4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313039373532 English Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en 2026-03-03T14:28:01.185Z NRW 1.0 wel British National Grid (EPSG::27700) Ground and Aerial Monitoring of Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) in Carmarthen Bay Spatial Protection Area (SPA) (2002 - 2008) Ground and Aerial Monitoring of Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) in Carmarthen Bay Spatial Protection Area (SPA) (2002 - 2008) Monitro ar y tir ac o'r awyr o'r for-hwyaden ddu Melanitta nigra yn AGA Caerfyrddin, 2002 ymlaen 2008-05-31 NRW_DS109752 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. 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. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, England info@bto.org http://www.bto.org/ Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme ground counts common scoter (black scoter) melanitta nigra aerial counts Carmarthen Bay Special Protection Areas (SPAs) (see also proposed Special Protection Area pSPA) bird population NRW Thesaurus 2025-01-08 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords Bird taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of surface SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2024-06-19 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml There are no access restrictions to this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations © 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. English biota SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 benthic boundary layer ABERTAWE - SWANSEA SIR GAERFYRDDIN - CARMARTHENSHIRE SIR BENFRO - PEMBROKESHIRE -4.70472624 -4.05245982 51.53862558 51.83585931 2002-11-29 2008-03-16 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). Ground and aerial monitoring protocols for in shore special protection areas : common scoter in Carmarthen Bay 2002 - 04 Ground and aerial monitoring of common scoters in Carmarthen Bay 2007 - 2008 Ground and aerial monitoring for Carmarthen Bay SPA 2004 - 2007 Geographic Information System 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. 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 2010-12-08 This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false 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. 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.