Cheshire Swan Study Group

Report

2008

by

David Cookson. Foreword

Cheshire Swan Study Group founded in 1988 by Dennis Elphick celebrated its 20 th Anniversary in August 2008. Although run by a small group of enthusiasts, it has contributed greatly to the knowledge and movement of mute swans in Cheshire and North Wales. It has also benefited from the help, support and sponsorship of many local organizations, landowners and individuals and in return has provided a wide body of knowledge about the status of mute swans in the area .

A great deal of information about the swans comes from their movement, and the identification & recognition of individuals using coloured rings adds greatly to our knowledge. In the early days of the group we ringed the swans using blue plastic “Darvic” rings using the number 2 and two letters, and later a three letter combination. In November 1997 we changed to using new green “Darvics” using four characters made up from using C as a prefix and then a combination of a letter and two numbers sequence.

In 1999, after the number of breeding pairs in Cheshire had increased dramatically from 14 pairs in 1989 to 140+ pairs, it was decided to concentrate less on the whole of the county and more on the areas of higher density of swans, allowing a better use of our limited resources.

a. The latest type of darvic b. An earlier style ring.

Included in this report is a longevity report, twenty years of ringing data and the other usual information .

I’m delighted to report that the breeding success of pairs in the Borough of and has improved at long last, and we also saw some good swan movements. We also have to report an amazing record of breeding from a nest site near Crewe. Here the pen started sitting on her clutch of eggs at the end of December 2007 and they hatched on the 5 th March 2008. This must be one of the earliest breeding records of a mute swan in the country (In 2009 she started sitting on 16 th of January) as the average hatching date for mute swans in Cheshire is the 10 th May!!!

This will be the last annual Swan Study Group Report, but I will be publishing our further research & findings from time to time.

David Cookson March 2009 Email – [email protected] Cheshire Swan Study Group Website address is www.record-lrc.co.uk/Group.aspx?Mod=Article&ArticleID=G0012001

Comparative breeding results for the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich.

TOTAL PAIRS TOTAL TOTAL WITH TOTAL CYGNETS CYGNETS % PAIRS CYGNETS 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

Additional Information

A = Swans identified in Cheshire but ringed outside Cheshire in = 2008

B = Swans ringed in Cheshire but identified outside Cheshire in = 2008

A B

Clwyd 0 2 Derbyshire 0 1 Gtr 0 3 Gwynedd 4 6 Lancashire 9 15 Merseyside 0 7 Powys 1 2 Shropshire 10 5 Staffordshire 19 8 Warwickshire 1 0 West Midlands 0 1 Total = 44 50

Number of Swans ringed in Cheshire to end of 2008 = 3469

Total number of Swans identified in Cheshire in 2008 = 302

200 RINGING INFORMATION 8

CYGNE SECO THIR ADULT TS ND D S TOTAL RINGE YEAR YEA RINGE RINGE RETRA CONTR DEAT MUTE SWANS D S RS D D PS OLS HS

CHESHIRE RINGING SITES

ACRE DELL,CONGL ETON 6 6 ALSAGER AREA 5 3 8 AREA 12 12 AREA 3 3 2 7 AREA 8 CREWE AREA 9 9 DODDINGTON POOL 1 3 4 1 1 4 ELLESMERE, SALOP 2 1 3 LANCASHIRE 1 MACCLESFIE LD AREA 2 AREA 1 NANTWICH BOATING LAKE 8 3 9 20 7 2 NANTWICH AREA 6 3 9 1 3 NORTH WALES 2 AREA 3 3 2 REDES MERE 3 3 SHROPSHIRE 2 4 4 2 STAFFORDSH IRE 6 STOCKPORT AREA 6 6 AREA 2 WINTERLEY POOL 3 1 4 WARRINGTO N AREA 1 1 2

TOTALS 59 12 8 16 95 11 1 46

WHOOPER SWANS

These two Swans were ringed 2 at RSPCA, Grange, Nantwich and released near the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Martin Mere, Lancs

Chester Swan Report 2008.

