Monitoring of Measures to Minimise
Disturbance to Water Birds in Ng Tung River, Sheung Yue River, Shek
Sheung River and Long Valley
Monitoring
Requirements and Protocol
8.1
As
required under Section 12.3.2.5 of Updated EM&A Manual, where development
under the NDAs project is undertaken within 200m (the maximum distance at which
it is predicted there may be some disturbance, and hence a reduction in
numbers, of large waterbirds) of Sheung
Yue River and Long Valley, weekly transect at both high and low tides should be
followed (It is considered high tide when the tidal levels are above 1.5m and
low tide when the tidal levels are below 1.5m at Tsim
Bei Tsui Station).
8.2
The
purpose of the survey was to identify and enumerate all bird species utilizing
the river channels and Long Valley Nature Park (LVNP) and identify any sources
of actual or potential disturbance to birds due to construction activities
throughout the construction period according to Methodology specified in Table
12.1 in Updated EM&A Manual.
8.3
Monitoring
in Long Valley should follow the methodology adopted by the regular HKBWS bird
monitoring programme in order to obtain comparable
results and complete coverage of the area in the shortest time possible.
Monitoring
Frequency
8.4
High
tide and low tide avifauna monitoring is required to be carried out on weekly
basis.
Additional night-time avifauna
monitoring in Long Valley is required to be carried out twice monthly from
September to April.
|
Date
of avifauna monitoring: |
2nd,
13th, 16th ,25th, 30th November
2020 |
|
Date
of night-time monitoring: |
16th,
30th November 2020 |
Monitoring
Location
8.5
The
avifauna monitoring was carried out at Ng Tung River, Sheung
Yue River and Long Valley in Reporting Month according to construction works.
The transect routes in the Reporting Month were as follows:
•
T1. Ng Tung River
•
T2. Ng Tung
River
•
T3. Sheung Yue River
•
T5. Long Valley
As the sensitive receivers (large waterbirds) are easily visible, the transect route will
only need to follow one bank of the rivers.
8.6
The location of
Transects T1, T2, T3 and T5 is shown in Figure
7 for reference.
Monitoring
Parameters
8.7
The monitoring
parameters and survey methodology for each transect are described below:
•
Abundance of
birds
•
Types of
habitat which birds in use
•
Notable bird behaviours such as roosting, feeding, nesting and presence
of juveniles
•
Birds heard
though birdcalls that could not be located would be marked as “heard”, while
birds flying over the survey area would be marked as “flight”. Species of
conservation significance would be specified.
8.8
Other
information at the time of survey such as weather condition, tidal condition,
tide level and noticeable natural or anthropogenic activities would be
documented.
8.9
For
Avifauna survey, Ornithological nomenclature would make reference to The
Avifauna of Hong Kong (Carey et al.
2001), The Birds of Hong Kong and South China (Viney et al. 2005), and the most recent
updated list from other sources (e.g. Hong Kong Bird Watching Society).
Monitoring
Result
8.10
In total, 69
species of birds were recorded during the bird surveys within assessment area. Among
the recorded birds, there were 25 species of waterbirds.
The detailed list of waterbirds and all recorded
birds are shown in Appendix H1m and H1n respectively.
8.11
Among the four
transects, the transect T5 had a higher species diversity and abundance due to
its diverse habitat types within Long Valley. Species such as Ardeola bacchus and Egretta garzetta were commonly
found roosting and foraging at wetland habitats such as agricultural lands and
shallow water habitats.
8.12
Along the
transect T5 in Long Valley, species with conservation interest such as Himantopus himantopus, which is a passage migrant, and Tringa glareola,
which is a passage migrant and winter visitor, were also commonly observed in
shallow water habitat.
8.13
A high
abundance of Himantopus himantopus and
Tringa glareola were
found roosting at night-time in shallow water habitats. Anas
crecca, Recurvirostra
avosetta, Gallinago gallinago and Gallinago
stenura were
also found in Shallow Water Habitat during the night survey.
8.14
Soil turning with excavator and landscape
formation works were observed in T5 in the reporting month.
8.15
Transect T3 was
conducted along the Sheung Yue River. Bird species
such as Ardeola bacchus, tringa ochropus and Egretta garzetta were commonly
observed feeding and roosting on the river bank and river bed.
8.16
Transect T1 and
T2 are located at Ng Tung River. Ardeola bacchus and Egretta garzetta were
commonly found and were observed feeding and roosting along the Ng Tung River.
Fishing activities were observed during the avifauna monitoring.
