A FLURRY of Arctic endangered swans have returned to WWT Slimbridge officially marking the arrival of winter. 

A family of Bewick’s swans - named Maisie and her partner Maifield and their two cygnets - all touched down on today, Thursday, November 16. 

They have completed an epic 3,500-kilometre annual migration from Russia’s arctic tundra. 

It is the latest the birds have arrived in the area since 1965 - when they arrived in late October 1965. 

Experts say this is due to climate change, combined with a mixture of stormy and mild weather in recent weeks.

It is believed that birds are leaving their summer haunts later, with many travelling less far west than in previous generations.

Gazette Series: Bewick’s swans Maisie, Maifield and their two cygnets who were spotted at Slimbridge todayBewick’s swans Maisie, Maifield and their two cygnets who were spotted at Slimbridge today (Image: WWT Slimbridge)

Gazette Series: This year's first arrival at WWT Slimbridge was Maisie and her family - photo by WWTThis year's first arrival at WWT Slimbridge was Maisie and her family - photo by WWT (Image: WWT Slimbridge)

Maisie first wintered at WWT Slimbridge in 2014 and has returned to the reserve every year since. In 2016 she arrived with her new mate Maifield. 

After coupling up the pair brought their first two cygnets back to Slimbridge in 2020, three more in 2021, two more last winter and another two this year.

Kane Brides, senior research officer at WWT said: “For the second year in a row we’re seeing Bewick’s swans returning later than we would expect, with Maisie and Maifield being the latest first arrival on record since 1965. 

“Bewick’s swans are a bird that holds special importance to WWT, appearing on our logo and being the subject of a 60-year single species study which has allowed us to track the species’ fortunes in the UK in minute detail for decades.

“If more individuals end up ‘short-stopping’ their autumn migration, it’s possible that in decades to come we might no longer expect to see Bewick’s swans at WWT Slimbridge, a tangible impact of climate change playing out right before our eyes.” 

Bewick’s are small white swans with a black and yellow bill. Every winter they return to the UK to escape the arctic winters of Russia. 

However, the population of these birds has plummeted in recent decades, following a series of poor breeding seasons.