Acre Dell Pools near

Cheshire Swan Study

Group Report 2018 By

David Cookson RINGING DATA 2018

RINGING SITES

CYGNETS YEARS SECOND YEARS THIRD ADULTS RINGED TOTAL RETRAPS CONTROLS

ACRE DELL,CONGLETON 5 2 13 20 7 4

ALSAGER AREA 3 3

AUDLEM AREA 9 9

BOTTOM FLASH, 3 2 5

CANAL, 5 6 7 18

CONGLETON AREA 3 3

CREWE AREA 7 1 8 1

DODDINGTON POOL 1 1 2

HOLMES CHAPEL AREA 1 1 1

MACCLESFIELD AREA 4 1 1 6

NANTWICH AREA 7 1 2 10 1

NORTH WALES 2 2

NORTHWICH AREA 1 2 3

RIVER DEE, 1 1

RUNCORN AREA 3 2 5 1

SPIKE ISLAND, 13 2 1 13 29 5

STAFFORDSHIRE 10 10

TARPORLEY AREA 3 1 4

WESTPORT LAKE,STOKE 2 4 6 2 1

TOTALS 61 28 4 52 145 12 11

TOTAL OF DEATHS REPORTED = 27 Comparative Breeding Results for the Borough of and

TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL PAIRS WITH CYGNETS CYGNETS % PAIRS EGGS HATCHED FLEDGED FLEDGED

1999 26 19 57 40 70

2000 32 21 69 40 57

2001 36 16 60 34 56

2002 35 17 82 45 54

2003 27 15 48 33 66

2004 29 13 54 33 61

2005 24 19 74 38 51

2006 22 15 43 25 58

2007 23 15 30 16 53

2008 24 16 56 33 59

2009 26 15 41 25 61

2010 22 10 35 24 68

2011 21 15 63 33 52

2012 22 14 23 20 87

2013 23 13 46 15 32

2014 21 14 47 28 60

2015 17 11 49 27 55

2016 17 14 53 21 39

2017 17 14 53 22 42

2018 16 12 33 18 55 BREEDING SITE DATA

TOTAL TOTAL CYGNETS CYGNETS Crewe & Nantwich Area HATCHED FLEDGED

1 Aquaduct Marina, = 6 4 2 Meres, Nantwich = 6 0 3 Brooklands House near Woore = 5 5 4 Combere Mere, Whitchurch = 5 5 5 Hack Green Fishing Pool, Nantwich = 2 2 6 Mill End Pool,Audley = 5 4 7 Nantwich Boating Lake = 5 0 8 , Nantwich = 2 0 9 Wychwood Park,Weston,Crewe = 5 3

TOTALS = 41 23

OTHERS SITES

1 Anderson Marina, = 9 8 2 Holly House Pool,Congleton = 7 3 3 Canal,Middlewich = 5 4 4 Pikelow Farm, Marton, = 7 4 5 Shakerley Mere, = 2 0

TOTALS = 30 19 RSPCA Grange Wildlife Centre

Swan Report 2018

The number of swans admitted at the centre, were on the increase in 2018 with 375, compared to the 340 in 2017. The juveniles greatly outnumbered the adults with 233 compared to 142. For the second year in a row the number of swans admitted from increased, with the total figure coming to 90. Staffordshire was the second most common county with 65 admissions seen this year, and for the first time in quite a few years, the number of swans admitted from West Midlands has overtaken the number from Merseyside, with 45 over 41. Total admissions Cheshire admissions Abnormal Behaviour 15 3 Attacked by other animal 23 6 Caught/entangled 13 3 Collision 25 4 Disease 8 0 Fishing litter 29 7 Grounded 43 14 Injury (cause uncertain) 120 27 Oiled 26 7 Orphan 21 9 Poisoning 4 0 Shot 2 1 Weakness 46 9 Total 375 90

Due to the large increase in cygnets this year, we hard-released half of the swans to Spike Island, Widnes, which runs along the , where there is a known flock. The remaining cygnets were soft- released in groups of 4 on privately owned lakes around Cheshire. Whilst at these sites they were support fed, and were able to leave whenever they wanted. Usually they stay for a couple of days and then take flight and find their own territories, but this year we have a few that have stuck around and are enjoying their safe homes and easy meals. The centre is always looking for more release sites for cygnets, if you have a large body of water with an island and access for grazing then please email: [email protected]

As always, we would like to thank David Cookson for all his help over the year and for the ringing he has done here at Stapeley. We would also like to say a big thank you to all the other organisations and individuals, who have helped in the rescue and release of the swans that have been in the care of the centre over the past 12 months.

