Bewick's touch down at Slimbridge!
The first two Bewick’s of the winter have arrived at Slimbridge wetland centre fresh from the Russian arctic! The adult male was immediately recognised by its distinctive black and yellow bill pattern as a bird named Gastro by our researcher Steve Heaven. Gastro first made an appearance at Slimbridge last winter and has remembered the migration route to make a grand return with his new mate named Roux. Both Gastro and Roux have quickly settled in and were joined by two Slimbridge stalwarts, Illyan and Nero.
Nero, who is 19 years old, first visited the reserve as a yearling in 2001 and has faithfully returned most winters since. Our long-term studies have shown that Bewick’s swans are very loyal to their wintering sites. WWT’s founder, Sir Peter Scott, first noticed this when 16 of the 24 Bewick’s swans he observed from his studio window during the 1963-64 winter returned to Slimbridge the following year. This insight and the realisation that each Bewick's swan could be identified by its distinctive black and yellow bill pattern, instigated the long-term study of the swans at Slimbridge that continues today making it one of the longest running studies of a species in the world. Nero sadly lost his first mate but in 2010 repaired with Illyan.
The majority of the Northwest Bewick's swan population remain further east with no more than 100 in the Netherlands at the moment (W. Tijsen). However, our transmitter swans are edging ever closer. Hope, Elroy and Leho have made it to Latvia and will likely be pushed further west with the arrival of colder weather and north-easterly winds.
Have a special close up experience with the swans this winter by staying at the newly opened Bewick’ Lodge at Slimbridge. More information here
Dr Julia Newth and Steve Heaven
