Category Archives: Birds

Birds

Winter Bird Count

Last weekend was the annual Winter Bird Count around the country. This time of year is considered ideal because all the migratory birds have by now flown to warmer climates leaving only the ones that will definitely stay and endure the Icelandic winter.

Selfoss town and Ölfusá River

My area has for decades been the town of Selfoss and the area around it.  More or less the same route is taken every year and I look for birds in gardens and on and by the river.

I also have an area in Grímsnes, Nautavakir, which is about a quarter of an hours drive from Selfoss inland. In my observations I include both the river and the forrest nearest to the river. This year there was no snow, no ice on the river and the ground unfrozen.

Nautavakir in Grímsnes

Conclusion:
Selfoss: Merlin 1, Iceland Gull 23, Blackbird 13, Redwing 4, Redpoll 242, Starling 242 and Raven 41.

Ölfusá River: Cormorant 1, Whooper Swan 11, Shelduck 2, Mallard 51, Teal 6, Tufted Duck 15, Barrows Goldeneye 1, Goosander16, Black-Headed Gull 2, Herring Gull 5, Great Blackback 8, Iceland Gull 134, Undentifide Gulls 20,

Nautavakir /Grímsnes: Mallard 15, Ptermigan 4, Goldcrest 12, Redpoll 2, Common Crossbill 2.

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Birds

Cormorant by Selfoss

Dílaskarfur – Cormorant – Phalacrocorax carbo (juv)

Cormorants are often seen by River Ölfusá around Selfoss in winter. In the last few days a young Cormorant has been seen on the river. Today it could be seen by the river bank drying off after fishing.

Cormorants are breeding birds along the Icelandic coastline but they only lay their eggs in islands off the coast. In other countries they are more prone to fresh water and lay their eggs in trees or cliffs. In the winter time many of them stay on rivers and lakes, sometimes in flocks.

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Birds

Grey Wagtail wintering in Reykjavík

Straumerla – Grey Wagtail – Motacilla cinerea  (with Black-headed Gull in winter plumage)

A Grey Wagtail has been spotted in downtown Reykjavík in the last two weeks. It has mostly been seen around the Pond.

Grey Wagtails are rather uncommon in Iceland but they have been spotted here around 50 times.They are common breeding birds in West Europe to the east of Asia. Their winter grounds are in South Asia and Africa.

The photos are taken by the Pond in Reykjavík, on Friday, 6 January, (500 mm lens and 70-80% crop), from a distance of 70 m.  The birds on the photos are Black-headed gulls in winter plumage.

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Birds

Little Auk in the harbour

Haftyrðill – Little Auk (dovekie) – Alle alle

Today and in the last few days Little Auks have been spotted in the harbour in Thorlakshofn (Þorlákshöfn) where they seek shelter from the storm. The Little Auk is an Arctic bird and rather common by the Icelandic coastline in the winter time.

It used to be a breeding bird by the north coast and in islands north of Iceland but has now disappeared as a breeding bird from these areas probably because of global warming. It is now a common breeding bird in Arctic areas such as Greenland, Jan Mayen and Svalbard.

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Birds, Weather

Stormy weather

Storm at the sea

In the last few days one storm after another has moved across Iceland. Most days the wind has  been between 15 – 23 m/s. This has disrupted travels and plans for Christmas. Life for sea birds has also been difficult in the turbulent sea.  Some look for shelter in fjords and harbours where the wind is not as harsh as out in the open seas.

The harbour in Thorlakshofn (Þorlákshöfn) is one of these sheltering places where birds flock in bad weathers.

Black Guillemot – Teista – Cepphus grylle (winter plumage)

Groups of Eiders, Long-Tailed Ducks, Red-Breasted Mergansers and Gulls have been there and a few Cormorants and King Eiders have been seen. Also a Black Guillemot and a Razorbill in the company of Little Auks.

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Birds

No two are the same

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Auðnutittlingur – Redpoll – Carduelis flammea

After a few years decline the Redpoll population seems to have grown considerably. The summer was extra warm and huge flocks are now seen in gardens and forests. Today there were 80 of them here in the garden.

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They are feeding on sunflower seeds that we put out for them. Sunflower seed attracts a wide variety of birds into gardens.  It is interesting to study the Redpolls different colour variations, no two are the same.

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Birds, Landscape

Gauksmýri – bird watching

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Gauksmýri is in the western part of North Iceland, in the county Húnavatnssýsla. Near the farm, by the same name, is a birdwatching location where wetland has been restored. The birdlife there is colourful and diverse.

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On your way North it is ideal to visit the bird watching house by the pond. There you will find some binoculars and birding guidebooks. 35 different bird species have been spotted there, e.g. swans, ducks, geese, horned grebes to name a few.

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Birds

Wrong destination – Iceland

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Peðgrípur – Red-breasted Flycatcher – Ficedula parva

We have had endless rains and southeasterly storms in the last few weeks. With these quite a number of small European birds have been blown over here. This is not uncommon but this autumn is special because we have also had vagrants from Asia. The Red-breasted Flycatcher is one of these. It is originated all the way from Eastern Europe and Siberia. Its winter grounds are in Asia and instead going there it ended up in the North, in Iceland.

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This bird was spotted in some shrubs in a garden near Vík in Mýrdalur, Southeast Iceland. This is a new bird for me! X

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Birds

Common Chiffchaffs from Europe and Siberia

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Gransöngvari – Common Chiffchaff – Phylloscopus collybita (origin Western and Central Europe)

In the last few days a lot of Common Chiffchaffs have been spotted  in Iceland, especially in the South and the Southeast. These are birds who have been swept out to sea by strong winds from Western Europe, some of them coming from as far as Siberia. They are annual vagrants in Iceland.

Gransöngvari – Common Chiffchaff – Phylloscopus collybita
Gransöngvari – Common Chiffchaff – Phylloscopus collybita (origin Siberia)

There is some variations between birds from different parts of  Eurasia. The European ones are more yellow than the Siberian ones and the birds from northerly regions are paler than the ones from the southerly regions.

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In the last few days I have seen 19 Common Chiffchaffs in South Iceland.

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