Abstract
This paper provides clarification on the Burbo Bank Extension ornithological impact assessment, specifically the information and analysis performed to determine the cumulative assessment of displacement of red-throated diver. Following representations made by Natural England (paragraphs 4.2.1 – 4.2.5, 24 June 2013) and Natural Resources Wales (Annex 1, paragraphs 1.2.1 - 1.2.5, 24 June 2013), and as discussed at meetings held with these parties on the 3rd July 2013 and the 23 rd July 2013, the analysis presented in the Environmental Statement Volume 2 - Chapter 15: Offshore Ornithology (PINS document reference 5.1.2.15) and Habitats Regulations Assessment Report (PINS document reference 4.3) has been refined using an alternative red-throated diver data set provided by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). This dataset had been derived by JNCC from data on the number and distribution of red-throated divers in Liverpool Bay SPA as determined using visual aerial survey methods which have been corrected for distance related detection errors. Bird observations were smoothed by JNCC using kernel density estimation (KDE) and were combined to create a mean modelled density surface of red-throated diver in Liverpool Bay SPA.
This Paper considers the implication of the predicted changes in red-throated diver density within Liverpool Bay SPA as a result of displacement from the offshore wind farm alone and in-combination with a number of wind farms in the Liverpool Bay SPA.