All posts by Örn Óskarsson

Atmosphere, Landscape, Weather

Last night’s outing

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Last night we had some clear skies and I just couldn’t stay indoors.  Some Northern lights were predicted and despite the cold I went out of town with my camera. I met some like-minded people, among them an American pair that had just come for a 5 days stay in Iceland with the aim of seeing the Northern lights. Yes, I am not the only one who is mesmerised by these natural phenomena.nordurljos-10

Catching the Northern lights on camera is an endless challenge for me. Here’s what came out of last night’s outing.

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Birds, Garden

Merlin lady always on the lookout

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Smyrill – Merlin – Falco columbarius

This Merlin lady is a daily guest in the garden. She preys on the small birds and tries to catch them unawares. The Redpolls are her favourites but she also makes do with Snow Buntings and Starlings.

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Auðnutittlingur – Redpoll – Carduelis flammea

There were around 50 Redpolls here today. These photoes are taken in the garden, February 26.

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Birds

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) is a rare vagrant from North America. This bird was spotted in  Þorlákshöfn, South Iceland on October 5, 2010.

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Krúnuskríkja – Yellow-rumped Warbler – Dendroica coronata.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler is the most common warbler seen in Iceland. It is also common from where it comes from. This is the sixteenth bird that is seen in Iceland.

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Birds

The Ringed Plover is a migratory bird

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Sandlóa – Ringed Plover – Charadrius hiaticula

The Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is one of the migratory birds that arrives in Iceland in April. In the winter time it stays in South West Europe.  sandloa-2

The Ringed Plover lays its eggs in sand and gravel all over the country. The breeding population counts around 50,000 pairs.

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The photoes of the chick are taken on the banks of Ölfusá River.

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Birds, Garden

Crossbills in search of food

It continued to snow today and more and more birds visit the garden in search of food. Today we had 8 Common Crossbills, or Red Crossbills as they are called in USA.

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Crossbills, Redpolls and a Snow Bunting on the feeder
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Common Crossbill / Red Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra – female
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Common Crossbill / Red Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra – male

These are photoes from today.

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