The Oystercatcher has arrived. On our trip along the south coast to the east last Saturday we saw several huge flocks that had just arrived. With their bright orange beaks and feet they are such a beautiful sight. The Oystercatcher usually arrives in the middle of March making it one of the first migrants to great us and signal the coming of a new season.

The Oystercatcher is mostly a migrant in Iceland and quite common in lowlands. Most go to the British Isles in the autumn and come back in March to April.

The Oystercatcher is mostly a migrant in Iceland and quite common in lowlands. It usually arrives in the middle of March making it one of the first migrants to great us and signal the coming of a new season. On our trip to the Northeast we came across this chick that was learning to find food on its own. Seeing it imitate the parent was more than adorable.

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 of March. Now in the beginning of May breeding is already on its way and the first chicks will be arriving in the end of the month.

Ringed Oystercatchers are seen from time to time.  These have mostly been ringed in their winter grounds in The British Isles but some in Iceland in recent years.

We had spring for a few days and then it is snow and frost again. The migratory birds that have arrived try to find shelter and survive storms and blizzards like this Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) that was looking for food under the snow on a meadow outside Selfoss yesterday. The weather forecast predicts that spring will give Iceland another try next week. We wait patiently.

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.