Category Archives: Birds

Birds

The most loved bird in Iceland

The Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) is probably the most loved Icelandic bird. Its arrival in the spring is looked forward to because it signals the coming of summer. The Golden Plower is a common breeding bird and it lays its eggs in dry heathland both in lowlands and highlands.

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Heiðlóa – Golden Plover – Pluvialis apricaria

The Golden Plower loses its black colour in the winter time and in September most of them have become almost white on the  belly.

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Golden Plover in winter dress

The breeding population counts around 300,000 pairs. The Golden Plower goes to Ireland for the coldest months of winter, leaves late (October) and comes back early (April).

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Birds

The smallest duck in Europe

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Urtönd – Teal – Anas crecca (male)

The Teal (Anas crecca) is the smallest duck in Iceland and in the whole of Europe. It can be found both in highlands and lowlands. A part of the breeding population goes to the British Isles in the autumn but huge flocks stay here the whole winter. The breeding population counts around  3,000-5,000 pairs.

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Urtönd – Teal – Anas crecca

In Ölfusá by Selfoss town there are usually around 30 – 60 birds in the winter time.

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Teal – female laying on eggs
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Urtönd – Teal – Anas crecca

These photoes are taken by Tjörnin (the Pond) in Reykjavík and in Veiðivötn (Fishing Lakes) in the southern interior.

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Birds, Garden

Merlin lady always on the lookout

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Smyrill – Merlin – Falco columbarius

This Merlin lady is a daily guest in the garden. She preys on the small birds and tries to catch them unawares. The Redpolls are her favourites but she also makes do with Snow Buntings and Starlings.

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Auðnutittlingur – Redpoll – Carduelis flammea

There were around 50 Redpolls here today. These photoes are taken in the garden, February 26.

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Birds

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.

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Krúnuskríkja – Yellow-rumped Warbler – Dendroica coronata.

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.

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Birds

The Ringed Plover is a migratory bird

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Sandlóa – Ringed Plover – Charadrius hiaticula

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.  sandloa-2

The Ringed Plover lays its eggs in sand and gravel all over the country. The breeding population counts around 50,000 pairs.

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The photoes of the chick are taken on the banks of Ölfusá River.

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Birds, Garden

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.

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Crossbills, Redpolls and a Snow Bunting on the feeder
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Common Crossbill / Red Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra – female
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Common Crossbill / Red Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra – male

These are photoes from today.

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Birds

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.

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Græningi – Red-eyed Vireo – Vireo olivaceus

These photoes are taken in Stokkseyri, South Iceland, September 30, 2014.

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