8.17
Psittacula eupatria, Phylloscopus
borealis, Glaucidium cuculoides, Muscicapa
latirostris, Turdus
mandarinus, Ixobrychus
cinnamomeus, Phalacrocorax
carbo, Vanellus cinereus,
Emberiza pusilla
and Emberiza aureola
were recorded for the first time since the first reporting month for avifauna
survey in July 2020.
8.18
Avifauna
monitoring in construction phase was conducted during the reporting month and
the detailed results are attached in Appendix
H1.
Monitoring of Measures to Minimise Impacts to
Ma Tso Lung Stream and Siu Hang San Tsuen Stream, and Long Valley
Monitoring
Requirements and Protocol
8.19
As
required under Section 12.3.2.14 of Updated EM&A Manual, aquatic faunal
monitoring should be carried out during the construction phase.
8.20
Larger
organisms such as fish would be monitored by direct counting, while
kick-netting and sweep-netting would be used for invertebrate sampling. There
would be three replicates for invertebrate sampling at each sampling point. For
kick-netting, the net would be placed with the opening facing the water
current, and the substrate would be disturbed by kicking to dislodge organisms
from the stream bed. Sweep-netting would be conducted when kick-netting was not
feasible, such as in area with no water current. Small organisms that could not
be identified with naked eye would be brought to the laboratory for
identification under the dissecting microscope.
Monitoring
Frequency
8.21
Quantitative
aquatic fauna replicate surveys of stream fauna is required to be carried out
on monthly basis during wet season. Three replicates for invertebrates sampling
and direct counting of fish fauna would be performed respectively.
Monitoring
Location
8.22
During
the Reporting Month, the monitoring location carried out in Ma Tso Lung Stream
according to construction works are as follow:-
|
•
MS_01 |
•
MS_02 |
•
MS_03 |
•
MS_04 |
•
MS_05 |
|
•
MS_06 |
•
MS_07 |
•
MS_08 |
•
MS_09 |
•
MS_10 |
8.23
The
location of Monitoring Stations shown in
Figure 8 for reference.
Monitoring
Parameters
8.24
The
monitoring parameters and survey methodology for each monitoring station are
described below:
•
Species
composition
•
Abundance
•
Distribution
for invertebrates and fish fauna
•
Species of
conservation significance would be specified
8.25
Other
information at the time of survey such as weather condition and noticeable
natural or anthropogenic activities would be recorded.
Monitoring
Status
8.26
According
to the Updated EM&A Manual, quantitative aquatic fauna replicate surveys of
stream fauna is required to be carried out on monthly basis during wet season.
During the reporting Month, no aquatic fauna replicate surveys was carried out.
Monitoring of
Measures to Minimise Impacts on Ecological Sensitive Habitats from Disturbance
and Pollution
Monitoring
Requirements and Protocol
8.27
As
required under Section 12.3.2.17 of Updated EM&A Manual, monitoring of
measures to minimize impacts should be carried out during the construction
phase.
8.28
The
purpose of survey is to monitor the effectiveness of measures to minimize
impacts on ecologically sensitive habitats from disturbance and pollution by
standard faunal transect surveys.
Mammal
survey
8.29
Mammal
survey would be performed during both day and night times, in areas along the
transect routes which may potentially be utilized by terrestrial mammals. Field
signs such as droppings, footprints, diggings and burrows left by larger
terrestrial mammals would be observed. Mammals directly observed would be
recorded, and identification would be made as accurate as possible form the
field signs observed.
8.30
Bat
survey would be conducted along the transect routes shortly after sunset, with
the use of a bat detector to record the echolocation calls. The relative
abundance of the species encountered would be estimated using a scale from one
(single individual recorded) to five (very abundant). Nomenclature of mammal
will be based on Shek (2006).
Herpetofauna
survey (Amphibians and Reptiles)
8.31
Amphibian
surveys would be conducted whenever possible on evenings following or during
periods of rainfall, focusing on areas suitable for amphibians (e.g. forest, shrublands, grasslands, streams, ponds, marshes, etc.).
Calling amphibians would be recorded, supplemented by visual observation of
eggs, tadpoles, adult frogs, and toads.
8.32
Active
searching of appropriate microhabitats such as stones, pond bunds, crevices and
leaf debris would be performed mainly. Observation of exposed, basking and
foraging reptiles would also be conducted. Nomenclature of amphibian and
reptile will be based on Chan et al. (2005) and Karsen
et al. (1998), respectively.
