All posts by Kristin

Birds

An American rarity

Víxlnefur – White-winged Crossbill – Loxia leucoptera

Never before has a female White-winged Crossbill been spotted in Iceland, being the second of its kind after the male which was spotted in the Reykjanes Peninsula last autumn.  Here in our garden, where there are vigilant eyes, this beautiful American vagrant was eating sun-flower seeds with Common Crossbills and Redpolls.

The White-winged Crossbill is a sub-species of the Europe one, called  Two-barred Crossbill, which is also a rarity having only been spotted once in Iceland.

The White-winged Crossbills are finches, rather large ones, and their breeding area is in conifer forests across the northernmost areas of United States, Canada and Alaska. Their bills are especially adapted to getting the seed from conifer cones which is almost their only food source. They are not migrators but if food is scarce they may go with groups of Common Crossbills. They are smaller than the Common Crossbill and stand out with two white wing bars which give them their name.

White-winged Crossbill and Common Crossbill (Am. Engl.: Red Crossbill)
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Birds

Hail, sleet and snow in May

Gulls in the snow, May 4.

The birds do not seem as offended as the human by the hail, sleet and snow that seems to be never ending. Where is spring and summer for that matter?  Icelanders celebrated the First Day of Summer on the last Thursday in April, as always. That is the optimistic Icelandic spirit. Now, however, we are crying for summer.  According to the latest weather forecasts there may actually be some improvements on the way.

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Birds

Urriðafoss in River Þjórsá

Urriðafoss is a waterfall in River Þjórsá. The waterfall has been quite a concern in recent years with the planning of a dam for a power station further inland. Concerns have also been raised about the future of the salmon run in River Þjórsá.

With the growing numbers of tourists in Iceland, Urriðafoss has become quite an attraction in the last few years.  The waterfall is easily accessible from the main road, Road 1, about ten minute drive east from Selfoss.

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Atmosphere

Turbulent weather

February wheather in center of Selfoss

At last we can look forward to some warmer days, according to the forecasts, and hopefully less windy. February has been very turbulent, with storms and  snowstorms every other day, resulting in road closures, flight cancellations and the like. Lots of locals, along with the constantly growing numbers of tourist, have had to change their travelling plans. There is no weather guaranty when travelling in Iceland in the winter time. Locals tend to use the summer for travelling, enjoying the warmth of their well insulated geo-thermally heated houses in winter, rather than taking any risks with the turbulence of the Icelandic climate.

Road 1 – Hellisheidi (from webcam) – http://www.vegagerdin.is/ferdaupplysingar/vefmyndavelar/sudvesturland/
Roadmap (SW-Iceland) in the middle of February.
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Birds

The Whooper Swans are here

Migrating Whooper Swans   –    Álft – Whooper Swan – Cygnus cygnus

It is still February but this week the first flocks of Whooper Swans could be seen flying along the Southeast coast. Small groups were spotted in Fáskrúðsfjörður and in Hornafjörður, having just arrived over the Atlantic Ocean. Most Whooper Swans migrate to the British Isles in the autumn and come back in late winter. They are one of the very first migrators to arrive. We hope their coming signals a change in the weather and look forward to some warmer days.

Wintering Whooper Swans on River Ölfusá

Whooper Swans are very common in Iceland and can be seen all over the country year round, although some still migrate to the British Isles in winter. On Ölfusá River by Selfoss  there were about 40 birds this winter. The Whooper Swans pair for life and return to the same breeding place year after year. They are very sensitive and if disturbed the pair may abandon the nest and eggs.

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Birds

The very first arrival

Sílamáfur – Lesser Black-backed Gull – Larus fuscus

The Lesser Black-backed Gull has arrived, the very first migrator to signal the changing of the seasons. Spring, however, seems we off as the weather has been at its very worst. But this is a promising sign, an indicator for the weather gods to change course and bring us some warmer winds.

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is usually one of the earliest arrivals in Iceland, or perhaps the very first to arrive as early as February. They spend a few winter months by the shores of the Iberian peninsula and North West Africa. It is the only gull that is a complete migrator in Iceland. The Lesser Black-backed Gull started breeding in Iceland in the 1920s and the breeding population now counts around 50,000 pairs. 

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Birds

Ölfusá River in winter

Mallards, Goosanders, Wigeons and a Raven

The most voluminous river in Iceland is River Ölfusá. Around this time of year you can expect to see a lot of ducks and  gulls there, some Greylags and Swans  and a Gyrfalcon, a Merlin or even a White-tailed Eagle flying above.

Svartbakur – Great Blackback – Larus marinus

Due to spring water a big part of the river never freezes. When creeks and lakes are frozen over, River Ölfusá is the perfect winter habitat for birds. The river flows just outside our window about 50m away from our house.

Goosander, Iceland Gulls and Common Gulls (gulendur, bjartmáfar og stormmáfar)
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Birds

A rare American visitor

Dulþröstur – Hermit Thrush – Catharus guttatus

The Hermit Thrush, a very rare American vagrant, was spotted in Iceland this week by Lake Thingvallavatn. This is the12th time that a Hermit Thrush is seen in Iceland. It breeds in North America, as northerly as Alaska and Canada. It winters in South America or the southern states of USA – so this poor little guy is very far from home.

The Hermit Thrush lives in woodlands and is often seen in the undergrowth, foraging in leaves and foliage looking for food. It is not a garden bird and is almost never seen at feeders. It might come into gardens in winter to look for berries.  – So we are probably not going  to see one in our garden.

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