At last it seems that the temperature is rising. In the last few days it has stayed above zero in the day time. Way to go!
Category Archives: Garden
Three species of Thrushes
In the last few days there have been three species of Thrushes in the garden. We have had up to 25 Redwings, 5 Blackbirds and a Fieldfare. The photoes are taken in the garden in the last few days.
Redpolls courting
Courting in the garden is now in full swing. The Redpolls are the loudest and most boisterous. Around 20-30 Redpolls come and make use of the feed and there is a lot going on. The males are constantly fighting and trying to get the attention of the females. Many of them now boast a pink chest and the red patch on their forehead easily catches one’s attention where ever they go.
The Redwings are here
The first migratory Redwings (Turdus iliacus) were seen in gardens in Selfoss and groves in Grímsnes today. This afternoon ten Redwings were here in our garden, eating bread, apples and sunflower seeds. There are always some Redwings that stay in gardens during the winter time but the newly arrived birds can easily be recognised from the others. They are full of excitement, flying quickly from one garden to another in their search for food.
Since snow covers everything these newly arrived birds have to depend on feed in gardens like the ones who stay here in the winter time.
Photoes from today.
Article about our garden and the birdlife
We just had an article published! The magazine is The Summerhouse and the Garden (Icelandic: Sumarhúsið og garðurinn. 1. tölublað, mars 2015). The article is about the garden and the birdlife there, and of course our web. Article and photoes by Örn Óskarsson .
Starling on the Menu
The Merlin (Falco columbarius) had Starling for dinner today. This female Merlin has watched over the garden this winter and made daily attacks on the smaller birds. Sometimes she is lucky and succeeds in getting a morsel but more often her prey manages to get away.
Photoes taken today in the garden.
Merlin lady always on the lookout
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.
There were around 50 Redpolls here today. These photoes are taken in the garden, February 26.
Thinking of flying South?
More and more Redwings stay in Iceland during the winter time. This one is probably thinking of flying South next year and not without reason. – This winter has been exceptionally cold and windy.
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.
These are photoes from today.
Blackbird
The male Blackbird stands out in the garden with its orange-yellow beak and eye ring. This is one of the male birds that has been in a group of eight in the garden this winter.