As the Chair of Natural Devon

Nightjar

Data	Good. Last full survey carried out in 2005, many sites monitored annually
Context	An uncommon and local summer visitor and passage migrant in Devon.
Range / population	Favourable. Devon’s breeding population is concentrated on Dartmoor, Haldon and East Devon Commons and is believed to have increased since 1992. In 1992, 230 ‘churring’ males were recorded at 41 sites. In 2004^4 364 ‘churring’ males were recorded from 123 sites, an apparent increase of 58% (note a possible slight increase in survey effort in 2004). Since this survey regular annual monitoring of a sample of breeding sites indicates a stable population.
Habitat	Favourable. The main reason for the increase has been due to the clear felling of mature conifer plantations on Dartmoor resulting in bare ground which, provides suitable nesting habitats for nightjar provided that Forest Design Plans meet their needs.
Future prospects	Favourable The Forestry Commission’s long term felling plans may provide future nesting sites, especially on Dartmoor and Greater Haldon (again provided that Forest Design Plans meet their needs). The ongoing management of lowland heathland sites also sustains a more localised population, especially on Dartmoor and Greater Haldon.
Overall Devon status	Favourable
UK status	Increasing (BARS, 2008) Red (BoCC, 2009)

Breeding curlew

Data	Good. Upland surveys on Dartmoor (Wader Project) + annual monitoring of known breeding sites by Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society volunteers.
Context	Devon’s curlew population dropped from over 200 pairs in the 1980s to around 30 in the mid 1990s due to loss and fragmentation of habitat.
Range	Unfavourable bad.
Population	Unfavourable bad. The breeding population is now thought to be fewer than 5 – 8 pairs.
Habitat	Unfavourable bad Undergrazing has affected past breeding sites on central Dartmoor and is still an issue. Currently, with populations at such a low level, predation of eggs and chicks is having a serious impact, with only four young curlews known to have successfully fledged in the last nine years. Disturbance at breeding sites is also an issue.
Future prospects	Unfavourable bad. The ‘Operation Wader’ initiative on Dartmoor was set up in 2004 and is working to improve habitat and reduce predator impacts. Predator control is very difficult on commons but some targeted crow control has been implemented resulting in annual hatching of eggs. Loss of chicks to predation is now identified as the main problem to fledging success. Further intervention to improve fledging success is ongoing on known breeding sites on Dartmoor. Annual monitoring is ongoing.
Overall Devon status	Unfavourable bad
UK status (BoCC, 2009)	Amber

Other species
Upland birds.

The moors of Dartmoor and Exmoor are important strongholds for many bird species and hold nationally important numbers of meadow pipit, whinchat, stonechat, wheatear, Dartford warbler, nightjar and possibly cuckoo and grasshopper warbler. Dartmoor holds all of Southern England’s breeding red grouse, dunlin and ring ouzel as well as the largest breeding concentration of snipe left in Southern England and significant numbers of skylark. Red-backed shrike are also now found breeding on Dartmoor. Exmoor represents the only regular breeding site for merlin in South West England.

Appropriate grazing regimes are essential in order to provide and maintain the range of habitats needed to support diverse moorland bird communities. Some breeding species such as Dartford warbler and stonechat are showing signs of ‘moving up the hill’ in line with predictions about climate change. At the same time, birds of higher altitudes such as ring ouzel are declining. We can increasingly expect to see climate change impacts affecting the bird populations of our uplands but by providing the best possible habitat conditions we can minimise such impacts.
Dartmoor. Results are based on moorland surveys carried out in 1979 & 2006-8 (other than nightjar surveys⁴). Arrows below indicate population trend since 1979.
↑ - whinchat, nightjar, grey wagtail, redstart, stonechat, grasshopper warbler, Dartford warbler (although last two cold winters knocked numbers), reed bunting.
↔ - dunlin, red grouse, skylark, snipe (one of the largest breeding populations in southern England), cuckoo.
↓ - meadow pipit (1992 –2006), wheatear, ring ouzel, golden plover (no records from breeding areas since 2008), lapwing, curlew.


Exmoor. Results based on moorland surveys carried out in 1992/3 & 2008 (other than nightjar⁴ and Dartford warbler⁵) and include areas within both Devon and Somerset. Arrows indicate general population trend between these surveys.
↑ - stonechat, linnet, grey wagtail, nightjar, grasshopper warbler, Dartford warbler, lesser redpoll, reed bunting.
↔ - cuckoo, snipe, whitethroat, yellowhammer.
↓ - red grouse (extinct), lapwing (extinct), ring ouzel (extinct), skylark, tree pipit, meadow pipit, whinchat, merlin, curlew, redstart, wheatear.


