Swans prepare for the off!
It has been challenging keeping track of the Bewick’s over the last few days! After counting just 165 at the morning feed on Swan Lake at the end of last week, we wondered whether some had left on spring migration....until a tip off led swan spotter Steve Heaven to a field several miles from the reserve where 51 were found to be happily grazing! After further probing, it appears that with the days drawing out, this group are leaving the reserve at first light to feed off-site whilst returning after dark!
With increasing comings and goings as the swans use other feeding sites and practice their flying skills before their long journey ahead, our method of identifying the swans by their unique bill patterns is the most accurate way of understanding exactly how many are here. 180 swans (including 36 cygnets) have been identified on the reserve so far this morning. Now is your chance to enjoy the great characters still with us before they leave shortly;
Dario and Bridges
Dario, who is famously the first swan to arrive at Slimbridge in recent winters, brought new ‘associate’ Bridges to Slimbridge on 25 October. Their relationship at first could only be described as ‘flakey’, but their bond has strengthened during the winter and they now seem to be a fully fledged pair! They are rarely seen apart from each other these days.
The Divorcees
Two winter ago, Saruni (female, ringed 525) and Sarindi (male, ringed BBZ) ‘divorced’, only the second known instance of separation in over 4,000 pairs studied at Slimbridge since the 1960s. That winter, to everyone’s surprise, they returned to the reserve with different partners! This winter, they arrived with their second partners again and we have been watching them very carefully. A possible reason for the divorce could be a failure to breed, so it was very interesting to see Saruni and second mate Sarune arrive with four cygnets! I wonder whether Sarindi will bring back cygnets next year.....There seems to be very little acknowledgement between the two pairs who have kept themselves to themselves this winter!
Caper
At 23 years old, Caper is currently the oldest Bewick’s swan known to be alive, as we still have no news of Winterling who was 28 last year. He first came to Slimbridge in 1989 as a yearling, and has visited most winters since. He brought his first mate, Frolic, to the reserve in 1999. They stayed together for eight years but sadly, Frolic did not return in 2007 having probably passed on. Caper had another mate called Gambol but is single again this winter. After Caper was caught and ringed in 1989, he was often spotted on migration in Germany, Poland and the Netherlands, until he managed to lose his ring in 1999! He is often the first to wait patiently on the lake shore or on one of the islands for the afternoon feed and is usually the first to greet the feed barrow. Look out for his metal ring which he still has on his left leg!
With temperatures becoming balmy and south-westerlies prevailing, conditions are looking very good for migration back towards Russia. All the swans now need are some crisp, clear skies to make visibility and navigation that little bit easier....
