Conditions to observe the solar eclipse in Iceland today were very good. There were clear skies and people could be seen all over the place with special glasses so as to be able to look at the sun without damaging their eyes.
The total phase of the solar eclipse was not visible in Iceland, but it could be observed there as a partial solar eclipse. The Moon covered only a small portion of the Sun as can be seen in the photoes here.
The first five Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) arrived on Ölfusá River by Selfoss today. Same time every year, more or less. The Harlequin Duck stays in the ocean around Iceland during the winter time but comes inland, on rivers, with the coming of spring.
Today we had six Common Crossbills or Red Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) in the garden, both males and females. In the last year they have become regular guests here in our garden.
These colorurful birds always attract our attention when they turn up. The photoes were taken yesterday, March 12.
These are today’s guests from England and France, all keen birdwatchers and some even quite famous as such. They came to see our garden birds and despite the heavy storm yesterday a few interesting birds had come back.
They saw a few Common Crossbills, some Redpolls, a Starling and a Wren.
Spring loudly announced its coming this morning. Heavy southerly winds, with rainfall, blew most of the snow away. The temperature went up + 6-8 °C last night and at last most of the ice has melted away. The weather was so bad over most of the country that people were told to stay inside. There were floods, trees were blown down, roofs blew off, boats were in danger, etc. Click on the link to see pictures on mbl.is
This is Ölfusá River at noon today.
American vagrants are always a great treat for birders. The Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) is a very rare American vagrant here in Iceland. It is a small duck and a common breeding bird in North-America.
This male was spotted in April 2013 in Stokkseyri, South Iceland.
The Oystercatcher is here already. Two birds were spotted by the river Ölfusá in Selfoss today. They usually arrive around the same time every year and this year is no exception.
The Oystercatcher is one of the first migratory birds to arrive, signalling spring in Iceland. Most go to the British Isles in the autumn and come back in March to April.
The Raven (Corvus corax) is the biggest passerine bird (Passeriformes) in the world and a common breeding bird in Iceland.
The Raven lays its egg in rocks and ravines and sometimes in houses and trees. Breeding starts early in April.
There are around 2,000 breeding pairs in Iceland and the Raven stays in Iceland the whole year. This nest was in Helliskógur by Selfoss.
Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni hornemanni) has been in the garden for the last few days. This bird breeds in Northern Greenland and the northerly regions of the Canadian Arctic.
The Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll and the Snow Bunting are the species that have the most northerly breeding distribution of all passerines.
These photoes were taken in the garden yesterday, February 11, 2015.
The first Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) flocks are now arriving in Iceland despite heavy winds and blizzards. Whooper Swans are breeding birds all over the country.
Mosts go to the British Isles in the winter. The Swan returns in the latter part of March and adult birds often go straight to their territory and the mating begins. The Swan is loyal to its mate and the pairs stay together throughout their lives.
