Eider mums with their youngsters

The tide was in and the rocks, where the eider ducks and their young had been resting, were under water so until the tide turns the young families were paddling about fairly close to the shore. The wee ducklings are not yet safe from the large predatory gulls who keep look out for tasty morsels .

The Common Eider is the largest duck in the Northern Hemisphere. The male’s bright white, black and green plumage contrasts markedly with the female’s camouflaging dull striped brown.

Many broods often come together to form crèches with the chicks being looked after by mums and some ‘aunties’ who have no young of their own.