Bewick's swans - record breaking early arrivals fuel cold winter rumours
Something quite extraordinary is happening this week at WWT, three of our wetland centres have reported the earliest arrival of the world famous Bewick’s swans for over 50 years and it's rumoured that this may mean we are in for a long and bitter winter!
The first Bewick’s swan of autumn arrived at WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire on Sunday 11 October and was swiftly followed by one of its friends arriving at WWT Martin Mere in Lancashire on Tuesday 13 October. A couple of these beautiful swans have also been spotted at our WWT reserve in Welney, Norfolk.
The previous record for the earliest Bewick’s swans to arrive at Slimbridge is held by Tomato and Ketchup, a couple who flew in on 12 October 1980. It was obviously a good year for Bewick’s, as the previous earliest record for a Bewick’s swan arriving at WWT Martin Mere was 19 October 1980.
WWT studies have shown that the weather is a major influence on when Bewick’s swans migrate from Russia, with wind direction being a crucial factor. Unusually cold weather is currently sweeping parts of western Russia and Eastern Europe with temperatures at a chilly 5-10 degrees centigrade below average.
The low temperatures, snowfall and north easterly winds have encouraged Bewick’s swans to press on with their westwards migration through Europe. They are also currently gathering in the Netherlands, where there are 45 on Lake Gooimeer and 80 on Lake Lauwersmeer.
El Niño is underway in the tropical Pacific, prompting speculation that Europe is in for a long, cold winter. The early migration of Bewick’s swans which we’re seeing at our WWT centres reflects that winter certainly has kicked off earlier than usual in many countries.
WWT’s Julia Newth said:
“Apparently there’s a Russian saying ‘the swan brings snow on its bill’, because they tend to move just ahead of the cold weather. Of course, we can’t infer much from the arrival of a couple of swans but it’s certainly exciting these birds have arrived so early.
“The Bewick that has arrived at WWT Slimbridge is only a year old and, because it’s made it all the way here on its own, we assume that it must have come here last year as a cygnet with its parents. We record all the Bewick’s swans that come to Slimbridge each winter by their unique bill pattern as part of our study* and give them a name. This one needed a name, so we’ve called him Record Breaker.”
You can see the Bewick’s (and Whooper) swans and watch them being fed at WWT Slimbridge, WWT Martin Mere and WWT Welney from November to March (February at Slimbridge). Centres also hold floodlit swan feeds and suppers and some open early and late so that visitors can see one of the UK’s best wildlife spectacles – huge flocks of migratory birds taking flight at dawn and coming in to roost at dusk. Find your nearest centre and find out what’s on this autumn.
The Bewick’s swans can also be seen at WWT Slimbridge via the webcam
For more on swans visit www.wwt.org.uk/swans
