It’s a far cry from its arctic breeding ground, but a common eider has been spotted in Bermuda for the first time.

The resilient sea duck — identified near Clearwater Beach by birder Andrew Dobson and his family last Saturday — was the highlight of this year’s Christmas bird count by the Bermuda Audubon Society.

Common eiders are the largest ducks in the northern hemisphere and generally inhabit arctic and subarctic coastal marine habitats across northern Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. However its arrival in Bermuda was not entirely a surprise, because of its annual migration south.

Mr Dobson, president of the Society, said: “The common eider at Clearwater was almost certainly part of the race which populates northeast Canada and the United States.

“It breeds from the south-central Labrador coast south to Massachusetts. In winter, this race extends south to New England and in small numbers annually to Virginia and Florida. So it was a species expected to occur in Bermuda at some point.”

On count day, 93 species were seen — exactly the same as in 2015 — and more than 8,500 individual birds recorded.

Six additional species were seen in count week. The most numerous species was the starling, which combined with the kiskadee and sparrow, made up more than half of the birds seen.

Other highlights included a ruby-throated hummingbird, snow goose and snow bunting.

A record nine glossy ibis were seen, while the record number of 52 green herons is said to reflect the successful colonisation first bred in Bermuda in 2002.

Mr Dobson said: “The results are submitted to the National Audubon Society in the United States as part of a continent-wide study of birds that has been running for more than 100 years.

“Citizen science provides a way for people to connect with the natural world through activities that generate vital information for the conservation of birds.”

Count results will be entered on to the National Audubon site: www.audubon.org/bird/cbc