Shore-based Low Tide Counts and Validation of Digital Aerial Survey Methods at Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary SPA

About

Natural England awarded a contract to APEM LTD for shore-based low tide counts and a validation study of digital aerial survey methods at Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA).

The contract involved four tasks: (1) delivering four monthly standardised shore-based surveys of waders and waterfowl abundance and distribution in the Leven, Kent, Lune, and Wyre estuaries and South Walney & Piel Channel Flats using WeBS Low Tide Counts methodology from November 2023 to February 2024; (2) conducting a single ground-based survey in selected low tide count sectors to coincide with a digital aerial survey overflight; (3) processing and analysing survey data; and (4) producing a report using a Natural England template with methods, results, and deliverables.

The contract value was AUD 29,017.