The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Between 12 and 14 swans were a couple of miles out at sea at Gibraltar Point this afternoon. Difficult to be sure of the numbers or the species (mute/whooper) because of the swell and distance.

Are swans at sea unusual?

well swans are happy to land and take off from the sea so if they have to cross the sea i think they just do it.
Rob.

Obvious really - thanks Rob

Hi CHris

In recent years, we have had some very whooper swan passage over the sea as birds are arriving in autumn and heading throuigh the Wash - occasionally they have been seen settled on the sea. On rare occasions odd Bewick's have been with them , but I have never seen a mute on the sea as far as I can recall.

In response to Johns message re brents - the Gib flock of dark-bellies continues to decline unfortunately, but there have been a couple of colour-ringed birds seen during the last week.

Also, up to 32 pale-bellied brent over the last week. There was a family party (3 juvs) on Jackson's Marsh yesterday and the two adults were colour-ringed but they flew before I could get the letters on the rings. They both had yellow on the right and white on the left.

Smew still about yesterday.
Cheers

Kev