Ground and Aerial Monitoring of Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) in Carmarthen Bay Spatial Protection Area (SPA) (2002 - 2008)

  • English
  • wel
  • All

Carmarthen Bay Spatial Protection Area (SPA) was classified as the UK's first SPA in 2003 on the basis of holding at least 1% (16,000 individuals) of the biogeographic population of Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra). The Common Scoter is strongly migratory and often travels considerable distances over land making brief stop-overs on inland waters. Its diet consists predominantly of molluscs, especially during the winter, although it occasionally takes other aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans (e.g. barnacles and shrimps), worms, echinoderms, isopods, amphipods and insects (e.g. midges and caddis flies) as well as small fish and fish eggs which are found in abundance in the shallow water in Carmarthen Bay. Common scoter are also listed as a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species. Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has supported ground based counts since 1996, following the Sea Empress oil spill. Aerial surveys have also been employed as scoter often occur out of sight of land. This dataset is compiled from data collected by The British Trust for Ornithology with support from CCW from 2002 onwards. The purpose of this data capture was to maintain a monitoring program using a combination of ground-based and aerial surveys to assess numbers and distribution of common scoter in Carmarthen Bay and to investigate whether ground-based counts provide an appropriate index of overall numbers of scoter within Carmarthen Bay as well as update the current index.

Identification

Dynodydd
Identifier
NRW_DS109752
Teitl Amgen
Alternative Title
  • Monitro ar y tir ac o'r awyr o'r for-hwyaden ddu Melanitta nigra yn AGA Caerfyrddin, 2002 ymlaen
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

This is a collation of ground and aerial common scoter count surveys. At each site and on each date, the time of count, weather (wind-speed, wind direction, precipitation, cloud cover), sea-state and any disturbance was recorded. Ground counts are made on 4 dates in the winter. Counts are carried out at three stations along the coast. In some years a fourth station at Rhossili is also used. At each site weather conditions, sea-state and any disturbance are recorded. Full sea-scans are then carried out. For each flock, the number of birds, their bearing and distance from shore was recorded. Aerial surveys are performed using the 'distance' method based on statistical principles of distance sampling . The surveys are carried out in winter and follow pre-determined transect lines running north-south through the bay. Transects are spaced 2 km apart to minimise chances of double-counting birds flushed by the plane. Surveys are carried out by 2 observers using a Partenavia PN68 aircraft, flown at ground speed 200 km/h, altitude 75m. Surveys cannot be carried out in wind speeds greater than 24 km/h. Each flock or individual bird was recorded along with time of observation, number and species. Also distance was recorded to one of four distance bands as described in the standards.This dataset only contains work carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) under contract to CCW.
Additional Information

A sustained program of monitoring scoters in Carmarthen bay has been in place since 1997 (Stewart et al, 1997, Cranswick et al, 1998, WWT 2003).
Dyddiad cyfeirnod y set ddata (Cyhoeddiad)
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2008-05-31
Perchennog
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Cychwynnwr
Originator
  British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, England
http://www.bto.org/
 

Extent

Extent

Hyd
Geographic Extent
ABERTAWE - SWANSEA
Hyd
Geographic Extent
SIR GAERFYRDDIN - CARMARTHENSHIRE
Hyd
Geographic Extent
SIR BENFRO - PEMBROKESHIRE
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword
benthic boundary layer
 
 

Distribution

Fformat - Math a Disgrifiad
Format Type and Description
  • Geographic Information System ()

    Specification

    Reports as word documents or pdfs, Excel spreadsheets, GIS Tab Files Raw data held as MapInfo tables for aerial data and excel and csv files for ground data.

 

Quality

Ansawdd Data
Data quality

Cwmpas Ansawdd
Quality Scope
Dataset
Dataset
Cydymffurfiad
Conformity
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation
Degree
false
Lineage

This is a collation of ground and aerial common scoter count surveys. At each site and on each date, the time of count, weather (wind-speed, wind direction, precipitation, cloud cover), sea-state and any disturbance was recorded. Ground counts are made on 4 dates in the winter. Counts are carried out at three stations along the coast. In some years a fourth station at Rhossili is also used. At each site weather conditions, sea-state and any disturbance are recorded. Full sea-scans are then carried out. For each flock, the number of birds, their bearing and distance from shore was recorded. Aerial surveys are performed using the 'distance' method based on statistical principles of distance sampling . The surveys are carried out in winter and follow pre-determined transect lines running north-south through the bay. Transects are spaced 2 km apart to minimise chances of double-counting birds flushed by the plane. Surveys are carried out by 2 observers using a Partenavia PN68 aircraft, flown at ground speed 200 km/h, altitude 75m. Surveys cannot be carried out in wind speeds greater than 24 km/h. Each flock or individual bird was recorded along with time of observation, number and species. Also distance was recorded to one of four distance bands as described in the standards.This dataset only contains work carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) under contract to CCW.
 

Keywords

Allweddair
Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Allweddair
Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • common scoter (black scoter)
  • melanitta nigra
  • Carmarthen Bay
  • Special Protection Areas (SPAs) (see also proposed Special Protection Area pSPA)
  • aerial counts
  • ground counts
  • bird population
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2023-12-31
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Allweddair
Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
  • Bird taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of surface
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Adolygu)
Date (Revision)
2021-01-06
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys
Content Information

Proffil CNC
NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC
Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

Ground and aerial monitoring protocols for in shore special protection areas : common scoter in Carmarthen Bay 2002 - 04
NRW Related Title

Ground and aerial monitoring of common scoters in Carmarthen Bay 2007 - 2008
NRW Related Title

Ground and aerial monitoring for Carmarthen Bay SPA 2004 - 2007
 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Math o Gyfyngiad
Restriction type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

There are no access restrictions to this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
 

Use Constraints

Cyfyngiadau Defnyddio
Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW 2008 . There are no use restrictions on this data. Recipients may re-use, reproduce, disseminate this data free of charge in any format or medium, provided they do so accurately, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright, and do not use it in a misleading context. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose, that dissemination or publishing does not result in duplication, and that it is fairly interpreted. Advice on interpretation should be sought where required. To avoid re-using old data, users should periodically obtain the latest version from the original source.
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

Dynodydd Ffeil
File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313039373532 XML
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Math o adnodd
Resource type
Dataset
Dataset
Dyddiad Metadata
Metadata Date
2024-12-09T12:38:02.575Z
Enw Safonol Metadata
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Fersiwn Metadata
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

Pwynt Cyswllt
pointOfContact
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 
 

Publishing Body

Access the portal