Insect
survey (Butterfly and Dragonfly)
8.33
Butterflies
and dragonflies observed along the transects would be
identified and counted. Preferable habitats of the insects such as
watercourses, fishponds, and vegetated areas would be observed with special
attention. Nomenclature and protection status of the species will be based on
Lo et al. (2005) for butterflies and Tam et al. (2011) for dragonflies
Monitoring
Frequency
8.34
Monitoring
surveys of ecological sensitive receivers such as mammals, insects (butterflies
and dragonflies), and herpetofauna will be undertaken
on a monthly bases.
|
Date
of Monitoring surveys of ecological sensitive
receivers: |
20th
, 27th November 2020 |
Monitoring
Location
8.35
The
transect routes in the Reporting Month according to construction works are as
follows:
•
T1. Ma Tso Lung
riparian zone and associated wetland habitats;
•
T1. Green belt
areas E1-8, D1-8 and G1-3 in KTN NDA;
•
T1. AGR one C2-4
and C2-2 in KTN NDA;
•
T1. Area north
of Ng Tung River;
•
T3. Area west of
Siu Hang San Tsuen Stream
•
T4. South side
of Fanling Highway and Castle Peak Road in the
vicinity of Pak Shek Au;
•
T5. Area west
and east of the southern limit of the FLN NDA work area; and
•
T6. Areas in the
western part of KTN
8.36
The
location of Transects is shown in Figure
9 for reference.
Monitoring
Parameters
8.37
The
monitoring parameters and survey methodology for each transect are described
below:-
•
Species
composition
•
Abundance
•
Distribution
for fauna observed
•
Species of
conservation significance would be specified
Monitoring
Result
Mammal
8.38
During the
survey, a total of 3 mammal species were recorded from transects T1, T3, T4, T5
and T6. Domestic cat, Felis catus was
found at T1, T3 and T5. Domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, was found at T1, T3, T4, T5 and T6, where
associated with human settlements.
8.39
Bat species, Cynopterus sphinx was observed roosting in the
tent-shaped shelter under fronds of Chinese Fan-palm during daytime survey of
birds and herpetofauna, and was found in flight at
nighttime at T1, T3, T4, T5 and T6.
8.40
According to
EIA, echolocation calls of bats were recorded. The structure of the
echolocation calls from these recordings was later analysed
to identify species as far as possible (the lack of literature on echolocation
call structure makes the field identification of some bat species in Hong Kong
impossible, and some species remain unidentified from the recordings).
Herpetofauna (Amphibians and Reptiles)
8.41
Along the transects, a total of 10 herpetofauna
species were observed. Species including frog, gecko, lizard and turtle were
recorded near wetland habitats and watercourse. Transect T1 has higher species
diversity and abundance than other transects.
Insects (Butterfly and Dragonfly)
8.42
During the
insect survey, total 26 butterfly species and 15 odonata
species were recorded from transects. Transect T1 and T5 had higher butterfly
species diversity than other transects. Rare species Tajuria cippus was found in transect T5.
8.43
Transect T1, T3
and T6 had higher dragonfly species diversity than T4 and T5. Most of the
dragonfly species recorded were common and abundant in Hong Kong.
8.44
Ecological
sensitive receivers such as mammals, insects (butterflies and dragonflies), and
herpetofauna monitoring in construction phase was
conducted during the reporting month and the results are attached in Appendix H2 to H5.
Details of the Influencing Factors
Major Activities
8.45
During the
survey of Monitoring of Measures to Minimise
Disturbance to Water Birds in Sheung Yue River and
Long Valley, anthropogenic activities including soil turning with excavator and
landscape formation works were observed in Long Valley. Construction work was
observed beside Sheung Yue River.
8.46
The
anthropogenic activities affected only a small area of habitat in Long Valley
during the monitoring and would only pose minor disturbances to the birds. It
was observed that Bubulcus coromandus
foraged in close vicinity to the excavators.
8.47
During the
survey of Monitoring of Measures to Minimise
Disturbance to Water Birds in Ng Tung River, anthropogenic activities such as
recreational fishing by fishing rod and fishing net were observed.
Weather Conditions
8.48
According
to the observation during survey, temperature and the rain flow record in the
Reporting Month (Reference:
http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/pastwx/metob202012.htm), weather condition
might pose influence towards the monitoring result.
8.49
Since
the Final Baseline Ecological Monitoring Report has not been issued yet during
the Reporting Month, the Action and Limit Level of ecological monitoring will
be compared with the monitoring results in the Reporting Month and track back
exceedance reporting (if any) after the Final Baseline Ecological Monitoring
Report has been issued.
8.50
The
detailed Ecological monitoring results are attached in Appendix H.