Seabirds

Seabirds breed along much of Devon’s coastline, with two sites standing out as being of particular significance. Lundy. Of the 26 seabird species that nest regularly in Britain and Ireland a total of 10 breed regularly on Lundy. Manx shearwater, guillemots and razorbills occur in numbers of regional significance. Seabird numbers on Lundy are known to have fallen significantly since 1939 with much of the decline taking place in the 1940s. Predation by rats was one of the main reasons for decline in burrow nesting birds such as Manx shearwater and puffin. The Lundy Seabird Recovery Project (a partnership between English Nature, RSPB, National Trust and Landmark Trust) was established to increase the numbers and breeding success of birds and in the winter of 2003/2004 achieved the eradication of rats from the island. Various seabird surveys have been undertaken since 1939, including a census in 2000 (Seabird 2000) and subsequent censuses in 2004 and 2008. The next census will be undertaken in 2013. One of the key issues is now the identification and appropriate protection of key foraging areas. The designation of MCZs will be of great benefit to the seabird population, see coast and marine section. (Brown et al, 2011)^6 Current trend (in the context of largely dramatic declines during the 20^th century and numbers remaining low) ↑ Manx shearwater. In 2004 fledglings were recorded for the first time in 40 years following the eradication of rats. The 2008 survey found an increase in breeding numbers of 250% since 2001. Razorbills. Numbers continued to fall to a low in 1986 but have since begun to steadily increase. This may be due to rat eradication and improved food availability. Guillemots. Population appears to have stabilized since the 1970, with an increase between 2004 and 2008. Puffin. The decline mirrors similar losses elsewhere in the south of its range (declined from 3,500 pairs in 1939 to single figures in 2004. Since the eradication of rats there has been a slight recovery in numbers. ↓ Kittiwake. A continual dramatic decline since 1939, which is thought to be due to, reduced prey availability. Berry Head. Supports the most important mainland breeding colony of guillemots in south west England, with around 900 birds occupying the cliffs each year.  There are concerns about disturbance at this colony which is protected by a local bylaw called a ‘Area of Special Protection’ (ASP). The Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust and RSPB are developing a monitoring project to better understand the issues, review the management of the ASP and as necessary, strengthen the level of protection for the guillemots.

Woodland birds

Devon is an important stronghold for many priority woodland bird species, in particular the upland oak woodland assemblage of redstart, pied flycatcher and wood warbler. The county also supports potentially important populations of willow tits and lesser spotted woodpeckers, both of which have experienced serious declines nationally in recent decades.  The national Repeat Woodland Bird Survey compared numbers from the mid 1980s to 2003/4^7. Trends are available at the local level for Devon and Somerset combined. Results show: ↑ Spotted flycatchers - a 400% increase (this species is declining nationally) ↓ Willow warbler – a 68% decrease Wood warbler – a 63% decrease (the decline of both warblers is in line with national trends). In response to declines in many woodland birds and other woodland taxa such as bats and butterflies, a partnership of organisations, the South West Woodland Wildlife Initiative, has begun discussions over potential recovery actions including targeted species management advice for woodland owners. The Initiative includes RSPB, NE, FC, BCT, BC, Plantlife, Woodland Trust and Protected Landscapes.

4.3 REPTILES and AMPHIBIANS
Key species identified for conservation in Devon (Devon BAP, 1998)
Sand lizard, great crested newt
Bold = current UK priority species

Other UK priority species which occur in Devon (but not listed as ‘key’ in 1998) are: adder, grass snake, smooth snake, slow worm, common lizard, common toad and leatherback turtle.

There are no relevant Species Action Plans in the Devon BAP.
Great Crested Newt

Data	Poor. Data obtained from surveys carried out for planning applications (but only when sent to DBRC) as well as survey and awareness raising undertaken by Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group across Devon in 2011 in order to find new records.[^25]
Context	Great crested newts are on the edge of their UK range in Devon and a significant proportion of the county’s geology (acid granite) provides unsuitable habitat. There is no evidence that they have ever been widespread in Devon.
Range	Favourable? Great crested newts are not widespread in Devon and are known to occur in the Bovey Basin, Torbay and East Devon areas. New records obtained from the 2011 project were largely in these areas, indicating that their range is stable. As stated above there is no evidence that they have ever been more widespread in Devon. However new populations are still being found and they are likely to be more widespread than current records show.
Population	Unknown. The 2011 survey was largely focused on finding new sites. There is therefore little information on the overall population.
Habitat	Unknown. Prefers shallow edged ponds for breeding, with abundant vegetation and no fish, connected to terrestrial habitat (rough grassland, woodland, scrub) for foraging, shelter and hibernation. Loss and degradation of ponds is an issue.
Future prospects	Unfavourable inadequate. Great crested newts are protected from development through European legislation (Devon guidance was produced in 2012). However, continuing threats include loss of, or deterioration of, ponds (e.g. pollution, siltation, shading), loss of adjacent terrestrial habitat or links to this habitat, and populations becoming (or remaining) isolated. As they are likely to be more widespread than current records show there is a risk of undetected populations being destroyed or harmed through development and other activities.
Overall Devon status	Unfavourable inadequate.
UK status (JNCC, 2008)	Unfavourable inadequate.

