Swan Upping: Time for the traditional count of swans on the River Thames

There are fears that the high water levels on the River Thames are stopping swans from breeding successfully. The concerns were raised by David Barber, the Queen's Swan Marker, as the ancient ritual of swan counting on the river was set to start on Monday. (link via BBC News) Swan Upping, the annual census of the swan population on certain stretches of the River Thames, takes place during the third week of July each year. The historic ceremony dates from the 12th century.