Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) on the Tavy
IMG_1635
Image taken at the Lopwell damn, looking South West down the River Tavy.
Lopwell Dam, part of the Tamar Tavy Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve since 2004, features rich saltmarsh habitats supporting species like sea aster and English scurvygrass. The River Tavy, rising on Dartmoor and flowing through Tavistock to the Tamar, forms the Bere Peninsula and offers a range of recreational activities, making the area a haven for both wildlife and visitors.
The Mute Swan, a symbol of grace and power, is present year-round on suitable waterbodies. Its large size, white plumage, and distinctive orange bill distinguish it from other swans. Grey cygnets mature into white adults within a year, typically breeding from age four. While often territorial in breeding season, they may gather in large numbers in winter or where food is provided.
South West Lakes Trust. ‘Lopwell Dam, Devon’, 20 December 2018. www.swlakestrust.org.uk/lopwell.
Westcountry Rivers Trust. ‘River Tavy’. Accessed 22 May 2025. wrt.org.uk/project/river-tavy/.
‘Mute Swan’. Accessed 22 May 2025. www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/mute-swan.
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) on the Tavy
IMG_1635
Image taken at the Lopwell damn, looking South West down the River Tavy.
Lopwell Dam, part of the Tamar Tavy Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve since 2004, features rich saltmarsh habitats supporting species like sea aster and English scurvygrass. The River Tavy, rising on Dartmoor and flowing through Tavistock to the Tamar, forms the Bere Peninsula and offers a range of recreational activities, making the area a haven for both wildlife and visitors.
The Mute Swan, a symbol of grace and power, is present year-round on suitable waterbodies. Its large size, white plumage, and distinctive orange bill distinguish it from other swans. Grey cygnets mature into white adults within a year, typically breeding from age four. While often territorial in breeding season, they may gather in large numbers in winter or where food is provided.
South West Lakes Trust. ‘Lopwell Dam, Devon’, 20 December 2018. www.swlakestrust.org.uk/lopwell.
Westcountry Rivers Trust. ‘River Tavy’. Accessed 22 May 2025. wrt.org.uk/project/river-tavy/.
‘Mute Swan’. Accessed 22 May 2025. www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/mute-swan.