Numbers of Swans on the River Dee . The numbers of swans on the river at Chester continues to decline, with only the Straight Mile pair and 2 surviving cygnets occupying the river and being present between July & September. However I’m sure that this is due to the aggressive nature of the cob (ex C628), who can be seen driving off any other visiting swans who trespass onto his “breeding territory” which exists from the Straight Mile to the weir at the Groves. This means that there is no opportunity for a moult flock to form, and we are down to the pair & 2 cygnets rather than the 66 swans that formed the flock at its peak number in 2004.

Breeding Territories . However there are still good numbers of breeding territories in the Chester area, and I have been keeping an eye on 16 nest sites during the breeding season. These nests produced an estimated 82 eggs, with 68 cygnets hatching. A late cold/wet snap meant that there was a wider spread of arrival dates than usual, and this resulted in at least one case of a family of swans moving into another pair’s territory before they had appeared from their nest site, causing some vicious territorial battles, which caused me great concern, as the watching public were distressed at seeing such violent action between the cobs.

51 cygnets were still alive at the beginning of July. However this year we have several actual sightings of predation of cygnets and in one case an adult swan by mink. Witnesses on the river and canal reported seeing cygnets being taken, and I have since heard of others eg at Marbury in mid Cheshire. It seems that the mink are getting more brazen, although it might just reflect an increase in their numbers.

Cygnets Fledging . 41 of these cygnets were still alive at the end of July, but this figure must be incomplete, as many swans move off their breeding territory on farms or ponds, and in two cases Golf Courses, to river or canals, so they are unable to be tracked unless they are ringed. Circumstances have meant that it has not been possible to ring the cygnets this year, so we have been unable to follow their later progress unless they are with ringed adults. However an estimated 50% of cygnets to fledging is still a good record. Five pairs hatched seven cygnets and all but one pair over five. However predation by mink of 5cygnets from a clutch of seven within a day of hatching was a major blow, and is possibly a reason for the aggressive cob on the river, if he is always having to defend his mate and cygnets from attack.

Wild swans on the Dee Marshes. The numbers of wintering swans on the marsh has again been excellent, although the flock is usually split into two groups, The peak count has been 122 swans, including an estimated 40 Whoopers & 20 Bewicks, the residue being from our local mute population. The best place to see them has once again been Fields, opposite the Iceland Food Factory, but on one occasion I also had a good view of the whole flock together on the marsh side of the new bridge (Harp Bridge) over the River Dee adjacent to the Power Station. However as this is on the main dual carriageway it is not a good place to stop. It is not possible to see these birds close up unless they fly into the RSPB Reserve at Inner Marsh Farm, where some fly to roost on occasions.

David Cummings

RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre Swan Report 2008

The number of swans admitted to Stapeley Grange in 2008 was 380, slightly down on the figure of 400 in 2007. Over two-thirds of all swan admissions came from just three counties; Cheshire (110), Merseyside (89) and Staffordshire (71). It is interesting to note that of the 89 swans admitted from Merseyside, an incredible 63 were from the Marine Lake at Southport. The table below details the reasons for admission in 2008.

Total Admissions Cheshire Admissions General Injuries 119 41 Sickness / Lethargy 82 21 Fishing Injuries 48 21 Crash Landed 32 6 Uninjured Orphan 19 3 Lead Poisoning 18 5 Powerlines / Collisions 15 4 Dogged 14 4 Oiled / Contaminated 11 1 Feathers Attacked by Swans 10 3 RTA 7 0 Shot 5 1 Total 380 110

The number of admissions as a result of injuries from discarded fishing tackle was similar to that in 2007 but there was a decrease in the number of swans admitted with lead poisoning as the primary reason for admission. A similar decrease was seen with swans admitted having been shot. However, this can be misleading as there were still large numbers of swans admitted for other reasons that were also found to have been shot or to have had elevated levels of lead in their blood.

There was an increase in the number of swans admitted as a result of dog attacks. One such case involved a swan (CDT) that was bitten on the head by a dog at Nantwich Boating Lake on 21 st December 2008. The injuries were severe and it was not initially known whether the swan would survive but after several weeks of treatment she was successfully released on 28 th January 2009 .

