OUWENEEL GL (2000) Summer observations of Bewick's Swans Cygnus bewickii at Hellegatsplaten. LIMOSA 73 (4): 147-147.

8ince 1994 annual observations of Bewlck's 8wans have been made at the Heltegatspla!en (SW Netherlands) from March to August (Tab. 1), AIH10ugh Bewick's Swans do occur In this region as a wintering bird. Usually all birds have left before March From 994 iill1998 there was always one single bird present and in 1999 and 2000 two birds stayed throughout the summer. It remains unsolved whether these birds also spent their primary moult in the area. As primary moult starts from end of July onwards, it seems that the bi ds left Hellegatsplaten before wing-moult, or at least were not observed anymore. Obviously. it concerns swans which have remained in the region after their stay in winter, or which have stopped-over during spring migration from the British Isles, both probably as a result of poor body condition. In addition, it is not clear If the same individuals were involved, The area were the birds stayed, attracts large Summer populations of e.g, Barnacle Geese (700 - 800 birds In 2000. including c. 40 breeding pairs with offspring). Greylag Geese, Egyptian Geese and, occasionally. White-fronted Geese

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