RSPB wardens have completed their annual Eider duck census on Coquet Island.
5 min read
From the rocky shores around Amble to the sheltered waters of the Coquet Estuary, Eider ducks – known locally as “Cuddy Ducks” – are a familiar sight along the Northumberland coast.
Each year, RSPB wardens and volunteers carry out a detailed census of the breeding population on Coquet Island, providing valuable insight into how these much-loved sea ducks are faring.
Just a mile off the Northumberland coast, Coquet Island is home to around 45,000 breeding seabirds and supports the UK’s only breeding colony of Roseate Terns. The internationally important island is also home to Puffins, Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns, Razorbills, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and several gull species.
This year’s census was carried out during May and June, with wardens and volunteers carefully surveying the island on foot to count nesting birds and recently hatched ducklings.
The first Eider nest of the season was discovered on 15 April, and this year’s survey recorded 269 nests, roughly equating to 269 breeding females.
While this is lower than the 333 nests recorded in 2025, it is similar to the 252 nests counted in 2024.
Although Coquet Island provides a safe and secure breeding site, the story of Northumberland’s Eiders extends far beyond the island itself.
Soon after hatching, female Eiders lead their ducklings from the island to mainland waters. It can be a hazardous journey, exposing young birds to rough seas and predators.
Once they reach sheltered coastal waters, females often join together in protective groups known as crèches. Non-breeding birds sometimes act as “aunties”, helping to guard ducklings while they feed and grow.
Much of their lives are spent along the Northumberland coast, feeding in shallow waters and estuaries around places such as Amble Harbour and the Coquet Estuary.
Their favourite food is mussels, although they also feed on crabs and other shellfish, diving beneath the surface to forage before swallowing their prey whole.
While the annual census provides a valuable snapshot of the breeding population on Coquet Island, we’re keen to learn more about where Eiders spend the rest of their lives and the challenges they face along the coastline.
The RSPB is working with the Berwickshire and Northumberland Marine Nature Partnership through the Eider Aware Northeast project, which encourages people to record sightings of Eiders and ducklings along the coast.
Anyone can become a citizen scientist by recording Eider sightings through the Eider Aware Northeast project, helping conservationists build a better understanding of one of Northumberland’s most treasured coastal birds. You can record your sightings here.
