Wimble makes a welcome return
Wimble the whooper swan has arrived at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, having now clocked over 40,000 air miles during her lifetime. She is at least 17 years old and has made the migration between Iceland and the UK twice each year.
Wimble joins an increasing number of these incredible birds on the Ouse Washes for the winter. A swan count carried out by reserve staff and volunteers last week revealed that there are now 4,762 whooper swans and 193 Bewick’s swans currently using these wetlands.
This particular swan is a regular visitor to the Norfolk-Cambridgeshire reserve and has been spotted for many years either in the Fens or in Iceland, where these birds spend their summer. With up to 10,000 swans using the Ouse Washes in the peak of winter, WWT Welney encourages as many people to help with spotting the ringed swans as possible.
Visitors are able to see many of these ‘Welney regulars’ at the commentated swan feeds. A swan research station in the main hide allows visitors to look up any swans spotted at the feeds. The brightly coloured leg rings have bold codes on them, making them easy to identify.