The staff at RSPCA Stapeley Grange would like to thank David Cookson for all the help and assistance that he has provided during 2008. A big thank you also to all the groups and individuals who have assisted the RSPCA in the rescue and release of the swans that have come into our care in the last twelve months.

Andrew Smith – Wildlife Supervisor, RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre RSPCA Stapeley Grange – Cases of Interest

Several hundred swans are admitted to Stapeley Grange every year but there are always one or two which stand out as significant admissions. Here are two such cases from 2008.

Swan shot with Airgun A swan (JSF, W11988) was admitted to Stapeley Grange from Wolverhampton on 8 th December having crash- landed in a garden next to a canal. It was initially thought that the swan might have collided with something but on examination she was x-rayed and found to have been shot nine times, with four pellets in the neck and five in the abdomen. The swan was incredibly fortunate that the pellets had not done any serious damage and the decision of the vet was that removing them would cause more problems than if they were left. The swan was returned to full health and was released on 10 th January 2009 into a large flock of swans at Chasewater, Cannock.

Dogged Swan On 21 st December 2008 a swan (CDT, U5436) was admitted from Nantwich Boating Lake having been attacked by a dog. The swan has received significant injuries from the bite wounds, some of which were very close to the left eye. However, following treatment including pain relief and a course of antibiotics the swan made an excellent recovery and was successfully released back after just over a month in care. Thanks to the fact that the swan had BTO and Darvic rings we are able to know a little bit about it’s history. The swan, a female, was originally ringed as a juvenile at the Three Sisters Pool, Wigan in August 1994 making her 15 years old. After ringing the next sighting was over six years later at Woolston, when she was found injured and brought to Stapeley (for the first time!) for treatment. On release in February 2001 she was relocated to Nantwich Boating Lake, since when she has been frequently seen at a number of different sites in the local area, and for a period of years she had been one half of a successful breeding pair.

Looking better Released at Nantwich Boating Lake

HIGHEST MONTHLY SITE COUNTS 1

River Dee, Canal,Cool Doddington Nantwich Winterley Pool, Chester e Pilate Pool, Nantwich Boating Lake

JANUARY 5 14 8 16 9

FEBRUARY 3 2 2 27 3

MARCH 4 10 2 3 2

APRIL 2 20 2 10 2

MAY 14 10 27 11 7

JUNE 15 10 42 10 7

JULY 4 9 43 5 7

AUGUST 4 9 44 7 7

SEPTEMBE R 4 8 9 11 7

OCTOBER 6 6 8 11 7

NOVEMBER 4 3 7 14 5

DECEMBER 11 3 15 30 5

OTHER SITES

22nd june Barmere,Whitchurch = = 8 :20th july = 10 :17th july = 9 16th nov = 4 Whoopers

Burton marsh,Wirral = 27th march = 50 Bewicks

Crewe area = 16th march = 50 Whoopers

Ellesmere, Salop = 14th july = 49

Hanmer mere,Whitchurch = 14th july = 31

Inner marsh farm,Wirral = 16th may = 20

Neumanns flash,Northwich = 17th march = 40 Whoopers

River Clwyd,Rhuddlan = 14th may = 14

9th aug = River Conwy,Conwy = 18 15th oct = 14

MONTHLY SITE COUNTS 2

Bound ary Shaker Lake, Lland New ley Acre Holme udno Bright Mere, Aber Dell s Cholm Boati on Redes Holme Wybun Ogwen, Pool,Co Chape ondele ng Lake, Mere,Ma s bury Bangor ngleton l y Area Lake Wirral cclesfield Chapel Area

JANUA RY 2 19th 7 21st 9 FEBR UARY 1st 8 5th 11 2 21st 7 29th 14 MARC H 4th 17 2 5th 4 7th 3 16 19th 79 27th 12 1 31st 8 APRIL 12th 23 4 MAY 25th 4 JUNE 11th 104 20th 90 23th 7 JULY 6th 10 AUGU ST 14th 105 24th 21 6 SEPTE MBER 8th 3 13th 20 21st 35 22nd 9 27th 10 OCTO BER 17th 22 NOVE MBER 2nd 14 8th 14 16th 26 DECE MBER 7th 32 8th 102

