Birds

Lesser Blackback

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Sílamáfur – Lesser Blackback – Larus fuscus

The Lesser Blackback (Larus fuscus) started breeding in Iceland around 1920. Since then its numbers have been increasing  and now the Lesser Blackback is a breeding bird in all lowlands. It is the only Gull that is a migratory bird here, having winter grounds in the Pyrenees Mountains and North West Africa. They come back to Iceland very early, before spring arrives. The first Lesser Blackback arrived here in February. The breeding population counts around 50,000 pairs.

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Lesser Blackback – Larus fuscus

This photo is taken in Selfoss April 16, 2014, the second time I came across this indivual bird. It was banded as a small chick in August 2003 in Garðaholti in Álftanes. The first time I saw it was also in Selfoss May 9, 2011.

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Atmosphere, People, Weather

Eclipse of the Sun

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Conditions to observe the solar eclipse in Iceland today were very good. There were clear skies and people could be seen all over the place with special glasses so as to be able to look at the sun without damaging their eyes.

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The total phase of the solar eclipse was not visible in Iceland, but it could be observed there as a partial solar eclipse. The Moon covered only a small portion of the Sun as can be seen in the photoes here.

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Birds

The Golden Plover has arrived

The first news of the arrival of the Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) has been issued. It is said to have been seen in Breiðdalur, in the East of Iceland, yesterday, March 18. Now spring must surely be on its way.

Heiðlóa - Golden Plover - Pluvialis apricaria
Heiðlóa – Golden Plover – Pluvialis apricaria

The Golden Plover  is probably the most loved Icelandic bird. Its arrival in the spring is looked forward to because it signals the coming of summer.

Heiðlóa - Golden Plover - Pluvialis apricaria
Heiðlóa – Golden Plover – Pluvialis apricaria
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Birds

The Wren is on the move

The Wren was the smallest Icelandic bird before the Goldcrest settled here. It is a tiny little bird with a big voice. It is one of the birds that stays in Iceland the whole year. In the winter time it can be found by the seaside but in other seasons all over the country, mostly lowlands though.

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músarrindill – Wren – Troglodytes troglodytes

We have had a Wren in the garden now for a few days which tells us that it is expecting spring.

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Birds

Crossbills always attract attention

Today we had six Common Crossbills or  Red Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra)  in the garden, both males and females. In the last year they have become regular guests here in our garden.

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Krossnefur – Common Crossbill /Red Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra (female)

These colorurful birds always attract our attention when they turn up. The photoes were taken yesterday, March 12.

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Krossnefur – Common Crossbill /Red Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra (male)
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People

Visiting Birdwatchers

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Peter Colston, Simon Dennis, Peter Gluth, Antoine Rougeron and Léa Champion

These are today’s guests from England and France, all keen birdwatchers and some even quite famous as such.  They came to see our garden birds and despite the heavy storm yesterday a few interesting birds had come back.

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They saw a few Common Crossbills, some Redpolls, a Starling and a Wren.

Common Crossbills
Common Crossbills
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Birds

The Wagtail wags its tail

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.

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Maríuerla – White wagtail – Motacilla alba

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.

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Birds

Spring loudly announced its coming

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.

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