The Nature Reserve in Flói consist of wetlands, ponds and grassland. In the winter time when everything is frozen over it looks like something from á fairiy tale, – a winter wonderland. In the summer time the Nature Reserve in Flói is teeming with birds. Today in mid winter I was surpised to see a … Continue reading Frozen paradise
The Oystercatcher is a common breeding bird in Iceland. Its typical breeding places are near the sea and lakes in lowlands. The nest is usually in gravel or sand, but sometimes by the side of a road. Part of the Icelandic breeding stock goes to the British Isles for winter and comes back in the middle … Continue reading Breeding has started
On our birding trips we often meet like-minded people. Last year we met a group of Belgian students on a birding trip in Iceland. This was in February and the weather was quite cold. The group were searching for a Hooded Merganser on Elliðavatn, a lake just outside Reykjavik. When we found out that they … Continue reading Birding friends
This ringed Black-tailed Godwit was spotted in the Bird Reserve in Flói, South Iceland, 30 June. The bird was ringed in this same spot on June 24, 2011. It has been spotted in the UK and near the place of ringing every year since then. Black-tailed Godwits are quite obvious at this time of year. … Continue reading Creature of habit
Dunlins (Calidris alpina) are migratory birds that usually arrive in Iceland in May. They are long distance migrants that breed in Arctic regions. The European population’s winter grounds are in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Birds that breed in Arctic areas in Canada and Alaska only migrate to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North … Continue reading Long distance migrant
The Whimbrel is a wader, has long legs and a long curved bill. It is a migratory bird, a symbol for the coming of summer. Its song is very special, – listen to it here. The Whimbrels are quite common in Iceland and breed all over the country both in lowlands and highlands. The eggs … Continue reading Whimbrel on a fence post
The Pintail (Anas acuta) is a common duck and has a wide distribution all over the Northern hemisphere. In Iceland there are only around 500 breeding pairs, scattered all over the country including the interior. The Pintail is a dabbling duck like the Mallard, only dipping its head in the water to find food, not … Continue reading The Pintail
Courtship is in full swing with the Red-throated Diver in the nature reserve in Flói (Fuglafriðland í Flóa) and soon they will start breeding. This place probably offers the best circumstances to observe the Red-throated Diver while courting, breeding and caring for their offspring. The area is popular among birders and photographers because here you can … Continue reading Courtship in full swing
This morning we went to the Flói Bird Reserve, not far from Selfoss. There we saw two tagged Black-Tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa). One of them was marked OW-YL and is the same bird I saw on June 2, 2013, in this same place. Its story is known. It was tagged in Flói Bird Reserve June 14, … Continue reading Ringed Black-tailed Godwits
Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) was found today in Flói, South Iceland not far from Selfoss. Only the fourth to be found in Iceland and a new X for me. Photographed from a distance of 400-500 m.