Rare swan from Australia is spotted on the river in Upton (From Malvern Gazette)

Rare swan from Australia is spotted on the river in Upton

1:40pm Friday 13th January 2012 in News

PEOPLE are used to seeing swans swimming about on the river Severn at Upton, but a few heads were turned when this rare black swan floated into town this week.

The striking species is native to Australia and, despite being popular with wildlife parks and private collectors, has never flourished in the wild in this country.

This photo was taken by Upton resident Jackie Surtees, who had heard that it had been spotted on the river.

She said: “When I went down to the river on Wednesday morning I noticed the resident swans coming out of the marina.

“A while later I noticed them coming upriver being chased by the visitor.”

Steve Bloomfield, a conservation officer with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, said it was a “notable occurrence.”

He said: “Up until early 2000 there had only been about 40 or 50 sightings in the wild, and although the most recent survey recorded way more than that they are still reasonably scarce.

“I would think that, without question, this is one that has escaped from a local wildlife site or, more likely, a private collection.”

He said that it could well have been at large in the countryside for some time.

He said: “Although they have never really successfully bred in the wild, they are very capable of looking after themselves.”