SITES

	Greatham, Teesside, UK
	West Site, Billingham, UK
	Grimsby, Humberside, UK
	Calais, France
	Huelva, Spain
Habitats on the Huelva Site Insects Reptiles and Amphibians Birds Mammals Wildlife of the Surrounding Area Biodiversity Management
	Scarlino, Italy
	Teluk Kalung, Malaysia
	Umbogintwini, South Africa
	Lake Charles, USA
	Burnie, Tasmania

Index by Category

Appendices

References

Huelva, Spain

Birds

From the field surveys so far carried out on the site 36 species of birds have been recorded (see Table 24). From the limited number of observations made in early spring (February 1997) and autumn (September 1994) it is almost certain that a number of additional species would be recorded if observations were made during the height of the spring and autumn migration periods.

Some limited observations have been made of migrants on the site. During the September 1994 a number of other interesting species were recorded. At least a dozen Pied Flycatchers and some Spotted Flycatchers were much in evidence mainly along the boundary wall, in the Stone Pines and even in the eucalyptus trees. These were obviously passage birds on their southern migration and it is probable that other migrant species could also occur on the site. Bonelli’s Warbler was also recorded at this time and there was also a steady southerly passage of Swallows on both the 22 and 23 of September starting about 10.00 GMT and continuing until about noon. In February 1997 early spring migrants included Meadow pipits, Chiffchaffs and numerous Willow Warblers.

A number of birds already recorded on the Huelva site are of considerable interest and warrant further discussion (see also Table 25, Table 26 and Table 27).

Notes on Particular Bird Species

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) [Conservation Status SPEC 2 – Vulnerable]
The White Stork is one of Europe's best-loved birds. Steeped in tradition and folklore it is everywhere regarded as a bird of good fortune. About 90% of the world's breeding population of White Stork lies within Europe. Unfortunately in northern and western Europe it is decreasing in numbers and although it is still quite common in many parts of Spain breeding pairs have fallen from about 14500 in 1948 to 12688 in 1957 and 7900 in 1990 (Finlayson 1992). This, however, is probably an under estimate since recent data indicates that the Spanish population was about 14000 pairs in 1993 (Tucker et al 1994). White Storks feed regularly on the Odiel Marshes and in wetland areas around Huelva. Birds nest regularly in farms and villages in both the Rio Tinto and Odiel valleys. During their migrations and on feeding flights storks were seen to fly over the Tioxide site.

White Storks usually choose sunny sites in tall trees or on buildings for nesting. They also frequently nest on purposely-erected platforms on the tops of tall poles. Cartwheels are traditionally used for such platforms in many areas of Europe and for many years have proved very successful (Bannerman 1957).

White Storks Nesting on the Tioxide Site
Storks prefer to feed near their breeding sites but will fly up to 5 km from their nests to reach suitable feeding areas. Since the Odiel Marshes lie within easy reach of the Tioxide site, and the Rubio wetlands within 600m of the factory boundary, there are adequate feeding sites for these birds close to the works. Consequently in 1997 two platforms are erected on the Tioxide site in an attempt to attract nesting White Storks. By 1999 a pair of storks adopted one of the platforms and has returned to the site every year since.

Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) [Conservation Status SPEC 3 – Vulnerable]
The Stone Curlew is a member of a small specialist family of wading birds that contains only nine species worldwide and it is the only member of the family to nest in Europe where it has a wide distribution extending from the UK to southern Spain and Greece. Over much of this range, however, it has decreased in numbers during the past century, in some areas markedly so. Nevertheless up to 3000 pairs still breed in Andalusia (Cramp et.al. 1983) but even here human pressures and developments are encroaching on Stone Curlew habitat so conservation of known sites is essential.

At least one, possibly two birds were seen on the Tioxide site during September 1994 and again in August 2000. The birds were very faithful to the site and when disturbed circled the area without crossing the site boundary. On both days the birds always alighted back on to the site. The typical habitat requirements for breeding are discussed below, and since these are found on the Tioxide property it is quite probable that Stone Curlew nests on the site.

