A FIELD ecologist supporting the appeal said he thought the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds would like to pull money together to buy land and manage it to maximise the benefits for cirl buntings, or to pay farmers to manage their land. Dr David Fee, a former principal consultant with Devon Wildlife Trust, is currently surveying the route of a new South West Water pipeline from Ware Barton, which will go through the site, to identify the territories of the rare birds. He said cirl bunting territory had been identified 490 metres west of the appeal site at the top of Coombe Valley, and the species had been heard singing on eight other occasions in May and June between there and Bishopsteignton. Standard RSPB monitoring methods were used and were continuing, but no cirl buntings had been recorded on the site. Philip Baker, of Frobisher Close, a keen birdwatcher and RSPB volunteer, had previously told the inquiry that the sight and sound of singing males in May suggested that there were still at least two breeding pairs present in the field. He had also said it was difficult to understand how any money offered in mitigation could save the destruction of the site as an area for cirl bunting breeding. Dr Fee said he had the utmost respect for Mr Baker, and had no reason to question his findings. 'The fact he did not have access to the site is slightly worrying. It is not always possible to pinpoint where they are,' he said, adding that confirmation of breeding could not be equated with the presence of a singing male. As regards mitigation – it had been agreed that £15,000 would be paid towards the acquisition and/or management of the land for conserving and enhancing cirl buntings, repayable if not used within five years – Dr Fee said they had tried to work out a package to suit all parties. 'In my opinion I think it was a gesture of goodwill on the part of the developer. I am not saying this because I am in the pocket of the developer or anything like that,' he said, continuing that if no cirl bunting breeding territory was found there, in his opinion compensation would not have to be provided. 'To my knowledge, previous compensation has been based on proven evidence,' said Dr Fee. Referring to the Drake Road, Newton Abbot, development which overlapped cirl bunting territory, he said the RSPB was prepared to lose two pairs of breeding birds if there was appropriate compensation. Questioned by Graham Heath, representing the residents, Dr Fee said it was unlikely that the RSPB would sit there with a pot of money for five years and not use it. 'I assume the district council would be working in conjunction with the RSPB. It is a policy that is being consulted and ecologists will have to look at it. The RSPB looks upon it as the best long-term strategy for the future of the birds in Devon,' he said. Questioned by inspector Gerry Hollington, Dr Fee said the RSPB had not announced this because it thought some people may be critical of its approach. 'My understanding is a sum of money would be used to purchase land. Do not accept this as absolute truth. This is only what I am reading into it and I am reading into it that Teignbridge Council would manage it as a joint project. 'The RSPB probably do have a good idea of an area of land it would like to purchase,' he stated. Dr Fee said that despite tubes being put down for dormice, none had been found, though one had been seen two years earlier in Frobisher Wood. A mitigation of £5,000 had been agreed, with again a similar five-year repayable period to the birds.
