Tag Archives: Gráþröstur

Groups of Fieldfares

Gráþröstur – Fieldfare – Turdus pilaris

In the last few weeks up to four Fieldfares have been visiting the garden. They come for the berries on the Vosges whitebeam, which is a relative of the Rowan or Sorbus family. The Fieldfare is not put off by the boisterous Starlings that have occupied the garden and claimed as their own.

It seems that more Fieldfares are around this autumn than in the last few years and groups have been seen all over the country. Last winter, however, we only once saw a Fieldfare here in the garden.

Fieldfares are annual guests in Iceland and almost every winter groups come from Scandinavia and overwinter here. They are known to have bred in North Iceland.

Three species of Thrushes

In the last few days there have been three species of Thrushes in the garden. We have had up to 25 Redwings, 5 Blackbirds and a Fieldfare. The photoes are taken in the garden in the last few days.

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Gráþröstur – Fieldfare – Turdus pilaris
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Skógarþröstur – Redwing – Turdus iliacus
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Svartþröstur – Blackbird – Turdus merula

The Fieldfare has arrived

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Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) -photo from 2011

After a stormy night with some very heavy winds (20-30 m/s), snow and 0°C, this winter’s first Fieldfare has arrived in the garden. Every autumn groups of Fieldfares come from Scandinavia and overwinter in Iceland. They are annual visitors in the garden. Once in a while they breed in Iceland, mainly in the northern part of the country. Only one known breeding has been reported in Selfoss (1980).

Other birds in the garden this morning:
Blackbird 6
Redwing 6
Starling 22
Blackcap 3
European Robin 1
Chaffinches 4
Redpolls 70
Common Crossbills 6