2004-2006, RPS and ECON, Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm, Seabird Survey - Little Gull (Larus minutus) series https://portal.medin.org.uk/portal/start.php?tpc=015_5b1bd247fc5159fc9d72254f46fb03a7 Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutes (LU) were recorded at the proposed location of the Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm during boat-based and aerial surveys during 2004-2006. Natural England advised DONG Energy during consultation that in order to assess the potential ornithological significance of Westermost Rough offshore windfarm a quantification of the relative use of Hornsea Mere in relation to the inshore and offshore areas would be required. RPS in association with ECON Ecological Consultancy conducted a coordinated monitoring program incorporating terrestrial surveys, inshore surveys and offshore surveys. Data were gathered between 14th August and 28th September 2008, when LU was estimated from previous data to be present at peak levels at Hornsea Mere. The main aim of the monitoring program was to assess and quantify the relative use of the proposed WMR in relation to the use of inshore waters near Hornsea Mere compared to the numbers of LU recorded at Hornsea Mere itself. The onshore survey determined that the total number of LU recorded in surveys at the Mere generally increased from mid-August and then subsequently decreased to very low levels by the end of September. In the case of the offshore survey only small numbers of LU (<20 ind. In any one survey) as single birds and small groups (<8 ind.) were recorded. One of the conclusions of this report was that at this stage there is no suggestion that the SPA population of LU is at all likely to be affected by the proposed development. 20090127 20090127