SELECTED MOVEMENTS

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

Pont Croesor, ABIL 1 09/09/1999 Porthmadoc 13/07/2000 Aberystwyth 61 KMS (W) 16/05/2008 Inner Marsh Farm, , Wirral 78 KMS

C814 1 F 28/07/2000 Swanley Pool, Nantwich 01/01/2001 , Nantwich (G) 29/01/2002 Doxey Marshes, Stafford 39 KMS Gailey Reservoir,nr 10/08/2002 Stafford 50 KMS Belvide Reservoir,nr 19/08/2002 Stafford 48 KMS 18/08/2008 Donisthorpe, Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics 80 KMS

Winterley Pool, C973 5 M 09/01/2002 Sandbach 05/10/2002 R. Mersey, Warrington 34 KMS (G) 19/12/2007 Kensington Gardens, Greater 232 KMS

CP02 5 F 27/02/2006 Westport Lake, Stoke 10/12/2007 Astbury Mere, Congleton 12 KMS (G) 12/04/2008 Redes Mere, 21 KMS 18/05/2008 Aber Ogwen, Bangor 126 KMS

CP55 1 F 08/08/2006 Pool,Chester 11/12/2007 New Brighton, Merseyside 30 KMS (G) 12/06/2008 Aber Ogwen, Bangor 83 KMS

Canal,, CS50 5 10/11/2006 Mill, Audlem 12/05/2007 Nantwich 1 KMS (G) 20/06/2008 Aber Ogwen, Bangor 108 KMS

CT53 5 F 09/07/2007 Westport Lake,Stoke 11/08/2007 Westport Lake,Stoke (G) 12/06/2008 Aber Ogwen, Bangor 126 KMS

Worcester Doddington U94 3 17/08/2006 Canal,Stourport 20/05/2008 Mere,Nantwich 76 KMS (O)

New Brighton, ZZ5428 5 M 16/11/2007 Merseyside 18/05/2008 Pentir, Bangor 72 KMS 20/06/2008 Aber Ogwen, Bangor 72 KMS

ZZ7540 31/08/2007 Abbotsbury Swannery, 11/12/2008 pool, Stockport 302 KMS Dorset

MEMORABLE MOVEMENTS 1

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

River Lossie, U1156 6 13/11/1991 Lossiemouth 30/08/1997 River Dee, Chester 504 KMS Scotland

Winterley pool, Winterley pool, CA14 7 M 20/01/2001 Sandbach 13/06/2001 Sandbach Wildfowl & Wetlands (G) 27/04/2003 Trust 151 KMS Slimbridge

Winterley pool, CD70 3 F 15/10/2002 , Northwich 16/12/2002 Sandbach 20 KMS (G) 15/05/2006 Windermere, Cumbria 124 KMS

River Severn, TBD 5 F 10/01/1997 Nantwich Boating Lake 21/07/1997 Welshpool 60 KMS (B) 20/05/1998 River Clwyd, Rhyl 69 KMS 15/07/1998 Aber Ogwen, Bangor 106 KMS Four Mile Bridge, 14/11/1998 Valley, Anglesey 140 KMS

North Slob, Wexford, VI2 3 M 01/11/1992 pool, Chester 07/06/1994 Eire 258 KMS (B)

VOI 3 F 22/07/1995 River Dee, Chester 13/10/1995 River Dee, Chester (B) 22/01/1996 Rhyl Marine Lake 43 KMS Tully Point, Lough 21/03/1997 Neagh, Northern Ireland. 277 KMS

XJ2 3 F 29/11/1992 Nantwich Boating Lake 04/07/1994 River Dee, Chester 27 KMS (B) 01/09/1994 St. Dogmael, Cardigan 191 KMS 03/10/1997 Teifi Estuary, Cardigan 191 KMS

YAD 5 M 14/02/1993 River Dee, Chester 03/04/1993 River Dee, Chester (B) 13/06/1993 Peel Harbour, IOM 166 KMS 29/01/1994 River Dee, Chester 31/01/1994 Ardglass Harbour, N. I. 216 KMS 12/02/1994 River Dee, Chester 17/09/1994 Dundrum Inner Bay, Co. Down, N. I. 229 KMS 20/12/1995 Dundrum Inner Bay, 229 KMS Co. Down, N. I.

