All posts by Örn Óskarsson

3 days to Christmas

snjotittlingur-7
Snjótittlingur – Snow Bunting – Plectrophenax nivalis

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

4 days to Christmas

fjallafinka-7
Fjallafinka – Brambling – Fringilla montifringilla

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.

bokfinka-14
Bókfinka – Chaffinch – Fringilla coelebs

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  🙂

9 days to Christmas

audnutittlingur-71
Auðnutittlingur – Redpoll – Carduelis flammea

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 🙂

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.

mus-3
Hagamús – Wood Mouse – Apodemus sylvaticus

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.

mus-2
Hagamús – Wood Mouse – Apodemus sylvaticus

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.

smyrill-4
Smyrill – Merlin – Falco columbarius (female)

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.

smyrill-6
Smyrill – Merlin – Falco columbarius (male)

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.

smyrill-7
Smyrill – Merlin – Falco columbarius