All posts by Örn Óskarsson

Birds, Garden

Busy gathering nesting material

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Svartþröstur – Blackbird – Turdus merula

In the last few days a Blackbird couple have been very busy in the garden. The male stands watch, intermittently  singing his soul out, as the female searches for nesting material. She is busy gathering  last years grass, rotting leaves from the gutter and moss.

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Blackbird – female

Placing  the material diligently in her bill she flies up into a spruce where the nest is carefully hidden from bad weather and possible enemies. Soon she will lay her eggs.

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Several Blackbird pairs are in Selfoss now and usually each pair breeds up to four times during the summer time. We can expect the Blackbird stock in Selfoss to have grown considerably this autumn if things go as planned.

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Animals

Fluffy white mink

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Minkur – Mink – Mustela vison

Minks were first imported to Iceland in the autumn of 1931. The first two mink farms were in Grímsnes and in Selfoss, South Iceland. Early on some escaped from their cages and took up permanent residence in the Icelandic nature. Now they can be found all over the country.

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This white mink was spotted on the banks of Ölfusá River. It has probably escaped from a nearby mink farm not so long ago. It is highly unlikely that it will survive for long.

The first minks were imported from Norway but were of North American origin. The mink is usually dark brown with white patches on the lower part of the jaw and neck.

Later minks of different colour  variations were imported; black, grey and white. These are the ones that are now bred in Iceland but they are not as tough and rarely survive in the Icelandic nature like the ones first imported.

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Birds

White-tailed Eagle

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Haförn – White-tailed Eagle – Haliaeetus albicilla (Juv)

This week we went on a tour around Snæfellsnes peninsula. Within a 30 km drive we saw five White-tailed Eagles, adults and young ones. Since these birds were one of the reasons for our trip we thought we were quite lucky when we at last spotted three of them on the second day. As we were driving over the mountain from the Northern side of the peninsula we saw three  birds gliding in the air directly in front of us and lowering their flight as they came nearer. What an amazing sight, – such majestic birds.

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White-tailed Eagle, adult

White-tailed Eagles are more common in this area than in other parts of the country, their main breeding territory being around Breiðafjörður Fjord.  In total around 75 pairs breed in Iceland and two thirds of the population in the area around Breiðafjörður.
– More on the second sighting coming up soon.

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Birds

Iceland Gull is a winter guest in Iceland

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Bjartmáfur – Iceland Gull – Larus glaucoides (adult in winter)

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) is common along the Icelandic coastline during the winter months. It is a breeding bird in Greenland and on the northernmost islands of Canada. It is however only a winter guest in Iceland and by the end of March it has usually left the island.

Iceland Gull (first year)
Iceland Gull (first year)

The Iceland Gull is very similar to the  Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreusstundu) which is a breeding bird in Iceland. The Iceland Gull is smaller, its head is shorter and more curved, the beak is delicate and the wings longer. It is also a more agile flyer than the Glaucous Gull.

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Birds

The colours catch the eye

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Krossnefur – Common Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra

In the last few weeks a pair of Common Crossbills have visited the garden regularly. The male is especially beautiful with its orange and yellow patches on the breast and head.

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Male Common Crossbills come in different colours of red, orange and yellow. The yellow colour is rare in Iceland and in West Europe but more common in Mid Asia. The colours are due to genes and food.

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This pair probably bred in Selfoss last spring and brought three young ones to our garden. Now it seems they have arrived in their breeding territory from last year. We are excited to see if they turn up in our garden in May with their chicks.

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Birds

At large in the twilight

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Brandugla – Short-Eared Owl – Asio flammeus

The Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is the most common Owl in Iceland. Her niece the Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus) is quite scarce here and there are only a few Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus).

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The Short-Eared Owl is most commonly at large in the twilight looking for mice which are her favourite food. In March the Short-Eared Owls are more likely to be seen in the daytime when they start claiming territory. Then they may be seen on fence poles and in tree tops.

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Driving inland in southern Iceland last weekend we saw two Long-Eared Owls. It is always interesting to see owls and being able to photograph them makes it even more enjoyable.

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Birds

Sleeping sites

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Hrafn – Raven – Corvus corax

There are a lot of Ravens in Iceland. They breed in rocks and cliffs but also in buildings and even telephone poles and sometimes trees. Most of the time, except during the breeding season, they roam the country side, visiting shores and urban areas in search of food. In evenings they gather in cliffs where they can rest and sleep.

One of these sleeping places is in Mount Ingólfsfjall not far from Selfoss. When counted in January and February, as they were coming into their sleeping area, the number of Ravens was around 450.

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In the evenings, just before sunset, they come in flocks, large and small, from a big area in the Western part of South Iceland.  They reside high up in the cliffs and come every evening.   Sleeping sites or places like these are all around the country. When the breeding time begins the Raven pairs spread to their territories and cease coming to their joint sleeping places.

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Birds

Spectacular crest

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Kambönd – Hooded Merganser – Mergus cucullatus

A Hooded Merganser  (Mergus cucullatus) was on River Elliðaá  and Elliðavatn in Reykjavík the other day. It is a beautiful bird and always a treat to see.

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This bird was very shy and special care had to be taken to get close enough to photograph. The Hooded Merganser is such a spectacular bird with a prominent crest that it can raise and lower, as can be seen in the photo.

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Birds

Lone Cormorant

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Dílaskarfur – Cormorant – Phalacrocorax carbo

This lone Cormorant was sitting by the edge of the ice on Lake Elliðavatn near Reykjavik. Seems like it has not a bother in the world. Usually they prefer the shore and coastline but they can also sometimes be seen inland at dams, lakes and pits.

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Birds

Hunting Gyrfalcon

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Fálki – Gyrfalcon – Falco rusticolus

A Gyrfalcon  was searching for prey by River Ölfusá yesterday. He flew over a flock of ducks and swans. They did not move and most stayed in the water.

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Soon some Ravens came by and chased the Gyrfalcon away.

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The Ravens are a tough bunch.  This time the Gyrfalcon fled without a morsel to eat.

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