The American Coot is a very rare visitor in Iceland but one is now staying in the Reykjavík area. This is the sixth bird seen in Iceland so far. In North America the Coot is a common bird in freshwater wetlands. The American Coot is not a duck. It is a relation of the European Coot and is in lineage with cranes and rails.
The Coot is in the company of a group of Mallards that mostly stay on a pond where the birds are fed.
After a collapse in the biota, Kolgrafafjörður is again teeming with life. The silver darlings have returned to the fjord. Kolgrafafjörður is a shallow fjord on the northern side of Snæfellsnes. It is known for being a good food source for birds and sea mammals. In 2004 a road was constructed and a bridge built on the outer side of the fjord resulting in less renewal of seawater inside the fjord.
Once in a while huge amounts of herring used to come into the fjord during the winter months and the bridge did not change that. A lot of birds and small sea mammals followed the herring. This created a sensational spectacle by the bridge when the tide went in and out as Gulls, Northern Gannets and Great Cormorants fought to catch the herring. Harbour Seals, Grey Seals and Killer Whales were also a common sight by the bridge.
In 2011 – 2014 huge amounts of herring gathered in the fjord inside the bridge. In the winter of 2012 – 13 the herring died probably from lack of oxigen. It is estimated that around 50,000 tons of herring died this winter. This resulted in the collapse of the biota. Now the herring is back and Kolgrafafjörður is again full of life, – an attraction for bird watchers and nature lovers.
Birch seeds are the main food for Redpolls in the winter months. Last summer a lot of birch seeds matured in the natural Icelandic forests so there is still enough food for them. Redpolls have not been seen in any numbers in gardens and there has been some concern that their numbers are decreasing.
Last winter was harsh and natural feed scarce. The numbers of Redpolls decreased considerably but the drop was far from drastic. In the last few weeks Redpolls have come in the garden in search of food on our feeding trays. The most we have seen recently is 18 birds together.
Happy New Year dear readers and thanks for following our blog. Our resolution is to continue posting photos of the birdlife around us and bringing you photos and info from interesting places we visit.
Today there is a little more snow than yesterday and the storm Frank has left the country. It is a beautiful first day of the year 🙂
Glymur in Hvalfjörður is the second highest waterfall in Iceland, 198 metres high. It is about an hour’s drive from Reykjavík, the capital, a trip worth taking. The hike from the parking area takes about 2 hours, more if you go the roundtrip. The trail is marked and there are footpaths. See: Best hiking trails
On the way you pass a cave and have to go over a creek below the waterfall. The climb is sometimes a bit strenuous and can be muddy and rocky in places so you need good walking boots.
For the round trip, that takes up to 4 hours, you have to go over the River Botnsá above the waterfall. There is no bridge there.
– This is a trip worth taking in the summer time 🙂
Christmas Day was cold and windy in Selfoss. Lots of snow and temperatures below zero, – 9°C. The same can be said for most of the country but in the North temperatures went down to – 20° C.
Reykjavík is the only capital in Europe to have snow this Christmas. That is unusual for this time of year because in most capitals in East Europe and Scandinavia that would be the norm.
The birds do not go without at Christmas. Delicious red apples are on the menu on a cold and windy Christmas day, with temperatures around – 9° C.
Jól is the Icelandic term for Christmas. The word stems from the Nordic word Yule which refers to the old solstice celebrations when the Vikings celebrated longer days and coming of the new year. Season’s Greetings to all of you. “Peace on earth and goodwill to all men”
One of the busiest days of the year, Saint Thorlakur’s Day, and the Christmas preparations are almost finished. It is beautiful outside, temperatures around zero, it is calm and snow is falling lightly. Tomorrow the children and their other halves, grown up people now, will come and spend Christmas Eve with us. Merry Christmas 🙂
Today is St. Thorlakur’s Day. Thorlakur was an Icelandic bishop in Skalholt and died on December 23, 1193. This is the day for last minute gift shopping, decorating the Christmas tree and many eat the traditional fish Skate, which smells horrible.
