Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share to Google Plus
Share by email
 

Bewick's Swan Diary

Julia Newth is a wildlife health research officer at WWT and has been involved with monitoring the 300 or so wild Bewick's swans that spend their winter at Slimbridge, for four years.

The Bewick's swan study was started in February 1964 by Sir Peter Scott, when the first wild Bewick's swans were attracted to a lake in the Rushy Pen at Slimbridge. Peter and his family took a very close interest in the swans. By drawing each swan's bill pattern (which is unique to each individual), a detailed study of the species began which continues to this day, making it one of the longest running research projects of any single species in the world!

Julia's winter months at Slimbridge are spent identifying the swans by their bill patterns as they arrive. Once the individuals are identified and named, the behaviour and movements of each can then be closely studied on site. The Bewick's swans are particularly special in that they have great winter site fidelity and so over half of the swans that visit Slimbridge each winter are known to have visited us before.

It is always exciting to see who will be arriving next and whether they have brought any cygnets with them. Some of our swans are also ringed which enables us to track them on their Autumn and Spring migrations to and from arctic Russia. It is always lovely to receive news of old swan friends in foreign lands as they progress on their 3,000 km journeys!

Swans ice-skating!

Posted on 2nd February 2012 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

The lake was almost completely frozen today! Words cannot describe this winter wonderland well enough, so here are some photographs by Graham Hann. Enjoy! 189 swans were recorded on the lake today, a mixture of new arrivals that have escaped … Continue reading →

Roscoff arrives in cold snap

Posted on 1st February 2012 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

As I sit here trying to warm up, it's hard to believe that the last entry started with the phrase 'spring like temperatures'! It's no wonder that we are consumed by the weather in Britain! The weather is a key … Continue reading →

Last few weeks in Britain

Posted on 26th January 2012 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

Following the return to spring like temperatures, Swan Lake has been relatively calm and tranquil (well, as calm and tranquil as you can get with 175 swans gliding around!), with very few comings and goings. The feeds have been well … Continue reading →

Highest count of the winter so far

Posted on 17th January 2012 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

The fraught hooting and honking gave the game away this morning as I made my way to the hide. Eight new swans were busily establishing themselves on the lake, along with several birds that had returned to the reserve after … Continue reading →

Winter is back again!

Posted on 16th January 2012 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

At last, proper winter weather! A high pressure system developing over the UK has brought plunging temperatures, crisp ground frosts and bright sunny days! Together with easterly winds, conditions are near perfect for the onwards migration of swans from the … Continue reading →

Caper flies in for his 23rd winter!

Posted on 9th January 2012 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

On yet another mild day with westerly winds, conditions not very suitable for migration to Britain, I was beginning to wonder how many more swans would arrive this winter. We were therefore pleasantly surprised to see a trickle of regulars … Continue reading →

A strange winter so far….

Posted on 23rd December 2011 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

What an interesting swan season so far! Although the first Bewick's flew into Northwest Europe 'on time', the mass migration of most of the population has stopped and started and stopped again, with periods of cold coinciding with the arrival … Continue reading →

The Slimbridge pecking order!

Posted on 19th December 2011 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

The cold weather has encouraged yet more swans to fly in with 39 birds arriving at Slimbridge over the past week pushing the count up to 130 today! We welcomed back 17 year old Geena who brought mate Hugo back … Continue reading →

Latest survey shows poor breeding

Posted on 13th December 2011 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

Last week, a big co-ordinated age count took place across Europe in an effort to determine whether or not the Bewick's have had a good breeding season, information which may help us to understand what is driving the population's rapid … Continue reading →

Arrival of the Royal Couple!

Posted on 9th December 2011 by Julia Newth @ Slimbridge

Strong south-westerly winds did not deter our Royal couple, William and Katherine, from pushing on to Slimbridge this week. The pair, named earlier in the year in honour of the Royal marriage, arrived back for their seventh winter together. They … Continue reading →

Read more articles >