Ranson Moor: Swans

Ranson Moor: Swans: The Nene and Ouse Washes

Ranson Moor lies 8.2km to the south of the Nene Washes and 10.9km to the north of the Ouse Washes at their closest points. The Nene and Ouse Washes are wetlands of major international importance comprising of seasonally flooded grasslands and grazing marsh which provide breeding and wintering habitats for important assemblages of wetland bird species. They are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), are protected under international treaty as wetlands of international importance (RAMSAR) and qualify as Special Protection Areas (SPA's).

It is now generally accepted that birds become aware of operational turbines from a significant distance even in conditions of low visibility and so are able to avoid them. However the likelihood of direct disturbance from feeding is substantial and it is also possible that long chains of turbines could disrupt local flight paths and migration routes. The swan populations of these Washes are known to forage for food at some distance in the surrounding area.

The closest swan feeding grounds to the proposal are West Fen 3.5km to the north of Ranson Moor, Benson's Fen 4.75km to the south east, Latches Fen 5.5km to the east and Ramsey Fen 6.5km to the west. Each of these feeding grounds provides foraging for significant numbers of Bewick's swans. The proposed site does not lie between any roosting sites and feeding grounds and is not on any regularly used swan flight paths.

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