All posts by Kristin

More Robins than in recent years

Yesterday we came across this European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) when we visited the family summerhouse. The snow was probably 30 cm deep and we just made it there. The Robin was not shy to come close to get to the feed. It was probably in dire need of food. Getting a good picture was not easy because of its rapid movements.

globrystingur-2
Glóbrystingur – European Robin – Erithacus rubecula

It seems that more Robins have been here this winter than in recent years. They are vagrants and probably annual visitors.

globrystingur

Common Snipe

The Common Snipe is a migratory bird in Iceland although a few stay behind and endure winter. These birds keep to warm springs and ditches. Early in April the migrators will be arriving in Iceland.

The Common Snipe is known for the special sound it makes on flight with its tail feathers.

hrossagaukur
Hrossagaukur – Common Snipe – Galinago gallinago

It lives in marshes, stream banks, bogs, wet meadows, and even the Arctic tundra, preferring lush vegetation for cover. The common snipe’s habitat ranges from North America, South America, Europe, Eurasia, and Africa.

Slavonian Grebe

The Slavonian Grebe is not a common breeding bird in Iceland. You are most likely to see it in Mývatn, in the North, and surrounding areas. There are also a few birds in other areas e.g. in Ástjörn in Hafnarfjörður and Reykhólar in the West. The Slavonian Grebe makes its nest on lakes and ponds. What is special about the nest is that it floats on the water among the reeds, made of moss and straws.

florgodi
Flórgoði – Slavonian Grebe – Podiceps auritus

This photo is taken in the West, in Reykhólar in Reykhólasveit, in the beginning of June, 2011.

European Shag

Toppskarfur - European Shag - Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Toppskarfur – European Shag – Phalacrocorax aristotelis

The European Shag mostly keeps to the shore and is seldom seen far from land. It breeds and lives in the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In Iceland it mostly keeps to the West coast, in Faxaflói and Breiðafjörður. Its nest is in sea cliffs, islands and bird colonies and it lays one to six eggs. The European Shag is a good diver and mostly lives on small fish.

toppskarfur-2

The estimated breeding population in Iceland is 4,900 pairs.

The Golden Plover has arrived

The first news of the arrival of the Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) has been issued. It is said to have been seen in Breiðdalur, in the East of Iceland, yesterday, March 18. Now spring must surely be on its way.

Heiðlóa - Golden Plover - Pluvialis apricaria
Heiðlóa – Golden Plover – Pluvialis apricaria

The Golden Plover  is probably the most loved Icelandic bird. Its arrival in the spring is looked forward to because it signals the coming of summer.

Heiðlóa - Golden Plover - Pluvialis apricaria
Heiðlóa – Golden Plover – Pluvialis apricaria

The Wren is on the move

The Wren was the smallest Icelandic bird before the Goldcrest settled here. It is a tiny little bird with a big voice. It is one of the birds that stays in Iceland the whole year. In the winter time it can be found by the seaside but in other seasons all over the country, mostly lowlands though.

musarrindill
músarrindill – Wren – Troglodytes troglodytes

We have had a Wren in the garden now for a few days which tells us that it is expecting spring.

The Wagtail wags its tail

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)  is a beautiful little bird that constantly wags its long tail. It is quite noticeable dashing about in the garden in the summer time. The Wagtail is one of the migratory birds which arrival is looked forward to in the spring.

mariuerla
Maríuerla – White wagtail – Motacilla alba

We like the Wagtail a lot and there is usually a pair with a nest in the garden every year. It quite likes the oatmeal biscuits we feed it.

Ornosk photoes

Extremely Rare Birds in the Western Palearctic, 2012
Extremely Rare Birds in the Western Palearctic, by Marcel Haas, 2012

The cover photo of this book is by Örn Óskarsson/ORNOSK. This is the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers which has only been spotted twice in Iceland. Photo taken in  Selfoss, see blog.

The book is for sale on Amazon.com
This book describes in detail the 155 species of extremely rare birds that have occurred in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. All species that have occurred less than 10 times have been included. The records are listed with full details and references to books and articles, and include a photograph of the actual individual, if available. Some of these images are published in this book for the first time. The book on Amazon.com

The Secrets of Backyard Bird-Feeding Success, 2011 by Deborah L. Martin
The Secrets of Backyard Bird-Feeding Success, 2011 by Deborah L. Martin

 There is a photo in this book by Örn Óskarsson /ORNOSK. It’s page 206, Common Crossbill/Red Crossbill.

The book is for sale on Amazon.com
Discover the joys of attracting winged wonders to your backyard. From seeds and suet to the best bird-attracting plants and other bird-friendly fare, you’ll find easy, practical, and low-cost ways to entice birds into stopping by regularly. You’ll learn the best tips and secrets from experienced birders, experts, and longtime backyard bird-feeders to welcome birds to every part of your yard and garden. The book on Amazon.com

Nature plays its tricks

rjupa
Rjúpa – Ptarmigan – Lagopus mutus

The Ptarmigan changes its colour to white in the winter. Nature is peculiar. The male stays whiter longer but the female gets its camouflage colours earlier to match the colours of nature. The female needs to go unnoticed while keeping the eggs warm in the nest. The male is white and thus catches the attention of predators, keeping them away from the nest.

This photo is taken in the Icelandic Westfjords in the beginning June, 2012.

Inland Seabird

The Northern Fulmar’s first known breeding in Icelandic territory was in Grimsey, an island north of Iceland, in the beginning of the 19th century. Since then they have spread over the whole country, first in ocean cliffs and now they have started breeding in mountains and cliffs, even 70 km inland.  Despite this they get all their food in the ocean.

fyll
Fýll – Northern Fulmar – Fulmarus glacialis

They look for breeding places as early as February and start laying eggs in March. To protect their eggs and chicks they throw up foul smelling bile.

This photo is taken in Látrabjarg, Westfjords, Iceland, 2011.