All posts by Örn Óskarsson

Birds

In highland heaths

Sendlingur – Purple Sandpiper – Calidris maritima (juv)

At this time of year young Purple Sandpipers are often seen in highland heaths and this year there are quite a lot of them despite a rather cold summer – or perhaps because of it.  In a short while they will be gathering for their flight to the coast.

Young birds

The Purple Sandpiper breeds in the Icelandic highlands and in a small area in Markarfljótsaurar, the estuary delta of the River Markarfljót.

Adult Purple Sandpiper

The Purple Sandpipers stay  in the highlands until frost and snow make it impossible for them to get their feed. Then they move down to the coast and stay there until spring arrives again.

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Birds

Breeding in the South

At this time of year the Barrow’s Goldeneye can be seen on lakes and rivers with its adorable chicks and sometimes with a lot of them. This bird with chicks was on Lake Nýjavatn in Veiðivötn in July.

Húsönd – Barrows Goldeneye – Bucephala islandica

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. More birds now breed in the South, e.g. in the Southern Highlands, in Lake Þingvallavatn and River Sog. Barrow’s Goldeneye stay in spring water lakes or rivers the whole year round and unlike most non-migrators they do not move to the sea around Iceland in winter.

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Birds

Keeping track of the chicks

Jaðrakan – Black-tailed Godwit – Limosa limosa

The Black-tailed Godwit is always agitated when its chicks are on the move. As with other waders they are born quite mature and leave the nest very early. By now they have started finding their way in life. The parents however do not seem so sure of their potential. The chicks are usually four so its quite a job to keep track of them. Here the parents have chosen a tree top to keep watch over them.

The Black-tailed Godwit is a migratory bird and those who did not manage to find a mate this spring have already left. Reports of ringed ones tell us that some are already in their winter grounds in Britain.

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Birds

Long-eared Owl

Eyrugla – Long-Eared Owl – Asio otus

With growing forests there are more instances of Long-eared Owls breeding in Iceland. These birds that were mostly migrants have now become native.  In 2003 the first breeding of a Long-eared Owl was recorded but it is believed that breeding started there a few years earlier.

The Long-eared Owl mostly eats mice, chicks and small birds. Owls are night creatures and the best chance of seeing one is in the twilight when they are hunting for food for their young ones.

This summer we have seen Long-eared Owls several times in forests in the South and twice a few chicks. This will probably be a good year for owls.

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Birds

Picturesque bird

Himbrimi – Great Northern Diver/Common Loon – Gavia immer

The Great Northern Diver  (Common Loon) is a very picturesque bird and interesting to photograph. We say it is the king the of the highland lakes. Veiðivötn or Fishing Lakes is a cluster of lakes in the southern interior. Ordinarily there are around 35 to 40 Great Northern Divers there over the summer time and usually 10 – 15 nests. Pairs are on most of the lakes and non-breeding birds can sometimes be seen in groups.

This summer breeding went well as far as to say there are nesting pairs on most lakes. In the beginning of July the chicks hatch and we wait to see how successful the nesting will be.

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Animals

The Arctic Fox

Refur / Heimskautarefur – Arctic Fox – Alopex lagopus

The Arctic Fox is the only native carnivorous animal in Iceland. In Iceland it feeds mostly on birds and the Ptarmigan is probably most important in their diet. They also eat fish and seal cubs, scavenge on carcasses and if necessary will eat whatever is available. They survive the Icelandic winter, active all the winter without hibernating. They store food for the winter, digging it in the ground for storage. In summer they might also double their weight to prepare for the harsh months of winter.

We came upon this Arctic Fox in the Southern Highlands noticing it only a few metres away when we stopped the car. Foxes are solitary animals and are sure to keep away from humans. However, in remote areas such as Hornstrandir in the Northwest they are quite tame and take to people.

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Birds

Pink-footed geese in the highlands

Heiðagæs – Pink-footed goose – Anser brachyrhynchus

In early summer the Pink-footed goose is one of the most prominent species of the Icelandic highlands. New breeding areas have been appearing in the last few years and their numbers have been rapidly increasing, the stock counting about 400 thousand birds.

This spring breeding was very successful and flocks of chicks could be seen on highland lakes in the beginning of June.

The Pink-footed goose builds its nest in tussocks and in cliffs near water or wetlands. They leave the country in autumn and come back in April. They overwinter in Scotland and North England.

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Atmosphere, Landscape, Weather

The midnight sun

It is summer solstice, the shortest night of the year and the longest day of the year.  Icelandic summer nights are ideal for outings and camping. No darkness makes everything easier especially for those who are afraid of the dark.

There is little that beats the beauty of the midnight sun. In the middle of summer the sun  sets after midnight and is up again before three in the night so there is more or less daylight  also at nighttime.

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Birds

White-winged Tern

Tígulþerna – White-winged Tern – Chlidonias leucopterus

The White-winged Tern is a vagrant in Iceland and has been seen here 15 times. It was now spotted in Nesjar in Miðnes, Reykjanes peninsula, last week.

Their habitat is in southeast Europe all the way to central Asia. They breed in  freshwater marshes. They migrate to Africa , Southern Asia and Australia for the winter.
This is bird number 217 on my Iceland birdlist.

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Birds

Peaceful Crossbills

Krossnefur – Common Crossbill / Red Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra

Common Crossbills flock to our garden, both young and old. They have must have got news about the feed that the nice man in Fagurgerði  puts out all year round now. Fagurgerði is actually the old name of our house and later when more houses were built it became the name of the street.

Several adults, both male and female, with chicks visit the feeders and there is a lot of coming and going. They seem such peaceful birds and share the sunflower seeds in blissful harmony with the Redpolls.

In the last ten days there have been up to 18 Crossbills at a time. First there were 3 – 4, a dad with 3 chicks and then their numbers grew as news spread of the full feeders here.

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