Record number of whooper swans at wildlife reserve

A record number of whooper swans have been recorded at a Lincolnshire wildlife reserve.

The RSPB Frampton Marsh site near Boston saw 1,440 of the birds last week, compared with the usual figure of 150-300 during the winter months.

They breed in Iceland and fly to the UK to spend the winter feeding.

Their name comes from the whooping trumpeting-like noise they make to regularly communicate with one another, the wildlife charity said.

Frampton Marsh site manager John Badley said the sight and sound of so many swans was "quite amazing".

“We’re not totally sure why there were so many whoopers that morning," he said.

"It’s likely that our usual number were joined by birds that had dropped in for some respite before continuing their journey to other wetland sites such as the Ouse Washes or even further south.”

The reserve, which is not far from the Wash, is a regular stopping point for migrating birds.

Other visitors last week included pink-footed geese, golden plovers and lapwings.

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