Category Archives: Birds

Birds

Night Herons in Iceland

Nátthegri – Black-crowned Night Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax

Black-crowned Night Herons are very rare vagrants in Iceland. Now three have been spotted in Stafnes in Reykjanes Peninsula. On 26 – 27 April three birds were spotted but in the last few days only two have been seen. These three are number 11- 13 of the birds that have been spotted in Iceland.

The Black-crowned Night Heron is a breeding bird in South Europe and their winter grounds are in Africa. Usually they do not breed more northerly than in France but strong southerly winds have blown them of course all the way to the North Atlantic.

A sighting like this always causes a lot of commotion among birdwatchers. They came from all over the country to see these unexpected guests, feeling thankful for such a rare and precious sighting.

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Birds

First time in Iceland

Háleggur – Black-winged Stilt – Himantopus himantopus

A Black-winged Stilt has been spotted in Iceland for the first time. It must have got a bit mixed up and added several thousand km to its migration route over the Atlantic Ocean.  Its habitat is in Central Asia and the southern part of Europe, around the Mediterranean, and up the west coast of France. It winters in the southern part of Africa.

The most prominent feature of the Black-winged Stilt is its very long red legs. With these long legs it can go farther out than many other waders which is convenient when searching for food. It lives in both fresh and salt water, by the shore, in ponds and marshes.

The Black-winged Stilt was first seen on April 20 in Gardur in Reykjanes Peninsula. The bird is there still and a lot of birders and photographers have visited the area to add this special bird to their lists.

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Already with chicks

Krossnefur – Common Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra

We are almost obsessed with the Common Crossbill. They are such a nice addition to the Icelandic bird population with their yellow and orange colours and the special beak. Last weekend we saw the first ones with chicks.

The Common Crossbill breeds earlier than all Icelandic birds. The males start singing in the middle of winter and breed as early as February if there is enough feed.

The males are usually more colourful and come in shades of red, orange and yellow. The females are usually yellow.

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A small white heron

Bjarthegri – Little Egert – Egretta garzetta and Mallards

A white heron has been seen in Ölfus, South Iceland, in the last few weeks, – and at last I managed to spot it, a Little Egret. This is most likely the white heron that has been roaming the area.

It is difficult to say whether this bird has been here for the whole of winter or  if it arrived sometime in February or March. Several Little Egrets were seen in Iceland in the autumn of 2016. This could actually be on of them.

The Little Egret is a small heron and a great beauty. It has a spectacular white plumage. The legs and bill are black and the feet yellow.

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King Eider in Landeyjarhöfn

Æðarkóngur – King Eider – Somateria spectabilis

King Eiders are high arctic birds and only breed in arctic regions such as North Greenland, North Canada and North Russia. They are regularly seen around Iceland in the winter time. In the summer time they may be seen here when males have paired with local female Eiders. If the pair manages to breed, which is rare, the chicks are hybrid. Despite this, hybrids are seen most winters around Iceland.

King Eiders are in groups of Eiders and come into harbours in bad weathers.  This flock was in Landeyjarhöfn , seeking shelter from the storm. The ferry to the Westman Islands was not sailing so the birds had the harbour for themselves.

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We hope it is still here

Dverggoði – Little Grebe – Tachybaptus ruficollis

The Little Grebe was still on Sog River in South Iceland a few days ago. It has been there since the beginning of the year or even longer. This little creature has now changed into its summer plumage and has probably started thinking about travelling to a breeding place somewhere in Europe. This vagrant has no chance of finding a mate in Iceland, that is for sure.

In the winter months the Little Grebe has mostly dived for sticklebacks but lately it has been seen with larva in its beak, mostly Trichoptera sp larve.

This wonderful little bird has been a treat for Icelandic birders, as well as tourists. Hopefully it will stay into the spring and continue to  bring happiness to birders and passersby.

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A busy nesting place

Hrafn – Raven – Corvus corax

Breeding time has started for the Raven and as in previous years it has arrived back to its nesting place on a ledge in the building that houses the hardware store BYKO in Selfoss. In Iceland most Ravens lay their eggs in the end of March or the beginning of April.

The Raven makes its nest in cliffs and rocks but lately they have started making their nests in buildings and even in trees which is actually not uncommon outside Iceland. Now however there are trees tall enough for them to consider that possibility.

In early spring Ravens can be seen in tree tops where they try to break off twigs and small branches. This seems to be a game for them but we don not approve of this behaviour.

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Whooper Swans arriving in flocks

Álft – Whooper Swans – Cygnus cygnus

Last weekend flocks of Whooper Swans could be seen flying along the Southeast coast, having just arrived over the Atlantic Ocean. Most Whooper Swans migrate to the British Isles in the autumn and come back in the spring.

Whooper Swans are very common in Iceland and can be seen all over the country.  Pairs stay together for life and  are true their old breeding places which they return to year after year. The chicks stay with the parents until it comes to the nest making when they chase their chicks from last year away. If the Whooper Swan is disturbed or feels threatened the pair may abandon the nest and eggs.

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