It seems this year the first arrival of the Arctic swans passed us by at the Datablog. Last year the first Bewick swans arrived on 18th October - the earliest date for seven years.
This year, the first swans to arrive at WWT Slimbridge Wetland centre
in Gloucestershire, landed on the 25th October - a week later than last year and possibly signaling the start of a warmer winter.
An adult Bewick swan and two yearlings were lead by Dario, a 'routinely early bird', near the expected date of the 21st October when Slimbridge anticipate the first arrivals.
The Trust has seen 140 individual swans visit them, higher than the average 127 per winter, with a royal wedding inspired couple named William and Katherine arriving on the 9th December. The graphic above shows the flying range of the migrating swans.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre have provided us with a spreadsheet detailing the first arrivals of the Bewick swans since 1964.
Key facts include:
• The earliest arrival was on 12th October 1980 by two swans named Tomato and Ketchup
• Dario, one of the first swans to arrive in 2011, has been within the group of first arrivals for four seperate years - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011
• The latest arrival was on the 4th December 1964 by two swans named Pink and Rebecca
• The swans fly 2,500 miles from Northern Siberia to the UK
It is a fascinating look at one of nature's recurring events. What does it tell us about the British winter and what is happening to our weather?
World government data
Development and aid data
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