys.
Wintering birds: Very low bird activity levels were recorded in the study area. No overwintering raptors of concern were noted and no overwintering geese were recorded either feeding on site or passing over. Geese tend to fly to the south of the site in the general direction of Montrose Basin. The proposed wind cluster was found to constitute no collision risk.	Breeding birds: Few birds were recorded over the high open ground of the site where the turbines are proposed. Most species were recorded near habitation, woodland or near water. The assessment concluded that the proposed wind cluster of three turbines is unlikely to have any significant adverse impact on ecology.