Sand lizard

Data	Good. The Dawlish population is being monitored.
Context	Nationally the population has declined dramatically since the 1950s and it became extinct in Devon.
Range / population	Unfavourable inadequate Over the last ten years the sand lizard has been introduced to two sand dune systems in Devon and although the populations are thought to be doing well they are not large enough to ensure long term viability of the species in Devon.
Habitat	Unfavourable inadequate. This species occurs in lowland heathland and sand dune habitats.
Future prospects	Unfavourable bad. The long term persistence of this species is highly dependent on further introductions
Overall Devon status	Unfavourable inadequate
UK status (JNCC, 2008)	Unfavourable inadequate but improving.

Other priority species:
The smooth snake is a lowland heath specialist and became extinct in Devon in the 1950s due to the loss and degradation of heathland sites. After 20 years of work to restore heathlands in East Devon as part of the National Heathland Restoration Programme, a reintroduction programme for the smooth snake was initiated on an RSPB reserve using snakes from Dorset. It is too early to know the success of this project.

Adder, grass snake, slow worm, common lizard and common toad are all widespread in Devon and the Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group advises that they appear to be doing well due to the wide variety of habitats present across the county. Adder and common toad are thought to be declining at a national level but there is currently no evidence of this in Devon. Grass snakes are widely recorded in Plymouth and Exeter and may be becoming more reliant on garden ponds due to the loss of ponds from the wider countryside.

4.4 FISH

Key species identified for conservation in Devon (Devon BAP, 1998)
Atlantic salmon, brown trout, Allis shad, Twaite shad, sea lamprey, sea bass, common goby, red band fish, Stephen’s goby, giant goby, basking shark
Bold = current UK priority species


A Devon Species Action Plan has been produced for Atlantic salmon:
Atlantic salmon

Data	Moderate. Annual reports on the state of salmon stocks in England and Wales have been published for the past fifteen years by CEFAS and the EA, as required by ICES and NASCO (CEFAS / EA, 2012). These reports include information on the stock conservation limits for principal salmon rivers. Conservation Limits indicate the minimum spawning stock levels below which stocks should not be allowed to fall. Data is secured through catch information and traps / counters where these are present. The only river in Devon with a fish counter is the Tamar. The ‘management objective’ for salmon stocks is that they should meet or exceed their Conservation Limit in at least four years out of five. Assessment is based on the probability of the river meeting the management objective. Not at risk > 95% Probably not at risk 50 – 95% Probably at risk 5 – 50% At risk < 5%
Context	The Atlantic salmon is a key indictor species, being dependent on very high water quality. There are thirteen salmon rivers in Devon (a significant proportion of the salmon rivers in southern England), the Exe, Teign, Dart, Avon, Erme, Plym, Tavy, Tamar, Torridge, Taw, Lyn and Axe and Yealm. The headwaters of the Teign, Dart, Erme, Yealm, Tavy and Taw are all within Dartmoor SAC with salmon being a ‘qualifying species’. The population underwent a substantial decline from around the 1960s. The River Axe was once a ‘classic’ salmon river, but declines in the 1970s reduced the population to virtual extinction. Annual stocking, installation of fish passes and improvements to water quality since 1990 led to a small but sustained recovery. Another example of long-term decline of stocks has been seen on the River Torridge as a result of water quality problems.
Range / population	Unfavourable inadequate. 2011 assessment of the Conservation Limits of Devon’s salmon rivers (CEFAS/EA, 2012): ‘At risk’: Axe, Erme, Yealm, Plym and Torridge ‘Probably at risk’: Avon, Tamar, Dart, Tavy ‘Probably not at risk’: Teign, Taw, Lyn ‘Not at risk’: Exe
Habitat	Unfavourable inadequate. Salmon require clean well-oxygenated river gravels for spawning, coarse boulder / cobble / pebble substrates for fry and parr (juvenile fish), cover (e.g. from woody debris, overhanging vegetation and aquatic macrophytes), an abundant supply of insect prey and unimpeded access between spawning beds and the sea. Issues identified by the EA (2012)^1 include water quality (siltation from soil erosion, pesticides from sheep dip and water abstraction / flow modification) and channel morphology (including barriers to fish migration).
Future prospects	Unfavourable inadequate - improving 2016 predicted assessment of the Conservation Limits of Devon’s salmon rivers (CEFAS/EA, 2012): ‘At risk’: none ‘Probably at risk’: Avon, Tamar, Axe, Erme, Yealm, Plym Torridge ‘Probably not at risk’: Teign, Taw, Lyn, Dart, Tavy ‘Not at risk’: Exe In 2008, the EA published a new sea trout and salmon fisheries strategy^2 with a goal of “more sea trout and more salmon in more rivers bringing more benefit” and an emphasis on improving the environment (EA, 2008). The European Water Framework Directive and the programme of measures under the River Basin Management Plans are integral to delivering this strategy. The EA has identified and prioritised factors affecting individual river stocks in Sea Trout and Salmon Catchment Summaries. Priority is given to improving water bodies which are not achieving ‘Good Ecological Status’ and/or fisheries that are below Conservation Limits. The EA is giving a greater focus on partnership, reflecting the growth of other bodies such as the Westcountry Rivers Trust and Devon Wildlife Trust who are able to deliver using wider sources of funding.
Overall Devon status	Unfavourable inadequate
UK status (JNCC, 2008)	Unfavourable inadequate