MEMORABLE MOVEMENTS 2

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

YAF 5 M 14/02/1993 River Dee, Chester 03/04/1993 River Dee, Chester (B) 13/06/1993 Peel Harbour, IOM 166 KMS 07/01/1994 Dundrum Inner Bay, Co. Down, N. I. 229 KMS 29/01/1994 River Dee, Chester 31/01/1994 Ardglass Harbour, N. I. 216 KMS 28/03/1994 River Dee, Chester 17/09/1994 Dundrum Inner Bay, Co. Down, N. I. 229 KMS 14/10/1997 Carsluith Beach, Nr Gatehouse of Fleet FOUND DEAD Dumfries and Galloway 209 KMS

YHN 3 M 29/08/1993 Pickmere, Northwich 02/11/1993 Pickmere, Northwich (B) 05/03/1994 Westport Lake, Stoke 31 KMS 01/06/1995 St. Dogmael, Cardigan 209 KMS 11/07/1995 Teifi Estuary, Cardigan 209 KMS 19/09/1995 River Severn, Shrewsbury 66 KMS 24/02/1996 Teifi Estuary, Cardigan 209 KMS 13/10/1996 River Severn, Shrewsbury 66 KMS 28/04/1997 Teifi Estuary, Cardigan 209 KMS 05/05/1997 River Severn, Shrewsbury 66 KMS 24/05/1997 Teifi Estuary, Cardigan 209 KMS 20/09/1997 Teifi Estuary, Cardigan 209 KMS 01/07/1998 Brickworks pool, Rhyl 67 KMS

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

River Mersey, YYY 5 F 05/10/1996 Kingsway 19/01/1997 Kingsway Bridge, Warrington (B) Bridge, Warrington 16/02/1997 Fleetwood, Marine Lake 67 KMS 27/06/1997 Strathclyde CP. Hamilton 308 KMS Hogganfield Loch, 16/01/1998 Glasgow 290 KMS Hogganfield Loch, 07/09/1999 Glasgow 290 KMS

LONGEVITY REPORT

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

The ABNT 7 F 12/07/1992 Mere,Ellesmere 24/01/1994 Rhyl Marine Lake 61 KMS (W) Shropshire 08/01/1995 Prestatyn Golf Course 59 KMS EX 24/07/1995 The Mere,Ellesmere LH2 19/12/1995 Prestatyn Golf Course 59 KMS Pentre Mawr (B) 24/07/1996 Pools,Abergele 63 KMS Pentre Mawr 01/11/2008 Pools,Abergele 63 KMS AGED 19 YEARS

Weaver CJ06 3 M 27/08/1989 Navigation, 28/05/1990 , Northwich near Acton Shakerley Mere, Holmes (G) Bridge, 03/12/1990 C 15 KMS EX Northwich 31/05/1991 Pennington Flash,Leigh 22 KMS 2JX 26/07/1992 Acton Bridge, Northwich Doddington Mere, (B) 11/12/2004 Nantwich 33 KMS Shakerley Mere, Holmes 10/01/2005 C 15 KMS 19/01/2007 Redes Mere, Macclesfield 26 KMS 27/09/2008 Redes Mere, Macclesfield 26 KMS AGED 19 YEARS

2JC 3 F 13/08/1989 Astbury Mere, 09/12/1989 Redes Mere, Macclesfield (B) Congleton 13/02/1990 Westport Lake, Stoke 15/02/1990 Black Lake, 19 KMS 05/05/1990 Budworth Mere, Northwich 14/09/1990 Tatton Park, 19 KMS Withington Hall pool, 01/04/2000 10 KMS 21/12/2002 Catchpenny pool,Chelford 9 KMS Acre Dell Pools, 14/04/2007 Congleton 4 KMS 21/01/2008 Black Lake, Wilmslow 19 KMS AGED 19 YEARS

