Birds

The Whimbrel has arrived

Spói – Whimbrel – Numenius phaeopus

The Whimbrel has arrived although not bringing with it the long awaited summer. We have had snow and hail in the last few days but hopefully that will not affect our newly arrived summer birds. The Whimbrel is  a long distance migrator and the winter grounds of the Icelandic Whimbrel are west of the Sahara in West Africa. The Whimbrels’ breeding grounds are in the Arctic, across America and Eurasia.

The Whimbrel usually arrives in Iceland in the beginning of May but this spring some had already arrived by the end of April. They are common in lowlands and in the breeding time the males try to catch the attention of the females by flying in circles, giving their loud, rolling twitter song. The Whimbrel is one of the migrants that has a place in the heart of every Icelander.

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Urriðafoss in River Þjórsá

Urriðafoss is a waterfall in River Þjórsá. The waterfall has been quite a concern in recent years with the planning of a dam for a power station further inland. Concerns have also been raised about the future of the salmon run in River Þjórsá.

With the growing numbers of tourists in Iceland, Urriðafoss has become quite an attraction in the last few years.  The waterfall is easily accessible from the main road, Road 1, about ten minute drive east from Selfoss.

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Little brown bird

Runntítla – Dunnock – Prunella modularis

This little friend is a new bird on my list, number 224. It was spotted a week ago in Sólbrekka, in Reykjanes Peninsula. The Dunnock is a rare vagrant in Iceland. It is small, quiet and often seen on the ground and on its own. The Dunnocks are noted for their singing. Dunnock means little brown bird.

The mating behaviour of the Dunnock is very special and rare among birds depending on the availability of food. If there is not enough food the females share several males, but if food is in abundance one male might monopolise many spouses.

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New species in the garden

Kjarnbítur – Hawfinch – Coccothraustes coccothraustes

A beautiful female Hawfinch is a new bird for our garden, number 51 to be precise. The Hawfinch stands out for its distinct colours and its blue beak. It is  similar to the Redwing in size and breeds throughout Europe and the temperate part of Asia.

The Hawfinch was very rare in Iceland but in recent years it has become an almost annual visitor. This bird is number two in Iceland this year but the other one was spotted in the east part of the country in early April.

With the temperatures rising the Hawfinch will probably become a more frequent visitor here as its numbers continue to grow in the British Isles. This well liked visitor has now been here for three days and we hope it decides to stay.

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Vagrant Swans

Black Swan and Mute Swan

These vagrants ended up in Iceland in Hemrunes in Skaftártungu in South East Iceland. They probably came along with the thousands of Whooper Swans that over winter in the British Isles.  The Black Swan is an annual guest with two to three spotted here each spring. The Mute Swan, however, is rarer here and only ten have been seen before.

Hnúðsvanur – Mute Swan – Cygnus olor (juv.)

The Mute Swan is a young one, thus the brownish colour. It is in its first winter and will not reach puberty until four years old.

Svartsvanur – Black Swan – Cygnus atratus

The Black Swan and the  Mute Swan get along well together and seem to have made a pact, having occupied a pond where they have been staying for a week.

The pond they occupy
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Redpoll with a white crown

Auðnutittlingur – Redpoll – Carduelis flammea

This little guy is easily recognisable from others of its kind because it sports a white crown instead of the usual greyish brown forehead. This Redpoll was here in the garden two days in November and appeared here one day last week. We have not noticed this colour variation before among the thousands of Redpolls that have visited the garden in recent years.

Ordinary Redpoll
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Teeming with Redwings

Just arriving – Redwings on Eyrarbakki coast

Yesterday the seashore at Eyrarbakki was teeming with Redwings. These are the migrants that arrived on April 3 in the thousands from their winter grounds in the British Isles. They are spread over the South coast, staying near the seaside because of the cold weather. The temperatures this week are going down to minus 6 – 7°C in the night-time.

Newly arrived Redwing on Icelandic shores

Some Redwings stay in Iceland for the winter but most migrate. Just on the shore at Eyrarbakki their numbers were estimated to be at least 500 – 700. The Redwing is one of the best loved migratory birds  in Iceland and its arrival is awaited and  welcomed because it signals the coming of the long awaited spring.

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Will they stay or will they go?

Fjallafinka – Brambling – Fringilla montifringilla

In the beginning of November we told you about flocks of Bramblings that had been seen in Iceland and a group that took to our garden. Well, all through winter we have had them here, up to 15 in the autumn, but usually around 6 to 10. The males have begun to change colours, taking on their black caps to impress the females. We are excited to see whether they will breed here this spring.

Bramblings are vagrants in Iceland. They breed in Northern Europe, although not as northerly as Iceland, and are supposed to fly South for winter. A few instances of breeding have been recorded here.

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Winter guests on Lake Laugarvatn

Húsönd – Barrow’s Goldeneye – Bucephala islandica

The Barrow’s Goldeneye stays in Iceland the whole year round. Its distribution has been more or less restricted to Mývatn and Laxá in North Iceland. It prefers to stay in spring water and part of the population goes to the South during the coldest time of the year. Lake Laugarvatn is one the places where you can expect to spot them. Due to geothermal heat it does not freeze over even in the harshest of winters. From January to March they can be seen in groups not far from land.

Lake Laugarvatn in March

Iceland is the only breeding place of the Barrow’s Goldeneye in Europe and the distribution has been more or less restricted to Northeast Iceland. More birds now breed in the South, e.g. in the Southern Highlands, in Lake Þingvallavatn and River Sog. Barrow’s Goldeneye stay in spring water lakes or rivers the whole year round and unlike most non-migrators they do not move to the sea around Iceland in winter.

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