Stone Curlews choose open rather arid areas with all round visibility for nesting. They spend a lot of their time on the ground and do not like impediments to running; consequently tall dense vegetation is avoided. Although nesting in dry sandy and stony habitats the birds do like to be adjacent to wetland areas (Cramp et al 1983). Each pair of birds requires a fairly large breeding territory, although three pairs have been recorded nesting in a single field in the UK. A common feature of all territories is that they must have suitable nesting sites away from centres of disturbance (Gooders ND). Unlike the agricultural fields adjacent to the factory, the western part of the works site has open areas and is relatively undisturbed, making it attractive Stone Curlew breeding habitat. The site is probably large enough to support two breeding pairs but this would need to be confirmed during the spring nesting season.

Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis)
This very interesting bird was discovered for the first time on the site in May 1995. Two birds were seen, but it is possible that more were present since it is a very secretive species. The presence of this bird in May in a scrub habitat is very indicative of nesting and is another very good reason for preserving this habitat. Although Red-necked Nightjar is still regarded as relatively numerous in its breeding grounds it is nevertheless a very localised species, occurring in Europe only in Iberia (Cramp, et al 1985, Cary, 1973). Its conservation in Spain and Portugal is therefore of international interest.
It is very similar to the Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), a species occurring sparingly from southern Spain to central Sweden. Red-necked Nightjar is larger than C. europaeus has more white on the throat and tail and, as its name suggests, it has a rufous nape. However, care must be exercised in separating the two species. At night when the birds are calling identification is easier. Red-necked Nightjar produces a low-pitched double knocking or drumming sound, where as the Nightjars call is more or less a continuous chur.

The typical habitat of Red-necked Nightjar is patches of sandy ground with scattered ground cover together with stone pine, eucalyptus, Halimium and Ulex (Cramp et al., 1985). Such habitats are found on the western part of the Tioxide site. In August 2000 four Red-necked Nightjars were seen together on several occasions. It is quite possible that these birds were a family group and that the species had bred successfully on the Tioxide site.

Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) [Conservation status SPEC 3, - Declining]
The Bee-eater is one of Europe's most colourful nesting birds. It is essentially a southern species, the regular northern breeding limit co-inciding closely with the 21°C July isotherm (Cramp et al. 1983). Bee-eaters winter in Africa and return to Europe in the spring; usually arriving in southern Spain in April and May (Finlayson 1992). The bird is widely distributed in Andalusia and breeds commonly in some areas such as the Coto Donana reserve.

Bee-eaters have been using the Tioxide property as a feeding site since at least 1995.
As yet there are no confirmed breeding records for the Huelva site but with relatively little effort it should be possible to create an artificial sand bank on the Tioxide property that would encourage these very attractive birds to remain and breed on the site as they do on the Tioxide site at Scarlino, Italy (see Section Scarlino Birds).

Bee-eaters nest in earth banks usually of sand or clay. The birds frequently choose sunny positions with scattered trees and other convenient perches. In years when the birds arrive early actual nesting sites are usually occupied within 2-3 weeks, but in late arrival years birds go immediately to their nesting territories (Herrera & Ramirez 1974). Nesting holes have been reported to be south facing in Russian colonies (Priklonsky & Lavorousky 1974, Fry 1984) and south west facing in Hungary (Fry 1984). A small Bee-eater colony on the former ICI, now Zeneca, site at St Clair du Rhone in France faced southeast (Smith 1990). A similar southern orientation should be used for any proposed nesting banks created on the Huelva site, since banks facing due west through north to due east do not appear to be favoured.

Although Bee-eaters in Andalusia have nested in flat ground the preferred site is a steep bank of dry loamy clay, firm sand or even gravel. The height of the bank does not appear to be critical, but I would suggest one of about 2 m should be tried initially. The nests on the Zeneca St. Clair site are approximately 30 cm from the top of the bank (Smith 1990). At Scarlino Bee-eaters nest in banks of red gypsum about 1.5 m in height with the nest burrows about 0.3-0.4 m from the top. The slope of the banks is between 45°-50° and they are south facing (Smith 1998).
Bee Eaters are very faithful to their breeding sites so if a colony could be established it should be used in subsequent years.

