FREE Download: Ecology Survey Calendar

Our Ecology Survey Calendar is a practical, year‑round guide designed to help ecologists, developers, and environmental consultants plan field surveys across the UK.

Featuring season‑specific survey windows for protected species such as bats, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and habitats, this PDF resource ensures you stay compliant with regulations and maximise survey effectiveness.

Whether you’re scheduling bat roost checks or reptile presence/absence surveys, this planner equips you to plan fieldwork with confidence and accuracy.

Sweco Ecology Calendar

Professional advice should always be sought when carrying out surveys, and a survey/mitigation licence from the relevant statutory nature conservation organisation may be required, which Sweco can provide.

 

Download full PDFEcology Consultancy Services

Ecology Surveys – Calendar summary

Birds

  1. Breeding Birds: Mar–Jul (peak Apr–Jun)
  2. Wintering Birds: Oct–Mar
  3. Migrants: Mar–May and Aug–Oct
  4. Nesting Bird Checks: Feb–Aug (required before vegetation clearance)
  5. Vegetation Clearance: Avoid Mar–Aug if possible; if required, nesting bird checks needed

Bats

  1. Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRA): All year (optimal Mar–Oct)
  2. Hibernation Roost Inspections: Dec–Feb
  3. Emergence / Re-entry Surveys: May–Sep (peak Jun–Aug)
  4. Transect Surveys / Remote Monitoring: May–Sep
  5. Hibernation Roost Monitoring: Dec–Feb
  6. Maternity Roost Surveys: May–Aug
  7. Maternity & Hibernation Roost Mitigation: Depends on roost type, often May–Sep for maternity

Dormouse

  1. Nut Search: Sep–Nov
  2. Nest Tube Survey: Apr–Nov (peak May–Oct)
  3. Capture & Release / Vegetation Clearance: May–Jun (only by hand)

Great Crested Newt (GCN)

  1. Aquatic eDNA Survey: Apr–Jun (confirms absence)
  2. Traditional Aquatic Survey (presence/absence): Mid-Mar–Mid-Jun
  3. Terrestrial/Larvae Surveys: Apr–Sep
  4. Newt Trapping (Aquatic & Terrestrial): Mid-Mar–Jun
  5. Pond Management: Sep–Feb

Badger

  1. Sett Surveys: Year-round (optimal autumn & winter)
  2. Bait Marking: Feb–Apr and Jul–Sep
  3. Exclusion / Destruction of Setts: Jul–Nov (avoid breeding season Jan–Jun)

Reptiles

  1. Presence / Absence Surveys: Mar–Oct (optimal Apr–Jun and Sep)
  2. Capture, Translocation & Habitat Manipulation: Mar–Oct (best Apr–Jun & Sep)
  3. Above-Ground Scrub Clearance: Outside winter hibernation (avoid Nov–Feb)

Habitats

  1. Habitat Surveys: Apr–Sep (peak Jun–Aug)
  2. Field Sign Surveys: Apr–Sep
  3. Trapping / Displacement (where relevant): Apr–Sep

Otter

  1. Otter Surveys: Year-round (limited by vegetation cover/weather)
  2. Works to Avoid Disturbance: Careful planning all year

Water Vole

  1. Trapping, Torching & Hand Search: Apr–Oct
  2. Capture & Exclusion from Construction Area: Jul–Oct
  3. Habitat Suitability Assessment Only: Oct–Feb

White-clawed Crayfish

  1. Torching & Habitat Suitability Assessments: Jul–Sep
  2. Capture & Translocation / Exclusion: Jul–Oct

Vegetation / Planting

  1. UK Habitat Classification & NVC Surveys: Apr–Sep
  2. Planting / Translocation: Oct–Feb (outside growing season)
  3. Translocation (Some Species): Oct–Feb