Making a flap about return of swan count

Swan-upping, which is the annual census of the swan population on stretches of the Thames, took place in Marlow on Tuesday and Wednesday, as Her Majesty's swan marker, David Barber, arrived with his team at the lock.

They were supported by a group of around five boats, including the Vintners' and the Dyers' companies, who share ownership of the swans on the Thames.

The tradition sees cygnets, tagged and recorded, while being checked for health, then weighed and measured.

The historic ceremony dates back to the 12th Century where the crown claimed ownership of all swans on the river.

Mr Barber, 55, of Frieth Road, Marlow, who has been the swan marker for 14 years, said that while the process had been successful, the number of cygnets around Marlow had gone down by five.

He said: "We are slightly down on cygnets for last year its not a great deal, but we are down. It is usually down to fish hooks which can cause fatalities to young cygnets."

Mr Barber, a former Great Marlow School pupil, said there were three different swan families in and around Marlow that they were keeping a close eye on.

There is one in Marlow Lock, one in Bisham Abbey and one at the Temple Mill end of the Thames.

Swan-upping is seen as essential to monitoring swan numbers and a record is kept at the University of Oxford's Zoology department.

After arriving on Tuesday, the crews assembled on Wednesday morning for an official launch where Mr Barber spoke to school pupils from Foxes Piece and St Peter's RC School.

One pupil, Patrick Castle, ten, of Foxes Piece School, said the event had made him more willing to learn about life on the Thames.

He said: "I go fishing quite a lot so it does interest me being on the river."

After 9am the crews headed off from Marlow Lock to continue their journey. They are set to arrive at their final destination of Abingdon Bridge this evening.

Read our Swan Upping Feature in Country Matters