The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a beautiful little bird that constantly wags its long tail. It is quite noticeable dashing about in the garden in the summer time. The Wagtail is one of the migratory birds which arrival is looked forward to in the spring.
We like the Wagtail a lot and there is usually a pair with a nest in the garden every year. It quite likes the oatmeal biscuits we feed it.
Spring loudly announced its coming this morning. Heavy southerly winds, with rainfall, blew most of the snow away. The temperature went up + 6-8 °C last night and at last most of the ice has melted away. The weather was so bad over most of the country that people were told to stay inside. There were floods, trees were blown down, roofs blew off, boats were in danger, etc. Click on the link to see pictures on mbl.is
This is Ölfusá River at noon today.
American vagrants are always a great treat for birders. The Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) is a very rare American vagrant here in Iceland. It is a small duck and a common breeding bird in North-America.
This male was spotted in April 2013 in Stokkseyri, South Iceland.
The cover photo of this book is by Örn Óskarsson/ORNOSK. This is the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers which has only been spotted twice in Iceland. Photo taken in Selfoss, see blog.
The book is for sale on Amazon.com
This book describes in detail the 155 species of extremely rare birds that have occurred in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. All species that have occurred less than 10 times have been included. The records are listed with full details and references to books and articles, and include a photograph of the actual individual, if available. Some of these images are published in this book for the first time. The book on Amazon.com
There is a photo in this book by Örn Óskarsson /ORNOSK. It’s page 206, Common Crossbill/Red Crossbill.
The book is for sale on Amazon.com
Discover the joys of attracting winged wonders to your backyard. From seeds and suet to the best bird-attracting plants and other bird-friendly fare, you’ll find easy, practical, and low-cost ways to entice birds into stopping by regularly. You’ll learn the best tips and secrets from experienced birders, experts, and longtime backyard bird-feeders to welcome birds to every part of your yard and garden. The book on Amazon.com
The Oystercatcher is here already. Two birds were spotted by the river Ölfusá in Selfoss today. They usually arrive around the same time every year and this year is no exception.
The Oystercatcher is one of the first migratory birds to arrive, signalling spring in Iceland. Most go to the British Isles in the autumn and come back in March to April.
The Raven (Corvus corax) is the biggest passerine bird (Passeriformes) in the world and a common breeding bird in Iceland.
The Raven lays its egg in rocks and ravines and sometimes in houses and trees. Breeding starts early in April.
There are around 2,000 breeding pairs in Iceland and the Raven stays in Iceland the whole year. This nest was in Helliskógur by Selfoss.
Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni hornemanni) has been in the garden for the last few days. This bird breeds in Northern Greenland and the northerly regions of the Canadian Arctic.
The Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll and the Snow Bunting are the species that have the most northerly breeding distribution of all passerines.
These photoes were taken in the garden yesterday, February 11, 2015.
The first Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) flocks are now arriving in Iceland despite heavy winds and blizzards. Whooper Swans are breeding birds all over the country.
Mosts go to the British Isles in the winter. The Swan returns in the latter part of March and adult birds often go straight to their territory and the mating begins. The Swan is loyal to its mate and the pairs stay together throughout their lives.
The Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is a common breeding bird in Iceland. They are migratory birds with winter grounds in West Africa.
Most Wheatears come to Iceland in May and they are usually flown to their wintergrounds in September. They often visit the garden in the autumn before their departure for Africa. The photoes are taken in Selfoss.
In 2013 we took a trip to the South East of the country. One of the most interesting places there is Jökulsárlón, Glacier Lagoon. When we got there we spotted a small group of people near the shore. They had gathered around a Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus). We were so surprised, we had never seen a Walrus before.
This huge animal just lay there enjoying the rest, flipping over every once in a while. Some tourist asked us if it was common to see a Walrus in Iceland and we could tell them that this was a first for us.
Walruses are very seldom seen in Iceland but this animal, a male, is probably accountable for several sightings in 2013.
Reykjavík Grapevine in English:
http://grapevine.is/news/2013/09/30/a-wealth-of-walruses/
Morgunblaðið in Icelandic, with a photo from ORNOSK/Örn Óskarsson:
http://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2013/09/18/rostungur_flakkar_milli_faereyja_og_islands/