All posts by Kristin

Birds

Migrants are arriving

Grágæs – Greylag – Anser anser

After a mild snowless winter March greeted us with snow galore. It snowed almost every day and families brought out their skis, thankful for getting at last some snow this winter. There is no denying that it was a great end to the winter with bright skies in-between snowstorms. A lot of tourists, as well as locals, had trouble getting around and snowy roads and closures were almost daily somewhere around the country. But now spring is here and we are looking forward to summer.

Newly arrived Oystercatchers

Despite the snowy weather migrants flocked to the country, some arriving well ahead of their usual time. The frequent southerly winds with deep fast-moving low-pressure systems contributed to the early arrival of some bird species. The first Arctic Terns were seen by the south coast in the first week of April. That is two to three weeks earlier than before. Most Arctic Terns usually arrive in May. A few White Wagtails were also seen much earlier than before in the East and in the South.

Stelkur – Redshank – Tringa totanus

The bird species that winter in Europe are most of them arriving at their usual time. In Selfoss the first Oystercatchers were seen around March 20. The number of Redwings multiplied around March 24.

Tjaldur – Oystercatcher – Haematopus ostralegus

Greylags and Swans have been around Selfoss all winter but their numbers grew around March 20. The first Harlequin Ducks were seen on River Ölfusá on March 27. The first Black-headed Gulls and Red-throated Divers were seen on the river March 29. Redshanks, Snipes and the Golden Plovers around April 8 and the first Common Eiders were seen on the river on April 15.  The Black-Tailed Godwits have started arriving and a few Wimbrels have been spotted although most arrive in May.

Swans and Greylags by River Ölfusá
Share
Birds

Brown-headed Cowbird – new for Iceland

Kúastarli – Brown-headed Cowbird – Molothrus ater

A Brown-headed Cowbird was seen for the first time in Iceland on October 24.  This female bird was first spotted by a birder outside Eymundsson, a bookstore, in the centre of Reykjavík. Now  a month later it is still there. This vagrant was probably blown here by heavy Southwest winds in the end of September along with a group of other American birds seldom or never seen here before.

The Brown-headed Cowbird is common in North America and the stock has grown in numbers and range as towns expand and woods are cleared.

The Brown-headed Cowbird has a peculiar way of raising its chicks. The females produce a lot of eggs, sometimes more than three dozens. These they lay in the nests of other birds, leaving their eggs to be hatched and their young to be raised by foster parents. Often at the expense of the foster parents own chicks.

Share
Birds

Greater Yellowlegs

This Greater Yellowlegs was spotted in Grindavik in the beginning of October. This is the third time a sighting is recorded in Iceland, previously in 1961 and 1966. Thus a first for all Icelandic birders today and a great treat.

The Greater Yellowlegs breeds in wetlands in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska. They migrate to the coasts of the United States, the Caribbean, and South America.  They mainly eat insects, worms, frogs, small fish,  seeds and berries. The Greater Yellowlegs is a very rare vagrant this side of the Atlantic.

Mosastelkur – Greater Yellowlegs – Tringa melanoleuca
Share
Birds

Increased activity in Geysir Area

Increased activity was noticed in several hot springs in the Geysir Area on October 19. Monitoring of natural hazards did not reveal any reasons for these changes.

The Icelandic Environmental Agency and Park Rangers confirmed that the activity is more intense than it has been. The hotspring Strokkur drew special attention with steam explosions up to 30 meters high,  more powerful and frequent than before throwing up mud and pebbles along the way. The old Geysir which the area draws its name from has, however, shown no changes.

Visitors to the area are cautioned to pay attention to possible dangers and keep a safe distance.

Share
Birds

Eurasian Collared-Dove in Húsavík

Tyrkjadúfa – Eurasian Collared-Dove – Streptopelia decaocto

A Eurasian Collared-Dove was spotted in Húsavík in the end of May. This is the first time it is recorded in the North of Iceland. And as such has been of interest to birders. In recent years a few Eurasian Collared-Doves have taken up residence in Iceland. A small group has been in Keflavik for several years and this spring they have been seen in e.g. Hafnarfjörður and Hornafjörður.

