11/01/18 - Lone Bewick's

Within our herd of 163 wintering Whooper Swans there has once again been an old friend – a single returning Bewick’s Swan - best looked for with the herd from the hides at North Duffield Carrs. During the 1970’s and 80’s numbers of wintering Bewick’s Swans regularly numbered between 100-250 (occasionally 300+), spending the winter in our relatively mild conditions compared to those on the breeding grounds on the Russian tundra. However, since the 1990’s numbers have fallen sharply with only a mere handful of birds recorded most winters over the last decade or so – the reasons however are likely to lie outside of the valley. The population of Bewick’s Swans have experienced a large decline across their range, with birds now wintering in the Low Countries in Europe, possibly in response to climate change - there is no longer the need to fly all the way from Russia to the LDV if you can spend the winter feeding on enough food in, for example, the Netherlands. However, maintaining good conditions for them is always important should a cold snap on the continent force herds back across the North Sea.

Family party - December 2014