Bewick’s swans knock on the doors at WWT Slimbridge
The first Bewick’s swans have arrived in the UK following their annual migration from Russia.
We're pleased to welcome back the Bewick’s swans to our Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Two Bewick’s, named Piquet and Primero (pictured above), arrived on site first on Sunday 3 November. The pair have been together since the winter of 2015, returning to Slimbridge in the winter of 2021 with two cygnets, and again in 2023 with a further three.
Today, Tuesday 12 November, another pair Gastro and Roux have arrived after first wintering together at Slimbridge in 2019. Last year, they brought their first two cygnets with them. More Bewick’s are expected to arrive in the coming days and weeks. WWT founder and conservationist Sir Peter Scott dedicated much of his time to observing Bewick’s swans, particularly their unique bill patterns.
Our conservation team continues to monitor the birds using Sir Peter’s techniques, after it was formalised as a scientific study which has been repeated every winter since 1963.
As the Bewick’s arrive in Slimbridge after their annual 3,500km migration, they are given a name and their bill pattern is logged, allowing WWT conservation experts to follow the long and fascinating lives of these birds and their family dynamics. Over 10,000 birds have been named in over 60 years.
The continued study of Bewick’s swans is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who have now raised over £5.9million in support of WWT’s work since 2015.
Anita Kerwin-Nye, Director for Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at WWT thanks players for their ongoing support:
“Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have a real impact on our work at WWT. A great example is through the work our conservation team are supported to do in monitoring and educating more people about the beautiful Bewick’s swan. Player funding also supports many day-to-day activities across our sites, including WWT Slimbridge, helping to make it the place where a lot of these Bewick’s call home over winter.”
Funds raised by players are integral to supporting WWT’s mission to restore wetlands and unlock their superpowers; supporting conservation at WWT’s wetland centres and project sites across the UK and around the world.
Kane Brides, Senior Research Officer at WWT welcomes the Bewick’s return:
“Bewick’s swans hold a special place in our hearts here at WWT. It’s wonderful to see the flock settle at Slimbridge once again this year. It’s a spectacle that never gets old, and I encourage anyone with an interest in wetlands or nature to come and see these wondrous birds for themselves.”
Bewick’s swans are small white swans with a black and yellow bill. Every winter they fly from the arctic winters in Russia to the UK, where they can access ice-free wetlands.
Visitors will have the opportunity to see the Bewick's swans at WWT Slimbridge and other WWT sites across the UK, until they take flight again in Spring 2025. Plan your visit.
