Eider duck and drakes in Barnes Wetland Centre

I like going to the Barnes Wetland Centre and went there several times last year.  Unfortunately, I do not seem to be able to keep up with going out and taking photographs of birds and then writing posts about them.  I do not know where the time goes.

Anyway, my last visit to the Centre was in mid-November and I had a great time watching the Eider ducks wandering around in their enclosure.  I realise that they are being held captive and are not free-flying birds, but they seem to be having a good life and many people would never be able to see them otherwise as, during the breeding season, they mainly can be found in the UK on the north Northumberland coast and off the west coast of Scotland.  I gather that they can be found in the same areas in winter and also further south on the Yorkshire coast and around the east and south coast as far as Cornwall and some can also be found off the Welsh coast and Befast Lough in Northern Ireland.  This information was from the RSPB internet site.

Below is a photograph of a wandering Eider drake, looking very handsome and picturesque behind the flowering plants.

Apparently, the Eider is the UK's heaviest duck (which it looks!) and its fastest flying.  It is a true sea-duck and is rarely found away from the coast when its dependence on coastal molluscs for food has brought it into conflict with mussel farmers.  Eiders are highly gregarious and usually stay close inshore, riding the swell in the sandy bay or strung out in long lines out beyond the breaking waves.  It is an Amber List species because of its winter concentrations.  This information is again from the RSPB site, where an explanation of the red, amber and green lists can be found.

Here two Eider drakes are marching around behind the grasses and both look very handsome.

A little later in the day, the Eiders went for a swim.  There were several of them around and, below, are photographs of three drakes and a female swimming around in golden water with amazing reflections from the sun, etc., on the water in the lagoon.

Further information on Eider ducks: the Latin name is Somateria mollissima, they are in the family swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae) and they eat shellfish, especially mussels.

One day, I hope to see them in the wild - if I can ever manage a holiday on the coast of Northumberland, Scotland or Cornwall at the appropriate time of year.