Today’s Country Diary in The Guardian. The whooper swans are among the many things that make Lough Beg special.

Many thanks to all the folks who helped me track down or provided detailed info about the breeding behaviour and movements of the local whoopers, including: Stephen Hewitt of the BTO; Terry Goldsmith, Seamus Burns & Gareth Bareham of the RSPB; Ciara Laverty of the Lough Neagh Partnership; and Graham McIlwaine of the Irish Brent Goose Research group.

As ever, thanks also to Paul Fleckney, editor.