d1a5eb44e92499034e17a8dc151e6c73 English series Matthew Jeans Vattenfall Wind Power Ltd matthew.jeans@vattenfall.com pointOfContact 2025-03-13 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 2017-2018 Jon Ford Environmental Consultancy Kentish Flats Extension Offshore Wind Farm Post Construction Bird Surveys 2019-06-03 publication 2017-10-27 creation 2019-06-03 revision MDE-TCE-70-3451 This report presents the results of the bird monitoring programme that has been undertaken between October 2017 and March 2018, and summarises the overall results from that programme. It forms the third and final year of the post-construction phase monitoring of the Kentish Flats Extension Offshore Wind Farm (KFE). As well as reporting the surveys carried out in the final field survey winter, this report also includes analysis of all of the post-construction data, comparing key species distribution and abundance with the pre-construction baseline, in order to determine the effects of the wind farm on the local bird populations. The main aim of this phase of the work was to determine the distribution and abundance of seabirds using the KFE site and its surrounds after construction of the wind farm, and compare this with the pre-construction baseline. Standard survey methodologies have been used, following Camphuysen et al. (2004) and have remained consistent through all the surveys. The KFE development comprises 15 x 3.3MW wind turbines. It is located in the Outer Thames Estuary, approximately 7 kilometres off the north Kent coast. KFE extends over an area of 7.8km2 The original Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm (KF) has been operational since 2005 and consists of 30 x 3MW wind turbines. Offshore construction of the KFE commenced in April 2015 with the installation of turbine foundations. Piling of the turbine foundations was completed on 23 May 2015. Turbine installation was completed on 10 August 2015, and all 15 turbines were generating power to the National Grid from 12 September 2015. Two export cables have been installed alongside the existing cables and come ashore near to Hampton Pier, Herne Bay. The onshore cable route follows the existing Kentish Flats cable route to the Red House Farm substation on Thornden Wood Road. The export cable is 18km, with 12km of inter-array cables connecting the turbines into strings. The cables were installed using a water jetting method with a final burial depth in the range of 0.5 to 2m below the seabed. Jon Ford Jon Ford Consultancy 8(8152) 25-39-63 17, Vladimirskaya str. Murmansk 183010 matishov@mmbi.info originator The Crown Estate +44 020 7851 5000 16 New Burlington Place London W1S 2HX enquiries@thecrownestate.co.uk custodian notPlanned Database Marine Environmental Data and Information Network NDGO0005 Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Bird taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of surface Bird counts Bird reproduction Bird behaviour SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/content/info/terms-of-use otherRestrictions Publicly Available English biota Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Southern North Sea SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords 2010-01-01 revision troposphere 1.0327 1.1424 51.4382 51.4685 2017-10-27 2018-03-29 https://admin.marinedataexchange.co.uk/tce/site/70/series/3451/summary http://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/ A link to the web service or dataset http://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/ A link to the general host site series MEDIN data guideline for transect survey data 2022-02-11 publication See the referenced specification true The survey methods followed those detailed in the KFE Offshore Wind Farm Bird Monitoring Protocol. These surveys comprised boat-based line transects, following the methodology recommended in Camphuysen et al. (2004) and as reviewed by Maclean et al. (2009) This survey methodology was developed in consultation with Natural England and agreed as appropriate with the MMO. The survey programme was designed using a rigorous methodology, specifically adapted to obtain robust data on divers (as the key conservation interest identified in the ES baseline surveys), following specific methods set out in standard COWRIE guidance (Camphuysen et al 2004), and this has been consistently applied throughout the programme. This included scanning ahead of the ship with binoculars, to detect the take-off of divers ahead of the approaching platform (Camphuysen et al. 2004). The previously used survey vessel, the ‘Arie Dirk’, was unavailable for the 2017-18 surveys, so an alternative vessel, the ‘Predator’ was used. This vessel cruised the transects at about 10 knots and has a viewing height of about 4.9m above the level of the sea (the same specification as the ‘Arie Dirk’). It is ideal for the work being of a size and a manoeuvrability (with an experienced local crew) to enable safe operation close inshore and around busy shipping channels. A GPS record of the precise route was taken on each trip, so that the location at all times was known. All of the individual survey tracks from 2017-18 are shown in Appendix 1. The observation team on the surveys comprised Jon Ford, Trevor Charlton, Anna Stevenson and Gary Elton (with three surveyors on each survey), who were all involved in both observation and recording. All surveyors were JNCC ESAS qualified. Three surveyors were deployed to allow recording on both sides of the survey vessel simultaneously, rotation of duties and to enable one surveyor to be free to undertake continual forward scanning for the detection of species that may be flushed from the sea surface. The team were all highly experienced ornithologists, well able to identify all the species encountered accurately. All observers also had a good knowledge of the area and its ornithological interests, and were trained Marine Mammal Observers. All birds encountered, their behaviour, flight height and approximate distance from the boat were recorded. Following the JNCC Seabirds at Sea recommendations, birds were recorded into five distance bands (0-50m, 50-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m and 300+m). Birds were recorded continuously, at a steady speed of approximately 10 knots, with the precise time of each observation recorded where possible to give as accurate a position as possible (linking to the GPS position information being recorded simultaneously). All records of birds observed flying as well as those on the sea were recorded. All sightings of marine mammals were also recorded during the surveys (and identified to species level when possible). The approximate height above the sea of all flying birds was recorded, estimated as accurately as possible (for later conversion to height bands for presentation and assessment as required). Flying birds were recorded using snapshot counts at two-minute intervals. Whilst all birds observed were recorded, a note of those “in transect” was made to facilitate later analysis. The weather conditions during the surveys were recorded, including sea state, wind speed and wind direction. Any specific conditions in the area that may affect bird abundance/behaviour (e.g. if a storm has passed the area in advance of a survey, many construction vessels etc.) were additionally noted. Kentish Flats Extension - 9 - Ornithological Monitoring June 2019 Final Report 2017-18: TF-LC-UKGEN-KFE-101 For each bird observation, the following were recorded: • Observation time; • Latitude and longitude (WGS84 UTM30N); • Species; • Numbers; age classes; • Distance band from the vessel; • Sitting/flight height; • Flight direction; • Behaviour; Association (e.g. with fishing vessels). In addition, fishing vessels and other vessels (e.g. construction vessels or ferries) were also recorded. For registration of behaviour, the standards outlined in Camphuysen and Garthe (2004) were used.