Avian Ecology has recently been supporting SSE Transmission by preparing the Ornithological Impact Assessment for their proposed new 400kv OHL connection between Beauly, in the Scottish Highlands and Peterhead in Aberdeenshire.  Spanning approximately 186km in length, the proposed OHL route traverses a variety of habitats including lowland river valleys, expansive commercial forestry plantation, stretches of open moorland and large swathes of lowland agricultural farmland.  Whilst the proposed OHL route was selected so as to avoid designated sites of ornithological interest, these habitats still support a range of sensitive species of importance for nature conservation including a variety of raptors such as golden and white-tailed eagles, osprey, red kite, hen harrier and goshawk, overwintering geese, black grouse and the iconic capercaillie.

However, the proposed OHL route was developed so as to cause as little impact to sensitive ornithological species as possible with protection measures being prescribed during construction to minimise disturbance to breeding birds and diverters being proposed at key flight activity hotspots to minimise the risk of collision by potentially susceptible species such as osprey, red kite and migratory geese.

An application for the project’s consent has recently been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit for their consideration.