4.5 INVERTEBRATES
Key species identified for conservation in Devon (Devon BAP, 1998)
Woodland – Carabus intricatus (blue ground beetle), heath fritillary, pearl bordered fritillary, orange upperwing (moth), stag beetle, Formica rufa (wood-ant), wood cricket, Velleius dilatatus (rove beetle), Neoascia oblique (hoverfly), Limnophilia abdominalis (cranefly), Anatella lenis (fungus gnat), Chalandea pinguis (centipede), Anthogona britannica (millipede)
Coast (including sea cliff) and marine - Sandbowl snail, Lasioglossum angusticeps (bee), Lundy cabbage flea beetle, sunset cup coral, Eunicalla verrucosa (pink sea fan), Amphianthus dohrnii (sea anemone) Thyme lacebug, Cathormiocerus attaphhillus (weevil), Dionaea aurifrons (parasitic fly), great green bushcricket, Andrena hattorfiana (mining bee), Nomada guttulata (cuckoo bee), N. sexfasciata (cuckoo bee), Lasioglossum laticeps (mining bee), Adicellis filicornis (caddis fly), Ernodes urticularis (caddis fly), Calliepis nocturna (spider), Cardiphorus erichsoni (click beetle), Morris’s wainscot (moth), scarce black-neck (moth), Leptoiulus belgicus (millipede), Ophelia bicornis (polychaete wor Gammarus chevreuxi (crustacean), Laomedia angulate (hydroid), Anthopleara baltii (sea anemone), red sea finger (sponge), Molgula oculata (sea squirt), Scarlet and gold star coral, Devonshire cup coral, , Ross coral, Haplangia dortrix (coral), Carophylla inornate (cup coral), edible sea urchin, Episinus maculipes (spider), Aglaophenia kirchenpaueri (hydroid) Okenia elegans (mollusc), Tritonia nilsodneri (bean slug), Ocinebrina aciculate (sea snail), Cataphellia brodicii (sea anemone), Isozoanthus sulcatus (sea anemone), Pycnoclavella aurilucens (sea squirt), Axinella damicornis (sponge) Thymosia guernia (sponge) Suberites massa, Sabellaria alveolate (polychaete), Sabellaria spinulosa (polychaete), Hartluabella gelatinosa (hydroid), Stelliger bellulus (sea slug)
Rivers / Standing open water – Hydrochus nitidicollis (water beetle), white-clawed crayfish, freshwater pearl mussel fairy shrimp, Lymnaea glabra (snail), Pseudamnicola confusa (snail), scarce blue-tailed damselfly, small red damselfly, medicinal leech.
Inland rock exposures / caves / mines – Trigoniophthalmus alternatus (bristletail), Niphargus glennei (shrimp)
Heathland / grassland - southern damselfly, Formica exsecta (narrow headed ant), silver-studded blue, high-brown fritillary, heath fritillary, hornet robberfly, large blue butterfly,