Feature

Coquet Island seabird sanctuary

Off the Northumberland coast is Coquet Island, a vibrant seabird reserve that's home to the UK’s only breeding Roseate Terns. It's also an important site for nesting Puffins and Common, Sandwich and Arctic terns.

Overview

Just a mile off the Northumberland coast, Coquet Island is home to 40,000 breeding seabirds and is the only place in the UK where Roseate Terns (nicknamed Rosy/Rosies) breed. It also supports breeding Puffins, as well as Common, Arctic and Sandwich Terns and is protected under international and UK law. In recent years a few pairs of Mediterranean Gulls have nested.

We give the public a great insight into the wildlife on Coquet Island by having live camera feeds during the breeding season.

Due to its importance for Roseate Terns, Coquet Island is a dedicated wildlife sanctuary and is not open to the public.

Objectives

Our aims for Coquet Island are to:

Increase/maintain the number of breeding seabirds on the island above 40,000 through habitat and predation management, and through protection from human disturbance
Increase the breeding Roseate Tern population through the provision of nest terraces and habitat management
Use Coquet Island as a feeder site to expand the breeding range of Roseate Terns
Maintain and increase the numbers of Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns
Increase public awareness of the seabird colony at Coquet Island through technology including live feeds and virtual reality

A view of puffins taking flight from a green and earthy ground, on Coquet Island. — Coquet Island Puffins

Planned Work

We hope to attract more nesting Roseate Terns by maintaining nesting terraces and nest boxes.

Coquet Island through the years

1970

Residential wardens began working on the island during the breeding season.

1990

Wardens moved from living in a shed to the lighthouse, which became automated.

1991

The first Kittiwake nested on Coquet: the population has now grown to 448 pairs.

2015

Pairs of Roseate Terns topped the 100 mark for the first time since their decline 40 years ago.

The number of Rosy chicks ringed since the ringing began reached 1000.

Four pairs of Mediterranean Gulls nested.

2016

Creation of Virtual Reality Coquet Island (which was demonstrated at the Scottish Parliament in 2017).

The ruined cottages on the island were restored, allowing us to host residential volunteers in the months either side of the breeding season.

Launch of the EU Roseate Tern Life project.

2017

25 tern rafts were created by inmates at HMS Northumberland prison.

A total of 4520 pairs of terns nesting on Coquet Island.

Live streaming from two cams brought Coquet to the world. One cam was set up inside a Rosy nest box – a world-first, giving a peek into the secret life of the Roseate Tern. Between May and August, there were more than 1.5 million visits to the online live feed.