The annual swan upping event on the River Thames took place again in July, where hopes were high for an improved count over last year, when avian flu had badly affected bird numbers. This year, however, the flooding and high river levels will have washed away many nests, although some may be rebuilt later in the season, resulting in a lower count than might be expected, but still improved on last year.
With day one starting in Sunbury, Surrey, I loaded my camera gear into my rucksack (and packed a lightweight waterproof as the forecast was for rain later), got on my bike and took off to the start point, where the wooden boats, called rowing skiffs, were already moored up awaiting their crews.
The crews duly turned up, set up their boats, ran some last minute repairs, and gathered round whilst David Barber, the King’s Swan Marker, proposed a toast with a small a glass of port.
Almost on cue two swans and a cygnet passed the boats just before the swan uppers took to the river, so they got their first “upping” almost immediately. Unfortunately for me, they upped the swans on to the lawn of a private house on the opposite bank of the Thames, so it was difficult to be able to photograph much well, particularly when all the boats on the river gather round to take a look!
The benefit of being on a bike though is I can stay with the lead boat, which was a rib with swan sanctuary staff in it, that went ahead of the main flotilla to find swan families with cygnets. This meant I could work out the best place to be to get some good shots.
I crossed the Thames on the Shepperton Ferry boat, as the Swan Uppers go through Shepperton lock which is on the opposite side of the river, and this is the only way to get across, without cycling miles at least. As always there was a big crowd of onlookers at the lock, but unlike last year, there were no swans around to be upped in front of the crowd.
However Chertsey once again delivered and the Swan Uppers were able to lift a family with 3 cygnets onto the river bank by Chertsey Bridge.
Although historically the cygnets were eaten, nowadays they are upped for the purpose of checking their health and counting their numbers. On the Thames the swans are owned by either the Crown or one of two livery companies, with the livery company swans being marked by having a ring put on a leg of the swan. The Crown’s birds are left unmarked and the Crown has the right to claim ownership of any unmarked swans. Why the King’s Swan Marker is so called then I don’t know!
Amongst the checks they do the cygnets are weighed and measured to check their growth, and they are inspected for any injuries or health issues, the most common injury being caught up fishing hooks and lines.
On the way to Penton Hook lock the rain duly arrived, but the crews were well prepared with rain jackets, as was I!
The only other swan on their route was the Swan pub at Staines-on-Thames, where they stopped for lunch.
:DK
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