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 largest family of the winter. Wooton is a faithful Slimbridge visitor, having spent most winters on the reserve since she first arrived in 1997! She has been caught several times and now has a ring on her leg (coded BAS). Over the years, she has been spotted in four countries across the migratory route; England, the Netherlands, Germany and Estonia! Her mate Stinchcombe is also ringed (BAU). With such few swans they are easy to spot and have been spending much of the day resting on the Tack Piece with three other adults, and intriguingly, a lone cygnet.....
The lone cygnet has apparently been left behind after his parents migrated earlier this week and although has latched on to Wooton and Stinchcombe and their cygnets, is spending much of its time calling, presumably in hope of being reunited. Occasionally, cygnets become separated from their parents during migration when there is perhaps bad weather but it is rather more unusual to see such a separation before the journey has begun! It will be interesting to see whether the parents return....
