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Seeing Whooper Swans in the same sites winter after winter, it is tempting to assume that the same birds are involved and indeed this is often the case, as revealed by the presence of ringed birds returning year after year. However, some birds or perhaps the whole flock they are a part of? seem to be inveterate wanderers. A Whooper ringed as DJP, an adult female, on 4th August 1993, at Sandvatn, Myvatnsheidi, N. Iceland (65:30īN 17:12īW) has appeared at Kirkbride in recent months, after many years wintering in Ireland. Its sighting details have been kindly provided by Jenny Earle, the Swan Database Manager, at WWT Slimbridge. (Glos GL2 7BT; swans@wwt.org.uk: http://www.wwt.org.uk.) Each summer, the bird presumably returned to its breeding area in Iceland. 10th March 1994: R. Rinn, Johnstons Bridge, Roosky, Co. Leitrim. - Summer 1994 5th November 1994: Myroe, Lough Foyle, Co. Londonderry; 20th November 1994: Blackbrae, Donnybrewer, L. Foyle, Londonderry. - Summer 1995 10th-17th November 1995: Myroe, Lough Foyle, Co. Londonderry; 20th November 1995: Glaslyn marshes, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales. - Summer 1996 [Winter 1996/7: no reports] - Summer 1997 25th January 1998: Carrigans, R Foyle, Co. Donegal; 15th February 1998: Dunnalong, R. Foyle, Co. Tyrone; 8th March 1998: South Grange, River Foyle, Co. Tyrone; 21st March 1998: Carrigans, R. Foyle, Co. Donegal; 5th April 1998: North Grange, R. FoyIe, Co. Tyrone; 14th April 1998: Inch Levels, L. Swilly, Co. Donegal. - Summer 1998 23rd November 1998: Glenavy Road, Moira, Co. Antrim; 13th February-17th March 1999: Deerpark, Portmore Lough, L. Neagh. - Summer 1999 3rd January 2000: Kirkbride, W of Carlisle. - Summer 2000 21st January 2001: Kirkbride, W of Carlisle. To help watchers attempting to read the leg-rings at a distance, the following information may prove very useful! Jenny Earle writes: 'You mention the possible confusion over reading the letters C, D and O: we do not use the letter O in our ringing alphabet so as to avoid this very problem. The alphabet does not include E, G, M, O, Q, R and W and in many cases the letter Y. I hope this helps with your ring reading. Frank Mawby
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