Rob Whitehouse Wildlife Assistant RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre

SITE COUNTS - January to April 2018

Acre Pools, Dell Congleton Canal,Middlewich Combernear,Whitchurch Mere Cholmondeley Estate Coole Pilatenr.Nantwich DoddingtonMere,Nantwich FrodshamSludge Pool NeumannsFlash, Northwich RuncornSands, SandbachFlashes SankeyValley CP, ShadyOak canal,Tiverton WoolstonEyes NR,Warrington

January 4th 41 7th 22 14th 73 20th 31 11 49 21st 2 10 28 34 February 5th 4 12th 63 17th 7 14 10 19th 62 8 9 2 21st 42 4 6 11 26th 7 25 28th 35 March 6th 26 2 10th 26 4 14th 76 17th 21 25 18th 8 11 17 26th 5 15 April 3rd 20 7th 61 35 14th 48 6 9 6 12 54 13 20 23rd 15 30th 31

SITE COUNTS - May to August 2018

Acre Pools, Dell Congleton BottomFlash,Winsford Burleydampool,Whitchurch Combernear,Whitchurch Mere Cholmondeley Estate Coole Pilatenear Nantwich DoddingtonMere,Nantwich FrodshamSludge Pool NeumannsFlash, Northwich RuncornSands,Runcorn SandbachFlashes SankeyValley CP,Warrington

May 3rd 10 6th 71 18 15th 32 20th 81 11 12 4 31 21st 4 37 22nd 9 22 26th 20 30th 72 42 June 5th 77 44 9th 46 11th 5 15th 5 52 20 17th 72 4 60 4 45 24 19th 5 38 22nd 54 24th 7 26th 44 30th 60 July 6th 55 8th 55 11 15th 56 4 58 23 40 17 19th 63 27th 63 30th 44 August 3rd 6 41 5th 52 6 61 9th 45 12th 54 6 4 40 2 17 15th 41 17th 30 20th 9 45 4 27th 4 41

SITE COUNTS - September to December

Acre Pools, Dell Congleton BottomFlash, Winsford Canal,Middlewich Combernear,Whitchurch Mere Cholmondeley Estate Coole PilateNantwich Nr. DoddingtonMere, Nantwich FrodshamSludge Pool RuncornSands, Runcorn SankeyValley CP,Warrington WoolstonEyes, Warrington September 3rd 41 9th 66 2 43 18 31 13th 40 17th 30 22nd 4 8 24th 42 28th 16 46 October 3rd 20 7th 26 23 9th 68 41 14th 74 71 6 49 12 17th 35 21st 76 25th 51 31st 74 6 31 83 November 1st 37 7th 49 9th 55 10th 9 22 14 11nd 68 64 56 12th 2 15th 54 21st 46 22nd 6 25th 73 56 29th 51 December 7th 54 21 9th 78 44 10 23 15 13th 51 40 19th 83 41 26th 49 30th 10 POPULATION TRENDS 2000 to 2016

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council Area

YEARS WINTERING YEARS SUMMER FLOCK MOULTING COUNTS FLOCK COUNTS

2000/2001 167 2000 118 2001/2002 181 2001 141 2002/2003 111 2002 148 2003/2004 93 2003 106 2004/2005 88 2004 88 2005/2006 110 2005 108 2006/2007 50 2006 112 2007/2008 65 2007 63 2008/2009 49 2008 66 2009/2010 70 2009 74 2010/2011 46 2010 90 2011/2012 82 2011 100 2012/2013 54 2012 92 2013/2014 73 2013 92 2014/2015 41 2014 86 2015/2016 62 2015 69 2016/2017 57 2016 115 2017/2018 73 2017 78 2018/2019 53 2018 56

Acre Dell Pools near Congleton

WINTER SUMMER FLOCK MOULT COUNTS FLOCK COUNTS

2011/2012 70 2011 52 2012/2013 50 2012 44 2013/2014 50 2013 41 2014/2015 68 2014 49 2015/2016 58 2015 49 2016/2017 66 2016 56 2017/2018 56 2017 78 2018/2019 84 2018 55

All totals are resulting from mean counts. SELECTED MOVEMENTS

RING AGE RINGING PLACE RINGED SIGHTING PLACES SEEN Distance NO SEX DATE DATE

CS99 5 F 22/01/2007 Mill, 01/10/2007 Acre Dell Pools,Congleton 27 Kms 20/06/2017 Rhos-on-Sea GC,North Wales 91 Kms 07/12/2018 Eirias Park,Colwyn Bay,N.Wales 86 Kms