Food Requirements of Bee-eaters
Bee-eaters feed almost exclusively on medium sized insects, although on very rare occasions they have been known to eat berries (Steyn & Brooke 1971, Fry 1984). Food is most frequently taken by foraging flights from a perch. At St. Clair two dead trees one on the Zeneca site and the other just outside of the boundary fence were the most favoured perches. Birds use similar dead tree perches at Scarlino. It is therefore essential that suitable perch trees are retained at Huelva and additional perches provided (possibly in the form of dead stumps) if required. When hunting from a perch the birds invariably take their prey back to the perch for treatment, e.g. de-stinging hymenoptera. Birds sometimes hunt aloft and are then thought to be catching smaller prey and eating it on the wing.

Hymenoptera are the main food items of Bee-eaters and make up to between 52% and 91% of the prey taken. After Hymenoptera beetles and dragonflies are the next most important food items. However, these general trends can vary when opportunism leads birds to prey on a single species, or group of species that are locally abundant. The birds at St. Clair at times feed almost exclusively on dragonflies. Dragonflies are also taken extensively at Scarlino and Bee-eaters watched hunting at Huelva in August were also seen to take dragonflies that are common on the site.

Scrub Warblers
Some of the most characteristic birds of the maquis and garrigue areas of southern Europe are the scrub warblers of the genus Sylvia. On Tioxide property the Sardinian Warbler (S. melanocephala) is particularly common, occurring throughout the undeveloped western portion of the site with the exception of the eucalyptus plantation where only a single bird was seen. However, they were most numerous in the thorn scrub in the northwest corner. This is typical habitat for Sardinian Warbler over much of its southern European range where it seems to prefer low marquis and garrigue type communities. However, birds will readily feed in taller shrubs and trees such as oaks and pines. Several were observed feeding in the stone pines on the Tioxide site.

The Dartford Warbler is much less common on the site and was only found in the thick thorny scrub areas, and totally avoided trees and taller shrubs. This habitat preference for lower vegetation than the Sardinian Warbler has also been noted in the Coto Donana where both species also occur (Mountfort 1958). However, in the Coto Donana Dartford Warblers were also recorded in the Halimium thickets, but this was not so on the Tioxide site. Perhaps the relative scarcity of Dartford Warbler at Huelva allows all the birds to choose their preferred habitat of thorn scrub without having to "spill" over into the Halimium areas.

Globally the majority of Dartford Warblers breed in Spain where the species is suffering from a slow and progressive decline of suitable habitat. There have been heavy losses of some of the most valuable Dartford Warbler habitat in Spain (de Juana et al. 1988) and there is currently a call for further investigations of population size and habitat requirements in Iberia (Tucker et.al. 1994).

Both Sardinian and Dartford Warblers are tolerant of human presence, but their secretive habits make them relatively difficult to observe and census. However, from time to time birds do perch on prominent twigs in the sunshine, especially in spring when singing males are holding breeding territory. This is the best time of the year to count and study these birds.

Two other scrub warblers found in southern Spain, the Spectacled Warbler
(Sylvia. conspicillata) and the Sub-alpine Warbler (S. cantillans) have not as yet been recorded on the factory site. The Spectacled Warbler certainly breeds on the Coto Donana and the Sub-alpine may well do so but is much less common (Mountfort 1958). However, Simms (1985) found Sub-alpine Warblers near Huelva so both this and the Spectacled could eventually be found on Tioxide land where there is suitable habitat for both species. These birds should be looked for in spring. Although not usually referred to as “scrub warblers” two other species, Melodious Warbler and Bonelli's Warbler have been recorded on the site during the September migration period.

Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus)
This is an Asian species with an isolated population in the central and southern parts of the Iberian Peninsula. This population appears to be stable, but in view of its restricted range in Europe Azure-winged Magpie must be regarded as vulnerable.
The bird prefers open woodlands of pine but is also found in eucalyptus plantations (Goodwin 1976, Tucker et al. 1994). Suitable habitat for Azure-winged Magpie occurs on the site but although it is quite common in adjacent areas it has not yet been recorded on the Company’s property. Azure-winged Magpie is an import host for the relatively uncommon Great Spotted Cuckoo (Mountfort 1958).