I’ve never had a close view of a male Eider drake before.
And now I have.
They’re sailing the coasts of Orkney in flotillas with the Eider ducks, and now with their tiny chicks. In the breeding season they perform a ridiculous head-bob and make a strange cooing sound like the comedian Frankie Howerd.
Eider flypastEiders are fast, powerful flyers. They can reach 70mph, so successfully photographing one in full flow is always tricky. Tricky,… read more
Floating EiderI've been enjoying floats of Eider Ducks all around Westray this summer. Occasionally I'll see a group of males hassling… read more
Eider DownI'm walking in the far north of Westray. I've been scrambling up cliffs, walking across rocky beaches and yomping across… read more
Crab for dinnerCrabs are powerful crustaceans and can give anyone a nasty nip. Eider Ducks, or Dunters as they are known here… read more
EiderIf you've ever seen an Eider Duck you may have wondered what they're doing when they splash their bills in… read more
Eider orI'm waiting for my car to be MOTd. After a dull hour I have to go back to check how… read more