Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
A large proportion of the entire world population of this species spends the winter at Welney in Norfolk. Most of the rest winter at other WWT reserves around the country (including Caerlaverock where many of the following photos were taken) but smaller flocks can be found at a number of other locations including several in east Norfolk.
Tiny numbers may over-summer in Norfolk, mainly at Welney and often because they are injured and unable to fly. It is extremely rare for them to breed, however they did so in 2011 (for the first time since 1928).
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swans, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swans, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
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Whooper Swans, Caerlaverock (Dumfries & Galloway, UK), 29th December 2005
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%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
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first-winter Whooper Swans, Caerlaverock (Dumfries & Galloway, UK), 29th December 2011
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%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-11") |
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adult Whooper Swans, Caerlaverock (Dumfries & Galloway, UK), 29th December 2011
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%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
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adult Whooper Swans, Caerlaverock (Dumfries & Galloway, UK), 29th December 2005
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%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Caerlaverock, 29-Dec-05") |
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first-winter Whooper Swans, Caerlaverock (Dumfries & Galloway, UK), 29th December 2005
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%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Welney, 4-May-09") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Welney, 4-May-09") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Welney, 4-May-09") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Welney, 4-May-09") |
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Whooper Swans (two birds), Welney (Norfolk, UK), 4th May 2009 - birds lingering as late as this are normally injured birds unable to return to their breeding grounds
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%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Welney, 2-Jan-05") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Welney, 2-Jan-05") |
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adult (left) and first-winter (right) Whooper Swans, Welney (Norfolk, UK), 2nd January 2005
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%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Burnham Market, 11-Jan-07") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Burnham Market, 11-Jan-07") |
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adult Whooper Swans, west of Burnham Market (Norfolk, UK), 11th January 2007
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%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Stanhoe, 2-Feb-07") |
%20L.JPG "Whooper Swan, Burnham Market, 11-Jan-07") |
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Whooper Swan, Stanhoe (Norfolk, UK), 2nd February 2007. |
Whooper Swan, west of Burnham Market (Norfolk, UK), 11th January 2007. |
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These two photos show the same bird. Presumably the brownish markings in the wings are a sign of immaturity although it seems too white to be a first-winter. Is it a second-winter?
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%20L.JPG "Bewick's and Whooper Swans, Stanhoe, 20-Feb-07") |
%20L.JPG "Bewick's and Whooper Swans, Stanhoe, 2-Feb-07") |
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Whooper Swans, Stanhoe (Norfolk, UK), 20th February 2007.
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Bewick's (front) and Whooper Swans, Stanhoe (Norfolk, UK), 2nd February 2007.
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%20L.JPG "Whooper Swans, Titchwell, 7-Nov-09") |
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first-winter Whooper Swan, Docking (Norfolk, UK), 17th December 2007
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adult and first-winter Whooper Swans, Titchwell (Norfolk, UK), 7th November 2009
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%20T.JPG "Bewick's Swan")
%20T.JPG "Mute Swan")