All posts by Örn Óskarsson

Birds

Migrants coming to their breeding sites

Spring is here. Seeing the migrans arriving every day is such an exciting time. Most of them are here by now, although we have not yet spotted the Wheatear. But sightings of the Red Phalarope and Red-Necked Phalarope have not yet been reported.

Skúfönd – Tufted Duck – Aythya fuligula

These Tufted Ducks were in Lake Þingvellir this week. This is a small diving duck and a common breeding bird in Iceland. In winter some of them choose to stay on lakes and ponds that do not freeze but most migrate to the British Isles and  South Europe in winter.

Maríuerla – White Wagtail – Montacilla alba

This beautiful Wagtail was also at Lake Thingvallavatn and eager to be photographed. It has come all the way from its wintergrounds in West Africa. The pair that has come to our garden for years has not arrived.  We hope they have moved but not perished.

Jaðrakan – Black-Tailed Godwit – Limosa limosa

One of the migrants arriving in flocks is the Black-Tailed Godwit with its beautiful colours and shrill song. It overwinters on the west coast of Europe, from The Netherlands to the shores of Portugal. Our special Icelandic subspecies mostly breeds in lowlands all over Iceland. They also breed in the Faroe Islands, Shetlands and Lofoten.

Grágæs – Greylag goose – Anser anser

Most Greylags overwinter in the British Isles but some decide to struggle through the winter here in Iceland. This pair along with a lot of others have taken up residence by Lake Thingvallavatn. Their population is decreasing whereas their cousines the Pink-footed Geese and the Barnacle Geese are growing in numbers. The latter is believed to have started breeding in Southeast Iceland in 1988.

Skógarþröstur – Redwing – Turdus iliacus

The same goes for the Redwing, some stay here the whole year round, others go to the British Isles. As winters become warmer staying is perhaps not such a bad choice. Flocks of Redwings start arriving early, many in the middle of March. The Redwing always has a special place in the heart of the Icelandic nation, signalling the coming of spring.

Hettumáfur – Black-headed Gull – Chroicocephalus ridibundus

The Black-headed Gull is also one of the earlier arrivals, many staying in the sea around Iceland in winter. They do not go unnoticed with their black masks and their call that is loud and harsh, often sounding like laughter.

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Birds

Whinchat by Eyrarbakki

Vallskvetta – Whinchat – Saxicola rubetra

A Whinchat was spotted by Eyrarbakki harbour yesterday morning and today when I came there it was still there despite the cold. The last couple of nights it has been unusually cold and last night the frost went down to minus 8° C. So not a warm welcome to this little bird here in Iceland.

The Whinchat is a small migratory passerine bird. It is a vagrant in Iceland but a common breeding bird throughout the whole of Europe and Western Asia. Its winter grounds are in central Africa.

The Whinchat is a beautiful bird similar in size to the Robin. It was looking for feed by the shore in seaweed and some stone barriers west of the harbour.

Stone barriers west of the Eyrarbakki harbour.

 

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Atmosphere

Solar activity at its highest

During the last five days there has been a peak in solar activity and geomagnetic storms have resulted in Aurora borealis being seen in most countries in Europe and as far south as California in the USA.

Here in Iceland the Northern lights have been magnificent for several nights, sporting colours seldom seen. The sky has been lit up almost like after a colour explosion. Red and pink being dominant which is not usually the case, whereas green as the most common.

The Northern lights have been so strong that the light pollution from the town does not interfere. These photoes were taken last night in Selfoss, South Iceland, between  the hours 21 to 22, but the activity continued throughout the night until morning. For the next 24 hours, forecasts predict the same activity.

