Whooper Swans around Cambridge

Back in November, I noticed quite a lot of swans, Whooper Swans to be precise, pecking and calling on the farmland between the River Great Ouse and the fenland north of our village, Cottenham. Those numbers have gone up substantially in the last week or so. Whooper Swan, Cygnus cygnus One birding friend Ian counted 500+ on a trek along one of the droves to observe them, and he reported back again today that he estimates there are perhaps 800 spread across two or three sites north of our village. Moreover, reports from elsewhere around Cambridge hint at four-figure numbers of the birds on our patch, he says. Another friend, Chris pointed out that he was being kept awake by honking calls from behind the Tenison Manor Estate, locally referred to as “The Birds” because the street names are bird names. Turns out it’s Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) there too, between the Cottenham Lode, The Cut, and the Les King Wood, perhaps fifty or so. The numbers may swell as the winter moves on. If you’ve ever visited WWT Welney* in Norfolk, you may well be familiar with the Whooper Swan. They’re a big white bird, with a black and yellow bill, but they lack the bobble on the bill of the more frequently seen Mute Swan (Cygnus olor). The Whoopers head south from their summer breeding grounds in Iceland to find food and shelter. Welney welcomes thousands of winter visitors, including Whoopers and their relative Bewick’s Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) each wi...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Birds Source Type: blogs