Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Fairly common resident and partial migrant.
Mute Swans: left, Frampton Marsh December 20th 2009 (Paul Hyde); centre, Hibaldstow December 2nd 2011 (Russell Hayes);
right, Barton Pits March 18th 2017 (Graham Catley)
Mute Swan is very widespread as a breeder in Lincolnshire occurring at low density on ponds, lakes, gravel pits, rivers and many of our larger drains and canals. The Atlas estimated a breeding population of some 300 pairs and the current population is likely higher than that based on BBS trends. Remarkably the winter population estimated at 1,000 back in the late 1980s is pretty much mirrored by the size of the wintering population in recent years. The largest wintering flocks tend to be in the Fens from Crowland in the south up to Branston Booths near Lincoln.
(Account as per new Birds of Lincolnshire (2021), included September 2022)