Express & Star

In Pictures: Swan Uppers take to the Thames for annual census

The Queen retains the right to claim ownership of any unmarked mute swan swimming in open waters.

Published
Swan Upping

The ancient ceremony of Swan Upping, the annual counting of swans on a stretch of the River Thames, has been taking place near Windsor.

Swan Uppers in red shirts, using a flotilla of boats, lift the birds from the water and check their health, and the young cygnets are ringed with individual identification numbers.

The Queen still retains the right to claim ownership of any unmarked mute swan swimming in open waters.

Swan Upping
Swan Uppers release a swan and its cygnets (Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
The team check the health of cygnets (Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
Swan Uppers take a break from rowing near Bourne End, Berkshire (Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
(Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
The Queen’s swan marker, David Barber, kneeling centre, is joined by Swan Uppers to inspect swans (Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
David Barber inspects a swan (Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
(Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
(Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
Swan Uppers on the Thames (Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
(Steve Parsons/PA)
Swan Upping
(Steve Parsons/PA)
Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.