The Bewick's have landed
The first Bewick's swans have arrived to spend the winter at WWT centres with two seen flying over Welney this morning and six arriving at Slimbridge last night.
Clear night skies, cool temperatures and easterly winds over the past couple of days have provided ideal conditions for their westerly migrations through northern Europe. We have had reports of their progress on migration from dedicated observers on the continent with news of 1,000 birds on the Estonian/Russian border earlier this week and 500 in Lauwersmeer in the Netherlands. This weather is set to continue for the next few days and is likely to encourage more Bewick's to reach British shores.
The first Bewick's to arrive at Slimbridge include pair Dario and Dorcus who have been the first to arrive at the reserve for the past three years. This is the sixth year that they have been together as a pair with Dario first wintering at Slimbridge as a cygnet in 1999. Having learnt the migration route from parents Raptor and Goodall, Dario has returned nearly every year since, illustrating the great site fidelity shown by this species (and the attraction of the reserve in providing plentiful food and a safe roost). Three yearlings and another adult have arrived with them
