A promising year for the Bewick's?
Mild temperatures and westerly winds have stemmed the flow of Bewick’s to Britain in recent days with only small groups venturing across the North Sea from the continent. However, slowly but surely the swans are edging closer. The 2,300 birds that dropped into Latvia last week are now moving into north-west Europe and ornithologists and enthusiasts are reporting birds popping up in their areas (D. Boiko & W. Tijsen).
The early signs look promising for the swans this year. As Wim Tijsen from the Netherlands mused:
‘It seems to be finally a good year for our white friends!’
As Wim and others have watched the swans arrive, they have noticed good numbers of cygnets in the flocks. Along the Waddensea coast in Friesland, between 19-23% of birds recorded were cygnets (W. Tijsen & T. de Boer). This follows a long run of poor breeding seasons where flocks have comprised only 10% or so young.
A co-ordinated age count of swans across north-west Europe in December (when more birds have arrived at wintering sites) will confirm whether the Bewick’s swans have had a good breeding year.
Meanwhile back at Slimbridge, we now have seven swans roosting on the reserve, all of whom are grazing in surrounding fields during the daytime.
Regular visitors Dario and Bridges flew in bringing with them a couple of yearlings, now named Zelda and Zac.
Although breaking a habit of a lifetime by not arriving first this year, Dario is still among the first ten birds who are able to make the most of the grain feeds in relative peace before the remaining 300 swans arrive!
Last winter, we were unsure whether Bridges was Dario’s mate or just an associate and their relationship was at best described as ‘flakey’! However, we watched their bond strengthen as the months rolled by and their arrival together this winter makes it look even more likely that they are indeed a couple.