CFP2 1 F 17/08/2014 Queens Park Lake,Crewe 08/04/2015 Canal,Middlewich 29 Kms 05/07/2015 Anderton Canal,Northwich 40 Kms 21/03/2018 Southport Marine Lake,Lancs 90 Kms

CFS9 1 F 14/09/2014 Pikelow Farm Pool, 06/03/2016 Acre Dell Pools,Congleton 3 Kms Marton, Macclesfield 19/08/2018 Priorslee Lake,Telford 61 Kms

CHT5 3 F 22/12/2015 Hargrave Hall Pools,Chester 14/04/2016 Oulton Mere,Little Budworth 10 Kms 29/09/2016 Aber Ogwen,Bangor,North Wales 88 Kms 07/08/2018 Aber Ogwen,Bangor,North Wales 88 Kms

CHV8 1 F 10/09/2015 Eccleston Park,St. Helens 12/02/2016 Spike Island, Widnes 8 Kms 24/01/2018 River Conwy,Llanrwst, North Wales 75 Kms

CJJ4 1 F 25/09/2016 Pikelow Farm Pool, 01/01/2017 Pikelow Farm Pool,Marton,Macclesfield Marton, Macclesfield 11/04/2018 Stock Reservoir,Slaidburn,Lancs 84 Kms

CLA0 1 F 27/08/2017 Canal,Millfields,Nantwich 13/03/2018 Southport Marine Lake,Lancs 73 Kms

CLB4 1 F 28/08/2017 Canal,Middlewich 12/12/2017 Arnfield Res. Glossop, Derbys 44 Kms 22/12/2018 Tottington Pool near Bury, Lancs 48 Kms

CNJ9 1 F 05/09/2016 Canal,Millfields,Nantwich 22/08/2017 Canal,, Nantwich 5 Kms 07/11/2018 Canal,Barbridge,Nantwich 6 Kms 21/12/2018 Rhosneigr, Anglesey 133 Kms SELECTED MOVEMENTS INTO CHESHIRE

RING AGE RINGING PLACE RINGED SIGHTING PLACES SEEN Distance NO SEX DATE DATE

CJV2 3 F 12/09/2012 Canal, Newport, Shropshire 21/10/2018 Acre Dell Pools,Congleton 47 Kms (G) ex 7HPZ (B)

4CFB 3 F 14/10/2016 Vulcan Village, 20/01/2018 Canal, Middlewich 30 Kms (B) Newton-le-Willows,Lancs

4ASL 3 F 18/10/2014 Three Sisters,Wigan 28/01/2018 Canal, Middlewich 37 Kms (B)

4CFN 3 F 22/10/2016 Chorlton Water Park,Manchester 08/04/2018 Acre Dell Pools,Congleton 25 Kms (B) 27/08/2018 Lapwing Hall Pool, 18 Kms

4CFS 3 M 22/10/2016 Reddish Vale,Manchester 11/11/2018 Acre Dell Pools,Congleton 28 Kms (B)

66L 3 ? 17/10/2014 R.Severn,Bewdley,Worcester 08/04/2018 Acre Dell Pools,Congleton 91 Kms (O)

7CXJ 5 M 23/02/2004 Buttery Farm,Kynnersley, 01/11/2018 River Dee, Chester 56 Kms (B) Telford

7IPJ 3 M 08/09/2016 Canal,Llanymynech,Powys 07/11/2018 Doddington Mere,Nantwich 53 Kms (B)

7IVS 1 M 21/09/2017 Priorslee Lake, Telford 27/08/2018 Doddington Mere,Nantwich 37 Kms (B) Shropshire

7IVV 1 M 21/09/2017 Priorslee Lake, Telford 27/07/2018 Doddington Mere, Nantwich 37 Kms (B) Shropshire 15/08/2018 Doddington Mere, Nantwich 37 Kms LONGEVITY REPORT

RING AGE RINGING PLACE RINGED SIGHTING PLACES SEEN Dist NO SEX DATE DATE

CD94 7 F 07/11/2002 Winterley Pool, 21/01/2018 Westport Lake, Stoke 19 Km AGED 19 YEARS

CF59 5 F 09/07/2002 River Dee, Chester 08/08/2005 Doddington Mere, Nantwich 36 Km 28/12/2016 Whitmore, Newcastle,Staffs 47 Km 24/01/2018 Priorlee Lake, Telford 64 Km Shropshire AGED 17 YEARS

