Friday 27 January 2023

Reykjavik birdwatching

A mid-week city break provided ample opportunity to get up close and personal with a handful of Iceland's wintering birds. Lake Tjornin, is heavily iced, but at its northern edge hot water is pumped into the system to keep an area open for the local wildfowl and gulls.

Large numbers of Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Greylag Goose (Anser anser), Wigeon (Anas penelope), Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus); three Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) and a solitary Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) were taking advantage of the thaw.
Wildfowl, Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik

Wildfowl, Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik

Whooper Swan, Lake Tjornin,
Reyjavik

Iceland Gull, Lake Tjornin, Reykavik

Iceland Gull, and Black-headed Gulls
Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik

Iceland Gull, Lake Tjornin, Reykavik

A, and Whooper Swan

From the sea wall, a large flock of Iceland Gull (Ca. 40 individuals), Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) and Eider (Somateria mollissima) were close in to the sea-defences, whilst further out in the bay three Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) were observed, along with a fly through Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus).
".. blimey! There's a large flock of Iceland Gulls 
just off the sea-wall! .." 

".. see .." Iceland Gulls

Iceland Gull, and Eider

Iceland Gulls, and Fulmars

Eider

Iceland Gull

Solar sun Voyager, Reykjavik

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