The Lincolnshire Bird Club

There is an impression locally that the number of mute swans in the Lincoln herd is decreasing. To some extent this is borne out by comparisons of numbers using the Brayford Pool now, with numbers counted for WeBS in the 1990s and upto around 2004, when regular counts stopped. However, what isn’t clear is whether the reduced habitat area and quality in the Brayford means that swans are moving out to other parts of the area, or whether the whole herd is declining.

The Lincoln Area Swan Project aims to look at this question, among others, and the first requirement is a baseline total. We are therefore hoping to achieve a full count of the rivers, delphs, drains, ponds, pools, pits and lakes in the area between North Hykeham and Bardney on the River Witham, out to Odda on the Fossdyke and up the Main Drain from Fossdyke to Burton Pits. The count will take place on Sunday 14 December, to coincide with WeBS when some of the major waters (eg Whisby-Hykeham) will be counted by their normal teams. However, a lot more counters will be needed for the non-WeBS waters. If you can spare a couple of hours during that morning, please contact me. Also, if anyone has access to any of the private lakes or pits, I’d like to hear from them.
Thanks!
Anne Goodall

The large number of Mutes that have historically wintered on Branston Fen seemed to have moved to Nocton Fen this year. If the survey only goes as far as Bardney then they may get missed off the count, where as they would have been counted on previous years. There are up to 70 birds present and this could be quite a big proportion of the Lincoln area population. Not all swans will be found on Rivers, delphs etc.

Also of note is that at least 2 Swans have collided with power lines on the Fen and have died from their injuries. This seems to be a regular yearly occurance.

I will submit any counted on that day in this area to you.

Russell Hayes

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http://birdmanbirds.blogspot.com/

Below are my sightings for Mute Swans Sunday 14th December 2008 area covered: The fens between Carr Dyke and Sincil Drain from Washingborough to Nocton Delph.

TF0830070700 9:59am Total 40 (inc 9 juveniles)

TF0690068400 10:25am Total 2 (adults)

TF1150066600 10:42am Total 63 (inc 17 juveniles)

TF0990065200 10:45am Total 2 (adults)

Grand Total 107

Regards

Russell

_________________
http://birdmanbirds.blogspot.com/

About 9.00 am on 14 Dec. during Webs count 66 Mute Swans on Nocton Fen, in 2 groups; one of 55, one of 11. Apropos the comment about them hitting power lines I saw three swan corpses below the lines across the washway to the corner of the settling pits.

Regards,

John Watt

Thanks to all those who turned out, and despite the fact that the river was in spate that day, the Lincoln Swan Census was definitely a success. We found just under 300 birds, and we are reasonably sure this is an undercount. For example, looking at the number of pits and ponds we couldn’t get access to, and the number of swans on the very similar pits and ponds we did count, suggests that some were missed, and there are other swans we know didn’t get counted (families who had gone further up or downstream that day!), so all in all it seems likely that the actual population is somewhere between 300-350.

This total breaks up into three groups. Firstly, almost every suitable waterbody on the west side of Lincoln had at least one pair or family; some of the larger waters, especially those with islands, had slightly higher numbers, perhaps two pairs or last year’s family allowed to remain. Some of the larger watercourse, including the Fossdyke, River Till, Barlings Eau, Carrdyke and other main catchwater drains similarly also had pairs or families. Secondly, the River Witham and north and south delphs between Lincoln and Bardney had small groups of 1-6 birds of mixed ages. It is likely that some of these were pairs and families, but the remainder are probably non-breeders. Thirdly, the biggest group are non-breeders, and four such herds were located. The Brayford herd had 21 birds at the time of the census, and further groups of 20-60+ swans were mapped in Branston Fen, Nocton Fen and Reepham Fen.

As usual, this first census has raised at least as many questions as it has answered, and therefore, we shall be repeating it regularly. The current plan is to attempt a full-scale census once every 3 months, with the next one in mid-March, just at the start of the breeding season, with smaller counts of selected areas monthly to answer particular questions. If possible, we would also like to find local observers prepared to report on particular groups or families more often; anyone do a regular dog-walk, for instance and know they see a pair or family most times? If so, and you would be prepared to provide information on their movements and activities, please get in touch.

We would also like help from anyone with access to some of the private fishing waters, particularly in the North Hykeham area, who would be prepared to check them for swans, say monthly. All future counts will be on the middle weekend each month.