CL47 7 M 23/02/1997 Winterley Pool, Sandbach 27/11/2006 Westport Lake, Stoke 12 Km 01/08/2018 Bottom Flash, Winsford 11 Km AGED 24 YEARS

CY22 1 M 02/08/2002 Cannock, Staffordshire 27/01/2003 Winterley Pool, Sandbach 49 Km TO 03/01/2006 Winterley Pool, Sandbach 49 Km 16/09/2006 Wychwood GC,Weston,Crewe 44 Km TO 31/12/2018 Wychwood GC,Weston,Crewe 44 Km AGED 16 YEARS

CLT8 3 F 17/12/2000 Canal, Middlewich 21/04/2002 Redes Mere near Macclesfield 15 Km 01/06/2010 Knyperseley Reservoir,Biddulph 21 Km Staffordshire 10/12/2018 Whitfield Park,Stoke 22 Km FOUND DEAD - AGED 18 YEARS RINGING TOTALS AUGUST 1988 to 2018

YEAR Cygnets Adults Totals YEAR Cygnets Adults Totals

1988 35 16 56 2004 35 17 102

1989 55 38 140 2005 94 25 151

1990 84 32 169 2006 87 36 174

1991 90 21 140 2007 62 32 144

1992 85 12 128 2008 57 12 84

1993 91 11 118 2009 71 15 112

1994 116 13 166 2010 75 24 134

1995 133 36 228 2011 77 29 151

1996 149 37 263 2012 71 13 124

1997 194 34 310 2013 66 18 129

1998 155 38 259 2014 49 16 86

1999 144 24 229 2015 72 31 138

2000 77 23 191 2016 68 27 134

2001 72 16 177 2017 55 44 124

2002 72 33 162 2018 63 53 152

2003 39 26 104

Total Swans ringed in Cheshire = 4644

Total Swans on Swan Database = 6403 ACRE DELL POOLS, CONGLETON SIGHTINGS ANALYSIS

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 TOTALS

Cygnets 58 47 23 29 47 36 51 50 61 402 2nd Year 25 30 21 24 33 30 28 27 33 251 3rd Year 4 5 3 6 8 7 5 6 5 49 Adult 14 23 16 14 21 21 17 17 20 163

TOTAL 101 105 63 73 109 96 101 100 119 867

Females 48 51 27 33 50 39 42 42 55 387 Males 53 54 36 40 59 57 59 58 64 480

SWANS IDENTIFIED

2010 1011 1012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 TOTALS

January 43 40 39 28 47 52 42 48 49 388

February 39 43 39 29 50 50 36 33 49 368

March 46 38 40 28 58 36 41 38 42 367

April 32 36 31 28 37 36 33 31 42 306

May 31 29 34 38 52 40 35 36 45 340

June 33 40 33 32 47 34 36 43 50 348

July 26 32 34 30 38 35 33 31 38 297

August 30 33 33 26 35 37 32 36 25 287

September 32 36 38 33 50 40 25 35 40 329

October 34 42 35 45 42 45 35 41 54 373

November 46 34 32 45 52 45 38 51 49 392

December 43 39 31 45 48 34 38 41 53 372

Totals 101 105 62 73 109 96 107 100 119 872

TOTAL = 456 HISTORICAL MOVEMENTS 1

RING AGE RINGING PLACE RINGED SIGHTING PLACES SEEN Distance NO SEX DATE DATE

B2U 3 F 25/08/1990 Queensway Pool, 28/02/1993 Winterley Pool,Sandbach 26 Kms (B) Whitchurch 15/07/1993 Aber Ogwen,Bangor,N.Wales 98 Kms 02/10/1993 Hall,Nantwich 14 Kms

IJ2 5 M 09/02/1992 River Dee,Chester 01/09/1992 Caernarvon, North Wales 101 Kms (B) 09/01/1993 Winterley Pool,Sandbach 35 Kms 08/08/1993 Caernarvon, North Wales 101 Kms 27/12/1993 The Mere,Ellesmere,Shropshire 31 Kms

NY2 3 F 13/09/1992 Queensway Pool, 15/08/1993 Teifi Estruary,Cardigan, M.Wales 176 Kms (B) Whitchurch 01/09/1994 Teifi Estruary,Cardigan, M.Wales 176 Kms 13/05/1995 Manley Mere, Helsby 31 Kms

PY2 3 F 27/09/1993 Canal,Waverton,Chester 09/01/1993 Nantwich Boating Lake 22 Kms (B) 12/12/1993 Himley Hall,Dudley,W.Midlands 84 Kms

