Wardens complete island's annual duck count
RSPBWildlife wardens have completed an annual duck count as they bid to better understand the birds' behaviour.
A total of 269 eider duck nests have been found on Coquet Island, a mile (0.6km) off the coast of Northumberland, as the birds return there to breed.
Roughly equating to 269 breeding females, that number is a drop on last year's 333, the RSPB said, but similar to 2024 when there were 252 nests.
Known locally as 'Cuddy Ducks', Eiders have been associated with Northumberland since the 7th Century, according to the charity, when St Cuthbert spent time helping birds and other wildlife on the Farne Islands.
The annual census, carried out by wardens and volunteers, helps conservationists "monitor one of the region's most recognisable coastal birds and better understand how Eiders are using Northumberland's shores," it added.
The island is home to about 45,000 breeding seabirds in total as it plays host to a variety of terns as well as puffins, kittiwakes and a number of gull species.
Largest and heaviest
RSPB warden Rebekah Goodwill said eider numbers fluctuate from year to year as "sometimes they share nests, or choose not to nest at all".
"They are such a special part of Northumberland's coastal heritage and there's always something exciting about seeing the first nests appear on Coquet each spring.
"The annual census is a huge task because we cover the whole island on foot looking for nesting birds and recently hatched ducklings, but it gives us a valuable picture of how the population is doing."
The RSPB says eiders are the largest and heaviest ducks in the Northern Hemisphere and among the fastest flying ducks in the world - reaching up to 70mph (110km/h).
The eiders found at Northumberland spend most of their lives along the county's coast, feeding on shellfish in shallow coastal waters and estuaries including around Amble harbour and the Coquet estuary.
After hatching, females lead their ducklings from Coquet Island to mainland waters.