Hill Valley Golf 2NP 3 F 27/08/1989 Club, 05/01/1990 The Mere, Ellesmere 15 KMS (B) Whitchurch 11/06/1990 Westport Lake,Stoke 32 KMS 15/07/1990 River Dee, Chester 26 KMS 27/01/1991 Nantwich Boating Lake 14 KMS 14/06/1992 Aldersey pool, Chester 15 KMS 31/12/1995 River Dee, Chester 26 KMS 14/06/2004 River Dee, Chester 26 KMS 01/05/2008 Aldersey pool, Chester 15 KMS AGED 19 YEARS

200 RINGING INFORMATION 8

CYGNE SECO THIR ADULT TS ND D S TOTAL RINGE YEAR YEA RINGE RINGE RETRA CONTR DEAT MUTE SWANS D S RS D D PS OLS HS

CHESHIRE RINGING SITES

ACRE DELL,CONGL ETON 6 6 ALSAGER AREA 5 3 8 AUDLEM AREA 12 12 CHESTER AREA 3 3 2 7 CONGLETON AREA 8 CREWE AREA 9 9 DODDINGTON POOL 1 3 4 1 1 4 ELLESMERE, SALOP 2 1 3 LANCASHIRE 1 MACCLESFIE LD AREA 2 MIDDLEWICH AREA 1 NANTWICH BOATING LAKE 8 3 9 20 7 2 NANTWICH AREA 6 3 9 1 3 NORTH WALES 2 NORTHWICH AREA 3 3 2 REDES MERE 3 3 SHROPSHIRE 2 SPURSTOW 4 4 2 STAFFORDSH IRE 6 STOCKPORT AREA 6 6 WINSFORD AREA 2 WINTERLEY POOL 3 1 4 WARRINGTO N AREA 1 1 2

TOTALS 59 12 8 16 95 11 1 46

WHOOPER SWANS

These two Swans were ringed 2 at RSPCA, Stapeley Grange, Nantwich and released near the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Martin Mere, Lancs

WINTERLEY POOL REPORT 2008

Number of individual Swans identified at Winterley Pool, Sandbach

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC TOTAL

1991 4 18 13 8 20 20 19 5 8 5 5 10 38

1992 32 45 8 0 8 1 0 0 2 6 21 20 77

1993 26 25 25 12 29 6 4 0 9 0 23 52 105

1994 76 38 48 34 59 28 25 17 34 37 45 85 181

1995 164 122 74 85 85 72 59 53 46 44 27 130 336

1996 132 127 94 60 101 51 53 33 58 66 70 126 325

1997 141 101 126 84 81 68 62 32 90 89 111 139 337

1998 216 179 131 102 93 69 76 92 98 109 90 138 391

1999 136 91 76 64 66 43 42 46 57 73 76 106 257

2000 129 96 85 66 70 44 37 49 68 78 107 122 254

2001 164 117 133 98 109 89 70 72 81 94 100 148 148

2002 137 113 99 91 70 65 66 62 70 82 99 120 221

2003 136 102 98 95 76 45 57 51 43 38 27 37 191

2004 38 39 45 40 43 28 31 27 34 25 40 41 85

2005 47 42 33 18 19 19 20 17 18 24 23 42 73

2006 42 30 29 20 20 26 20 17 14 9 15 19 59

2007 14 24 13 23 14 17 16 17 9 8 11 10 50

2008 6 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 8

Number of individual Swans identified since 1989 1988 = 1568

Number of Swans ringed 1988 to 2008 = 472

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following for their help over the last twelve months:-

The British Trust for Ornithology, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, The Environment Agency, British Waterways, Cheshire County Council, Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, R.S.P.C.A, Stapeley Grange, Nantwich, Cheshire and Wirral Ornithology Society, Nantwich Natural History Society, South East Cheshire Ornithology Society, North West Swan Study Group, Merseyside Ringing Group, South Manchester Ringing Group, Roberts Bakery, Northwich for supplying bread, Lady Delves Broughton.

Land owners, and all Rangers, Wardens and other people who sent me their sightings.

A big thank you, also to all my helpers especially Bob Anderson and David Cummings for their continued support.