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Animals, Birds

The Black-winged Pratincole

Stepputrítill- Black-winged Pratincole – Glareola nordmanni)

During the last four weeks a rare vagrant has resided in Álftaver (near Vík in Mýrdalur) between the farms Jórvík and Mýrar. This is the Black-winged Pratincole and the fourth bird to be recorded in Iceland. The others were recorded in 1979, 1983 and 1987.
This Black-winged Pratincole mostly stays on  the gravel road or a small  lake nearby, according to locals. It has travelled a long way from its usual habitat. Its breeding places being in southern Ukraine or the steppes in South Russia and wintergrounds in the southern parts of Africa.

The Black-winged Pratincole’s feed is insects, arachnida and other small animals that it picks on the road and it seems to be well fed. On the road, however, there are dangers. We were witness to an attack from a Merlin and it was quite a chase high in the air. But thank God the Pratincole got away and was back again on the road shortly afterwards. Then a big jeep came along at high speed and the bird sat tranquilly without moving and was not harmed.

This fourth sighting of the Black-winged Pratincole in Iceland has caused quite a lot of interest among birders. Most of them are now seeing it for the first time as there are 37 years since it was last spotted here.

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Birds

Time for Northern Lights

Now is the time for Northern Lights to be seen  in Iceland. From the end of April until the middle of August the nights are too bright for both stars and  Northern Lights to be seen.

Lately solar activity has lit up the Northern Lights around the poles.  Near midnight it is dark enough here for the lights to be enjoyed,  especially if there is no light pollution.

Last night there was adquate activity and the Moon was not to bright.  These pictures were taken in Selfoss by River Ölfusá.

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Birds

European Stonechat

Hagaskvetta – European stonechat – Saxicola rubicola

A European Stonechat was spotted west of Grindavík near Brimketill in March. It is a rather rare vagrant here and this is the second time it is seen in the western part of Iceland. This little bird is very quick and shy which is the reason for my poor quality pictures.

The European Stonechat is a common passerine bird that lives in Western Europe and winters in South Europe and North Africa. Its habitat is mostly open country, heaths and moorlands.

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Birds

Red-necked Grebe

Sefgoði – Red-necked Grebe – Podiceps grisegena

The Red-necked Grebe is a waterbird that lives in temperate areas in the Northern hemisphere. It a rare vagrant in Iceland.  It breeds in fresh water lakes but winters by the coast or in estuaries.  This Red-necked Grebe was in the harbour at Þorlákshöfn in March. It is in its winter plumage which is less colourful than in summer.
See: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-necked_Grebe/id#

Hávella – Long-tailed Duck – Clangula hyemalis  and Sefgoði – Red-necked Grebe – Podiceps grisegena
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Birds

Stock Dove at Hvolsvöllur

Holudúfa – Stock Dove / Stock Pigeon – Columba oenas

A Stock Dove has been spotted in a garden in Hvolsvöllur, South Iceland. This dove, which is quite common in Europe, is very rare in Iceland and has only been reported here four times before.

Since a Stock Dove has not been seen here for quite some time birders flock to the town of Hvolsvöllur to see it and capture it on camera.
The Stock Dove was mostly resting in Aspen trees and now and then eating leftovers on the ground from the winter’s bird feed. For us it is a new species for our Icelandic birding list.

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Birds

Barrow’s Goldeneye on River Ölfusá

Húsönd – Barrows Goldeneye – Bucephala islandica

A group of Barrow’s Goldeneyes have been on Ölfusá River by Selfoss in January and February. They are annuals here at this time of the year. They are most likely a part of a bigger group on Sog River about 10 km inland from Selfoss.

Iceland is the only breeding place of the Barrow’s Goldeneye in Europe and the distribution has been more or less restricted to Northeast Iceland. It stays in Iceland the whole year round. Part of the population overwinters here in the South during the coldest time of the year.

In recent years, however, more and more Goldeneyes have started breeding in the South, e.g. in the Southern Highlands, in Lake Þingvallavatn and River Sog. The Barrow’s Goldeneye’s habitat is in spring water lakes or rivers the whole year round and unlike most non-migrators they do not head out to sea in winter.

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