All posts by Örn Óskarsson

Birds

Fruitfulness

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Krossnefur – Common Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra (juv)

The Common Crossbill’s breeding this spring has gone exceptionally well. Groups of chicks with grown ups are on the move and have been seen in many places. The weather plays a part in this fruitfulness and also the availability of food. The weather was good during the incubation time, few bad winds, few cold spells and little rain.

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Common Crossbill, adult male

In the last few days groups of Common Crossbills with chicks have visited the garden and eaten sunflower seeds. Today we counted 15 Crossbills, mostly chicks, on the feeding tray. In Grímsnes, not far from Selfoss, 20 chicks along with several adults were seen around a feeding tray. This is considerably more birds than in recent years.
But how will all these Crossbills fare in Iceland?

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Common Crossbill chick

It seems that the future is bright for Common Crossbills. There are indications that it will be a record year in cones and seed development in spruce trees, at least in the southern part of the country.  These cones will mature by the end of July and then Crossbills will turn to eating seed. Until then their menu will consist of insects and perhaps sunflower seeds from visits to “nice” people’s feeding trays .

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Birds

Breeding time

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Skógarþröstur – Redwing – Turdus iliacus

During the breeding time the Redwing mostly eats worms and insects. At other times of the year it is more into  berries and seeds. Although the Redwing is considered one the Icelandic migrants,  big groups of them stay for the winter.

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The Redwing builds its nest in various locations and usually lays 4 to 6 eggs which hatch in about 10 to 14 days. The young leave the nest after about two weeks and depend on the parents for an additional two weeks. Then the female often lays eggs for the second time.

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Here you can hear the beautiful song of the Redwing:

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Birds

The mysterious owl

Owls are mysterious birds often associated with the dusk and night time. They  howl in the night, creating a ghostly atmosphere and are often heard and seen in horror and crime movies.

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Brandugla – Short-Eared Owl – Asio flammeus

They are nocturnal creatures and their wide staring eyes lend them not only a ghostly but also a sharp and wise appearance. They have a very good eyesight and can turn their head around so nothing goes unnoticed. Tufts of feathers on the owl’s head lend them a likeness to horned devils and their shrill howls have given them a place in ancient folklore. Owls are both  fascinating and mysterious.

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Birds

Female putting on a show

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Maríuerla – Pied Wagtail – Montacilla alba

The Pied Wagtail is back, occupying its usual space in the garden, wagging its tail all over the place and enjoying wholemeal crackers, – its favourite.  A male bird was with her early on but now he is nowhere to be seen.  We have noticed that when her kind fly over she puts on a show. Trying to lure potential males to her she bends low sticking her tail straight up in the air. As far as we know she has not been successful.

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She has however been building a nest and in the last few days we have not seen her as often as before. So maybe she has already laid her eggs. We will be on the lookout for Wagtail chicks in the next few weeks.

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Birds

A lone Siskin

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Barrfinka – Siskin – Carduelis spinus

We welcomed a beautiful yellow vagrant in the garden this week. A small Siskin female came and made use of the feed with a group of Redpolls.  It also picked at some insects in the Rowan.

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In recent years a few Siskins have bred in South Iceland and this one is probably on its way to its breeding place. Hopefully it will find a mate there.

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Birds

Battle with an earthworm

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Heiðlóa – Golden Plover – Pluvialis apricaria

Golden Plovers can be seen all over the country by now but the first migrants usually arrive from their winter grounds in the British Isles in the end of March.  They are among the best loved Icelandic birds, the migrant that signals the coming of the long awaited spring here in the North.

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The Plover’s favourite food is earthworm and this bird had quite a long struggle with his lunch, as can be seen in the photos.

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Birds

Pectoral Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs

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Two American waders together at Breiðabólsstaðatjörn/Álftanes (SW-Iceland), Pectoral Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs

This spring three Lesser Yellowlegs have been spotted in Southwest Iceland.  Lesser Yellowlegs are rare vagrants and until now only 19 birds had been seen here, most of them in the autumn.  Lesser Yellowlegs are breeding birds in North America, and fairly common.

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Hrísastelkur – Lesser Yellowlegs – Tringa flavipes

The Pectoral Sandpiper is a more common vagrant in Iceland. It is a breeding bird in North America like the Lesser Yellowlegs.

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Rákatíta – Pectoral Sandpiper – Calidris melanotos

Two Lesser Yellowlegs and the Pectoral Sandpiper were in Álftanes yesterday evening.  The Lesser Yellowlegs is a new bird on my list but the Pectoral Sandpiper was already on the list.

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Birds

Breeding has started

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Tjaldur – Oystercatcher – Haematopus ostralegus

The Oystercatcher is a common breeding bird in Iceland. Its typical breeding places are  near the sea and lakes in lowlands. The nest is usually in gravel or sand, but sometimes by the side of a road.

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This Oystercatcher, that was ringed last summer in Floi Nature Reserve, is back with its siblings

Part of the Icelandic breeding stock goes to the British Isles for  winter and comes back in the middle of March. Now in the beginning of May breeding is already on its way and the first chicks will be arriving in the end of the month.

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Ringed Oystercatchers are seen from time to time.  These have mostly been ringed in their winter grounds in The British Isles but some in Iceland in recent years.

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Birds

Flying inland

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Kría – Arctic Tern – Sterna paradisaea

The first Arctic Terns were seen by Selfoss today. They flew up River Ölfusá against the northern storm in a temperature slightly above zero. They are used to all sorts of weather here in the North but still they arrive every spring year after year all the way from the southernmost part of the Atlantic Ocean.
As early as the end of April they were first spotted by the seaside but now they are on their way inland in search of breeding places. The breeding time is the only time of year that the Arctic Tern searches inland, at other times it is constantly on flight over the open seas.

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