Birds

Cold spring spoils nests

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Himbrimi – Great Northern Diver – Gavia immer

Veiðivötn (Fishing Lakes) are a cluster of lakes in the southern interior of Iceland. Ordinarily there are around 35 to 40 Great Northern Divers there over the summer time and usually 10 – 15 nests. This spring it was very cold and a lot of snow and ice. The Great Northern Divers turned up at their usual time and at least 10 pairs layed eggs by the water edge of lakes. When it at last started to get warmer snow and ice melted and six of the nests went under water and were destroyed.  Only three chicks hatched from two nests in the area. This is by far the worst breeding to be seen since I started observing the Great Northern Diver in the area 15 years ago. The nest in the picture went underwater but in recent years this pair has always managed to raise two chicks.

With two chicks in summer 2014
With two chicks in summer 2014

This picture is of the same pair with two chicks last year.

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Birds

Creature of habit

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.

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Jaðrakan – Black-tailed Godwit – Limosa limosa

Black-tailed Godwits are quite obvious at this time of year. They are loud and try to protect their chicks and eggs from predators.

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Birds

Long distance migrant

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 America. Some Dunlins overwinter on the south coast of Spain and Portugal.

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Lóuþræll – Dunlin – Calidris alpina

A lot of Dunlins breed in marshlands in South Iceland. This one was in The Bird Reserve in Flói, South Iceland. The Icelandic breeding population is estimated around 270,000 birds.

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Birds

Shelduck with six chicks

Shelducks (Tadorna tadorna) are annual guests on Ölfusá River by Selfoss. They arrive in the end of March and stay in a group by the riverside until May. Then they disappear and appear again with chicks in the end of June. They probably breed by the river both above and below Selfoss.

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Brandönd – Shelduck – Tadorna tadorna

The photo is of a pair that had six newly hatched chicks. They were seen by Öflusá River on June 30. Only two of the chicks agreed to be on the photo.

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Landscape

Highland roads

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Veiðivatnaleið, road to Veiðivötn

This winter has been long and waiting for summer has tested the patience of Icelanders. Highland roads were blocked by ice and snow longer than usually. The interior attracts a lot of tourist and many have booked trips, cars, cottages and fishing permits months and even years in advance. For these closed roads are not an option. The roads to the tourist attractions,  Landmannalaugar and Veiðivötn, in the southern interior, usually open around June 10. The road to Landmannnalaugar now opened on June 26 and the road to Veiðivötn on June 18.  This was with the help of bulldozers. Most highland roads are still closed.

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Birds

Whimbrel on a fence post

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.

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Spói – Whimbrel – Numenius phaeopus

The Whimbrels are quite common in Iceland and breed all over the country both in lowlands and highlands. The eggs are usually 3 or 4 and the parents both take responsibility for keeping the eggs warm.

Despite this the Whimbrel is one of the birds that are listed as a threatened species in the UK. It has the status Red which means that the species needs urgent action.

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Spói – Whimbrel – Numenius phaeopus

I came across this beautiful Whimbrel this morning in the Bird Reserve in Flói. Already the ones who did not breed are starting to flock and thinking about their long flight back to their winter grounds in Africa.

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Landscape

Mount Hekla

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Mount Hekla in the midnight sun, 25 June 2015

Mount Hekla has been dormant since the year 2000. An eruption is expected but it is difficult to predict. Activity has been reported several times in recent years and in 2013 a general warning was issued. People were warned against going on the mountain and air traffic surveillance levels were increased temporarily. Now the whole of the volcano is covered in ice and no snowless patches which might indicate activity can be seen.

Mount Hekla at noon, 25 June.
Mount Hekla at noon, 25 June.

Mount Hekla has erupted many times in the last decades. The last eruption lasted from 26 February until 8 March 2000. An eruption this summer would not come as a surprise.

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Birds

Harlequins don’t go unnoticed

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Straumönd – Harlequin Duck – Histrionicus histrionicus

The Harlequin Duck does not go unnoticed in the males bright maroon, white and blue colors. The males do not give up and try to catch the attention of the females although breeding time is well on its way. The Harlequins  like spring water rivers and the individuals that do not mate gather in flocks.

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The photos are taken in Veiðivötn in the South Iceland Interior.

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Birds

Love birds

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We enjoy watching out for the birds in our garden and feeding them. Spring and summer are something we look forward to – the time when everything comes alive and the birds start courting and nest making. But summer time is not all blizz. Almost everyday newly hatched chicks fall prey to overfed house cats. This sketch is an interpretation of a pair mourning the loss of a young one.

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