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Rare black swan spotted on River Avon

BBC A black swan with a red bill on a riverBBC
The black swan has been spotted on the River Avon in Stratford

A black swan, rarely seen in the UK, has been spotted in Stratford.

Shakespeare's hometown typically attracts huge numbers of white swans on the River Avon, with an estimated 80 thought to be living there.

But this is the first time people can remember seeing its lesser-spotted cousin, which is native to Australia.

A study of bird populations in 2012 found there were just 37 confirmed nesting pairs in the UK.

Residents told the BBC the swan had been seen regularly over the last week. One said she had never seen one in the town before.

"It's nice to see a black swan, you don't see them often at all," she added.

"I've lived here for years and I've never seen one."

The black swan with a red bill on water next to a jetty
The swan was seen lingering next to a group of white swans which is regularly seen on the river

Though black swans are rarely seen in the UK, there is a wild bank of them in Dawlish in Devon, which were introduced in the 1940s alongside other exotic waterfowl.

Howard Smith, trustee at The Swan Sanctuary, said: "Black swans are mostly escapees from private collections. 

"They are a few dotted around different parts of the country but it can be a little surprising to people when they turn up in their area."

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