The Eurasian Collared-Dove is a bit smaller than the Rock Pidgeon but its cooing is similar. It is native to Europe and Asia but has been imported to other countries. It is very common all over the world and considered invasive in many countries. It was e.g. imported to the Bahamas  in the 1970s and from there spread to North America where it is now considered invasive.

Share
Birds

The same pair year after year

Newly arrived April 28

Every spring we await the arrival of the White Wagtail in the garden. It seems that the same pair comes here year after year. And we celebrate its arrival by putting out wholemeal biscuits which are its favourite.  At least that is what we think. And every year they build their nest in the spruce and perhaps it is the same tree every year. 

Collecting material for the nest May 9.

We love having this pair of  White Wagtails in the garden. These are such lively birds to watch as they trail their long tails in undulating flight around the trees and wag their long tails and dash about in the garden.

The nest ready and the male courts the female.

It is also very interesting to see the male court the female. It points its bill upwards and zigzags about, moving up and down, and spreading its tail.

Both parents busy feeding the nestlings June 6.

Insects are its main feed and they can often be seen catching flies and spiders in flight. Both parents take part in the nesting and in feeding the hatchlings.

Busy time ahead feeding the young ones June 6.

This spring they arrived on April 22. They started making their nest the next day which took about two week. Now the eggs have hatch and the parents diligently feed the young ones. Bringing them insects, flies, larva and spiders. The eggs are usually four to six, can be up to eight, so if all have hatched the parents have their work cut out for them for the next two to three weeks.

The White Wagtail is one of the migratory birds whose arrival is looked forward to in Iceland in spring.

 

Landscape

Volcanic erruption in Reykjanes

August 31 2021. Lava flow in Geldingadalir.

The eruption in Geldingadalir, Reykjanes Peninsula, is an extraordinary event, and the longest lived eruption in the 21 century, lasting 181 days. Although the area has been considered active, the last eruption in Reykjanes Peninsula was around 800 years ago. Geologists say that we are now entering an era of volcanic activity in this area which has several active volcanoes.

April 21 2021. Fagradalsfjall, Geldingadalir and Merardalir.

The eruption seems to be over but there are still earth quakes in the area and some smoke coming from the crater and the lava. In the middle of November the Icelandic Met Office confirmed that uplift has started again south of Fagradalsfjall and north of Keilir.

April 26 2021. The main crater starting to build up.

The eruption in Geldingadalir started on March 19 2021 after a period of earthquakes.

May 4 2021. The main crater.

At first there were several rather small fissures that spewed lava and then closed, and a new one or two opened.

June 6 2021. High activity in the crater and lava flowing to Merardalir and down to Nátthagi.

In April one crater became dominant and for six months it went from being very active to less active, with a few short dormant periods in between.

June 8 2021. Lava  field in Nátthagi.

At times the lava flowed extensively and there was concern that it would reach the road and the town of Grindavík. But these were never in any actual danger. The lava flow was never constant resulting in accumulation of layers of lava in the same areas.

July 3 2021. View from Langihryggur, lava flowing down to Nátthagi.

There was a lot of interest in this eruption and Icelanders as well as tourists came from all over the World to experience the sensation of seeing a volcanic eruption and feeling the heat from the flowing lava. Most days thousands of people hiked to the site and although it is not far from the urban area it is considered remote wilderness. Rescue teams had a busy time assisting and finding people who had lost their way or were injured e.g. broken bones. Although the eruption has ceased, the site is still a popular scenic attraction.

August 14 2021. In Geldingadalir.

Ornosk went several trips to the volcanic site and took some interesting pictures. These are a few of them from different times.

July 3 2021. In the middle of the night, view from Langihryggur.
Share
Birds

Arctic Skuas with their offspring

Kjói – Arctic skua – Stercorarius parasiticus

This summer we came upon these Arctic Skuas in Mýrar, West Iceland, a pair with their offspring.  One of the pair was of the pale morph and the other the dark morph. Looking after their young one seemed quite a handful,  keeping them busy chasing him him. As we watched them one of the pair, the white morph, stayed in its place and the others kept coming back. Not so different with us humans.

Share
Birds

A nice visit

Glóbrystingur – European Robin – Erithacus rubecula

The Robin is always very welcome, such a delicate bird. We have not seen many of them in recent years and sorely miss them. A few of them were seen throughout the country in October. This one stayed here for three days and is hopefully making use of feed in some to other nice people’s garden now.

Share