VI2 3 M 01/11/1992 Aldersey Pool near Chester 07/11/1992 Aldersey Pool near Chester (B) 07/06/1994 North Slob, Wexford,Ireland 258 Kms

XY2 3 F 29/11/1992 Nantwich Boating Lake 09/07/1994 River Dee, Chester 22 Kms (B) 01/09/1994 Teifi Estruary,Cardigan, M.Wales 191 Kms

UHZ 5 F 03/08/1996 River Dee,Chester 02/12/1997 Llandrindrod Wells Lake, Wales 111 Kms (B) 16/01/1998 Llandrindrod Wells Lake, Wales 111 Kms 03/02/1998 Chester Business Park 3 Kms

UJL 1 M 17/08/1996 Halmer End near S-O-T 04/06/1997 Winterley Pool, Sandbach 9 Kms (B) 13/07/1997 Fairburn Ings,Castleford,Yorks 112 Kms 01/12/1997 Canal,Huddersfield,Yorks 68 Kms 08/03/1998 Pugneys CP,Wakefield,Yorks 86 Kms 19/04/2000 Fairburn Ings,Castleford,Yorks 112 Kms

VAD 3 M 25/09/1995 Queensway Pool, 26/07/1995 Aber Ogwen,Bangor,N.Wales 98 Kms (B) Whitchurch 24/12/1995 Winterley Pool,Sandbach 10 Kms

XNU 3 F 27/10/1991 Westport Lake, Stoke 23/05/1992 Porthmadoc Harbour, N.Wales 137 Kms (B) 22/05/1993 Aberystwyth,W.Wales 152 Kms 02/09/1993 Porthmadoc Harbour, N.Wales 137 Kms 14/04/1996 Carden Park Lake, Broxton 39 Kms 01/06/2006 Aldersey Pool near Chester 39 Kms HISTORICAL MOVEMENTS 2

RING AGE RINGING PLACE RINGED SIGHTING PLACES SEEN Distance NO SEX DATE DATE

YAD 5 M 14/02/1993 River Dee, Chester 27/04/1993 Peel Harbour,Isle of Man 166 Kms (B) 29/01/1994 River Dee, Chester 31/01/1994 Ardglass Harbour, Downpatrick, 216 Kms Northern Ireland 16/04/1994 River Dee, Chester 17/09/1994 Dundrum Inner Bay,Co.Down 229 Kms Northern Ireland 20/12/1995 Dundrum Inner Bay,Co.Down 229 Kms

YAF 5 F 14/02/1993 River Dee, Chester 03/04/1993 River Dee, Chester (B) 27/04/1993 Peel Harbour,Isle of Man 166 Kms 09/12/1993 Dundrum Inner Bay,Co.Down 230 Kms Northern Ireland 29/01/1994 River Dee, Chester 31/01/1994 Ardglass Harbour, Downpatrick, 216 Kms Northern Ireland 07/02/1994 River Dee, Chester 17/09/1994 Dundrum Inner Bay,Co.Down 230 Kms Northern Ireland 14/10/1997 Carsluith Beach,Near 209 Kms Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway FOUND DEAD

YIF 3 F 18/09/1993 Nantwich Boating Lake 16/01/1994 Nantwich Boating Lake (B) 03/10/1994 Dundrum Inner Bay,Co.Down 257 Kms Northern Ireland

YIY 3 M 05/09/1993 Aldersey Pool Nr, 24/12/1993 Winterley Pool,Sandbach 28 Kms (B) Chester 23/10/1994 Abersoch, North Wales 121 Kms

YHN 3 M 29/08/1993 , Northwich 05/03/1994 Westport Lake,Stoke 31 Kms (B) 08/08/1994 River Teifi,Cardigan,W.Wales 209 Kms 01/06/1995 St.Dogmael,Cardigan,W.Wales 209 Kms 19/09/1995 River Severn,Shrewsbury 66 Kms 22/06/1996 Teifi Estruary,Cardigan,W.Wales 209 Kms 04/04/1997 River Severn,Atcham,Shrewsbury 68 Kms 28/04/1997 Teifi Estruary,Cardigan,W.Wales 209 Kms 01/07/1998 Brickworks Pool,Rhyl,N.Wales 67 Kms

YYY 5 F 05/10/1996 River Mersey, 16/02/1997 Fleetwood Marine Lake,Lancs 67 Kms (B) Warrington 27/06/1997 Strathclyde CP,Hamilton,Scotland 308 Kms 16/01/1998 Hoggansfield Loch,Stepps,Glasgow 290 Kms