The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a common breeding bird in Icelandic lowlands. The whole population migrates to West Africa in September and comes back to Iceland in May. The breeding population counts around 250,000 pairs.
All posts by Örn Óskarsson
Ice Structures
The ice structures after the storm are like some work of art where the the waves have washed ashore. It was especially beautiful in the evening twilight.
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.
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.
Snowstorm played havoc
On this beautiful February morning the forecast predicted some very heavy winds, Grímsnes, South Iceland.
And the next day the weather forecast came true. Snowstorms played havoc throughout the country with winds way above 25m/sec. in some places.
The Ringed Plover is a migratory bird
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.
The Ringed Plover lays its eggs in sand and gravel all over the country. The breeding population counts around 50,000 pairs.
The photoes of the chick are taken on the banks of Ölfusá River.
Thinking of flying South?
More and more Redwings stay in Iceland during the winter time. This one is probably thinking of flying South next year and not without reason. – This winter has been exceptionally cold and windy.
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.
These are photoes from today.
It’s snowing and lots of Snow Buntings
There were hundreds of Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) in the garden today. The weather was bad, heavy winds and lots of snow.
Red-eyed Vireo – a rare American guest
American vagrants are rare in Iceland but usually there is a bird or two that accidentally gets blown over here every year. The Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) is one of the most common small American vagrants and has been recorded here 21 times. This little vagrant has been seen twice in Selfoss and once here in our garden.
These photoes are taken in Stokkseyri, South Iceland, September 30, 2014.
The Shelduck – a new breeding bird
The Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) is a new breeeding bird in Iceland. The first known breeding was recorded in 1990 in Eyjafjörður, North Iceland.
Shelducks were first seen by the river Ölfusá in Selfoss about 10 years ago. They have slowly been increasing in numbers and last spring 16 Shelducks were spotted by the river near Selfoss. They are seen on the river every year with their chicks but nests have never been found.
Photoes taken by the river Ölfusá.