Now it’s 3 days and everyone is so busy doing all the things people are supposed to do for Christmas. Remember to think about the things that matter. Being healthy is not guaranteed, money can’t buy happiness and be thankful for the troubles you don’t have.
Lend a helping hand – and if not your hand your ear <3
All posts by Örn Óskarsson
4 days to Christmas
Only 4 days to Christmas and December greats us with lots of snow and short days that only last about 4 hours from sunrise to sunset. Today we bring you this Brambling that was with us in October’s snowy weather. The Brambling is a vagrant in Iceland and as such always a treat.
It has been a difficult December and different from what we are used to, blizzards day after day and closed roads. Hopefully we will get nicer weather during the holidays so family and friends will be able to visit their loved ones.
5 days to Christmas
This Chaffinch has been with us since October and seems to be quite up to the Icelandic climate.
At last we have a beautiful day with bright skies and no blizzards in this part of the country. Tomorrow it will not be so bright. There is a lot of snow everywhere so it’s not easy for the birds to find food but a lot of people set out food for them. This Chaffinch in our garden has her bill full of sunflower seeds. Picture taken today 🙂
7 days to Christmas
It seem that the Blackbird quite likes Iceland. Some years a ago they were vagrants but that has changed. We have more than 10 in the garden most days.
9 days to Christmas
It’s 9 days to Christmas and we bring you this snowy Redpoll. It’s not only cold for humans, it’s cold for everyone, including birds. It’s been exceptionally cold for this time of year and blizzards day after day, something that one is not used to until January. – But it looks a lot like Christmas 🙂
10 days to Christmas
The European Robin is a vagrant in Iceland. It’s a long time since we had them in our garden, 20 years actually. This winter we have had two and one is still in the garden. We really like having the Robin and take care to leave food in its favourite place. Hopefully it will manage to survive the winter <3
The Wood Mouse is a funny little creature
There are a lot of Wood Mice in Iceland. They are well adapted to the cold and live in underground holes which they dig. They gather all kinds of seeds and stuff in their holes for the winter.
If it gets really cold they might try and get into your house or preferably your summerhouse and you will see their droppings next time you’re there.
11 days to Christmas
It’s 11 days to Christmas and there is snow everywhere. It’s been snowing all morning and I think my car will not make it through our driveway. We walked to the baker this morning and got some bread from yesterday which they birds have been busy at all day. When it’s cold you need to eat more to keep warm 🙂
The agility of the Merlin
The Merlin is the most common predatory bird in Iceland. They prey on small birds, mostly feeding on Meadow Pipits and Snow Buntings. Sometimes they even manage to catch Starlings and Redwings.
Most of them are migrating birds and go to West Europe for the winter. There are always some that overwinter here and they follow the flocks of Snow Buntings that come into towns for food in the winter time.
In the last few days they have been daily visitors in the garden, both males and females. Although it is always sad to see them catch their prey, one can not but admire them for their agility and beauty when they fly low between the tree trunks.
12 days to Christmas
It’s 12 days to Christmas and this little bird is so beautiful and tranquil in the snow. It seems that Redpolls are just made for these surroundings. –Remember to take time to relax and enjoy the little things in life.