Swan news
Migration news!
This winter, a team of dedicated WWT staff and volunteers spent many hours sitting in soggy, cold fields on the Ouse Washes in Norfolk, waiting to catch some Bewick’s swans under a cannon-fired net. Releasing birds
3 April 2014
Au revoir!
Our last two Bewick’s swans at Slimbridge have now embarked on their journey back to arctic Russia drawing to a close what has been a rather memorable swan season. Swans arriving at Slimbridge (G. Hann) Following th
19 March 2014
Lone cygnet migrates with adopted family
Annie, our lone cygnet left behind after her parents migrated back to Russia, has now left Slimbridge with her newly adopted family! Annie We were very pleased to see Annie becoming closer to Wooton and Stinchcombe an
10 March 2014
Parents leave cygnet behind...
As we see signs of spring around our reserves we are savouring the last signs of winter by enjoying the final few migratory swans. There are now ten Bewick’s swans left at Slimbridge including parents Wooton and Stinchcombe and their four cygnets, the l
27 February 2014
Swans reach Lithuania!
The Bewick’s are emptying out of the country with numbers dropping sharply on the Ouse Washes the most important wintering site for the species in Northwest Europe. The area had been humming with just over 1,000 birds until recently but westerly breezes
24 February 2014
Spring migration underway!
The first 70 Bewick’s swans have left Slimbridge for arctic Russia, embarking on a migration that may cover 2,500 miles and taking them up to 8 weeks to complete. These swans made the most of calm, clear evenings last Friday and again last night to leav
21 February 2014
New arrivals in the UK as snow hits Germany
The cold, snowy weather in Germany seems to have prompted a few individuals to fly that little bit further and finally make it to Slimbridge. These are very late arrivals given that the Bewick’s are just weeks away from leaving on spring migration back
31 January 2014
50th anniversary of Bewick’s swan research!
Peter Scott watching the swans at Slimbridge (photo by Lady Philippa Scott) Today WWT is celebrating 50 years of
23 January 2014
An unusual winter so far.....
This really is panning out to be a rather unusual winter! With the lowest number of Bewick's swans recorded at Slimbridge since 1965 and with around 1,000 on the Ouse Washes when we might expect up to 5,000, we have been asking our network of dedicated sw
16 January 2014
Floods, floods, floods!
Over the weekend, the River Severn, which lies adjacent to Slimbridge, rose to the highest level we can remember since 1982. This unusual tidal surge transformed many areas of low lying salt marsh into large lakes as the water stretched a further half mil
8 January 2014
Lowest number of swans at Slimbridge since 1965
You would be forgiven for thinking that a wet and windy autumn is in full swing with winter yet to arrive! These weather patterns are shaping what is turning out to be a memorable winter. The predominantly south-westerly winds and mild temperatures have m
30 December 2013
Swans stay put in wild weather!
Precarious flying! (G. Hann) It will come as no surprise that blustery south-westerly gales and torrential downpours are not conducive to good flying! Migrating with a strong wind against you is hard work and expends
23 December 2013
The Big Cygnet Count!
After the brief cold snap numbers have stabalised and many Bewick’s swans remain in eastern Europe. Those that have reached the Netherlands are feasting on maize and other grains, a solid staple for those visiting arable areas which in recent years, hav
5 December 2013
Return of The Gamblers!
Croupier (C. Butters) Faithful Slimbridge swan Croupier has flown in with his mate Dealer for his 23rd winter at Slimbridge! Croupier first learnt the way to the reserve as a cygnet in 1991 after following parents Cas
27 November 2013
Cold weather prompts swan-fall!
Over 50 new Bewick’s swans flew into Slimbridge last night transforming the Rushy Lake into a vibrant theatre of courtship routines, frenzied feeding and territorial squabbles! Conditions were perfect for migration with clear skies, good visibility and
22 November 2013