Wintering Swans.
22nd November 2018
A spell of very cold weather always accelerates the already southerly movement of northern birds to the UK and there have been, typically, large flocks of Bramblings reported around the country. Every winter there are movements of wintering Swans to the UK, Whooper and Bewick’s. However, both these aren’t usually seen in any numbers in this area. They tend to settle in the east of England and also the Severn estuary. I have seen the odd Whooper at Llangors Lake over the years.
See the Wedge - like shape of the head and the yellow marking on the bill is more extensive, extending past the bird's nostrils.
Calls are usually made in twos and threes.
I have never seen a Bewick’s around here, there have been birds seen, but very infrequently. That changed for me as I went for a walk this week on a bitterly cold day at Llangors Lake. There was an extremely cold and unpleasant wind blowing and the day was overcast with a grey flat light but I was hoping to see one of the Great White Egrets that are currently at the lake. As I parked my car in the little car-park at Llangasty on the shores of the lake I immediately heard a distinctive ‘Bugling’ call that really cut through the air, I knew it was something different and as I looked up a large Swan flew over me and disappeared behind the churchyard. I thought ‘Whooper’ which was great, but I remembered that Whooper’s characteristically call repeatedly in threes and fours, it’s what they do! This bird was calling singly and only once did it call twice, so I thought I’d take a look. I quickly went through a gate at the side of the churchyard so I could get a better view and I managed a few quick shots of the bird on the flooded meadow where it had landed.
A much shorter head than the Whooper and less yellow and more black on the bill.
Calls are usually made singly.
I looked through my binoculars and I could now see that it was indeed a Bewick’s Swan. It was quite restless, however, and it took off again and flew over to a group of Swans at the other side of the lake and I thought that was it. I walked over to the bird hide and I spent a fruitless hour there, but as I was about to leave I heard the call again and flying low over the water there it was coming towards me, as it passed the bird hide I took another shot,
but then it wheeled up into the air and flew back over to the opposite side of the lake. A brief encounter and sadly it wasn’t seen again by anybody else, just the luck of the draw!
Luckily I had decided to bring my little Sigma 150-600 lens with me for my walk because I thought that for what bird life was potentially on offer, bringing and also carrying my Canon 600 f4 was not worth the effort - The Sigma continues to be very useful.
See the Wedge - like shape of the head and the yellow marking on the bill is more extensive, extending past the bird's nostrils.
Calls are usually made in twos and threes.
I have never seen a Bewick’s around here, there have been birds seen, but very infrequently. That changed for me as I went for a walk this week on a bitterly cold day at Llangors Lake. There was an extremely cold and unpleasant wind blowing and the day was overcast with a grey flat light but I was hoping to see one of the Great White Egrets that are currently at the lake. As I parked my car in the little car-park at Llangasty on the shores of the lake I immediately heard a distinctive ‘Bugling’ call that really cut through the air, I knew it was something different and as I looked up a large Swan flew over me and disappeared behind the churchyard. I thought ‘Whooper’ which was great, but I remembered that Whooper’s characteristically call repeatedly in threes and fours, it’s what they do! This bird was calling singly and only once did it call twice, so I thought I’d take a look. I quickly went through a gate at the side of the churchyard so I could get a better view and I managed a few quick shots of the bird on the flooded meadow where it had landed.
A much shorter head than the Whooper and less yellow and more black on the bill.
Calls are usually made singly.
I looked through my binoculars and I could now see that it was indeed a Bewick’s Swan. It was quite restless, however, and it took off again and flew over to a group of Swans at the other side of the lake and I thought that was it. I walked over to the bird hide and I spent a fruitless hour there, but as I was about to leave I heard the call again and flying low over the water there it was coming towards me, as it passed the bird hide I took another shot,
but then it wheeled up into the air and flew back over to the opposite side of the lake. A brief encounter and sadly it wasn’t seen again by anybody else, just the luck of the draw!
Luckily I had decided to bring my little Sigma 150-600 lens with me for my walk because I thought that for what bird life was potentially on offer, bringing and also carrying my Canon 600 f4 was not worth the effort - The Sigma continues to be very useful.