The Saga of Icelandic Birding

Year 13

One week ago I arrived home from Iceland, and it is time for my final Icelandic birding post. This blog entry is really for me as I want to document all the various bird species which I was fortunate enough to see. In total I ended up birding these habitats

  • Arctic tundra & grasslands
  • Ocean inlets and headlands
  • Tidal ponds

Without further adieu …

Arctic Tern

Black Guillemot

Black-Headed Gull

Black-Legged Kittiwake

Black-Tailed Godwit

Common Eider

Common Redshank

Dunlins

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Eurasian Whimbrel

Eurasian Wigeon

European Golden Plover

European Herring Gull

Red-Necked Phalarope

Redwing

White Wagtail

End of Post … whew … lots of bird species!

Northern Grouse & Ptarmigans

Year 13,

The past week has been unique in terms of game birds … this morning when the heavy fog lifted I found both northern Minnesota Boreal Forest grouse species. I think the grouse … Spruce and Ruffed, both wanted to dry off. Last week in Iceland’s tundra habitat I saw my first ever Rock Ptarmigans. Thanks to my “eagle eyed” reader, Annie, who noticed that in fact Ptarmigan chicks were in my “rock images”, I went back and reviewed my master images. Thus, today I bring you reworked Rock Ptarmigan photos … complete with chicks! The post also includes the southern cousins of the boreal forest. As a bonus I am including a Broad Winged Hawk which was trying to dry off, but also trying to hunt the young Ruffed Grouse chicks.

Rock Ptarmigan & Chicks

Just the parent now …

Spruce Grouse

Ruffed Grouse (2 different birds)

Broad-Winged Hawk

Trumpeter Swan Cygnet Update (chicks)

Year 13

I visited the Upland Forest Trail cygnets (chicks) just before leaving for Iceland, and the day after I returned to Duluth. The elapsed time period between my visits was 12 days. I thought folks might be curious in the growth / change in these little birds. In addition, one of the six cygnets obviously met its demise. There are only five chicks remaining.

Trumpeter Swan Cygnets on July 24th (The parents were about 50 yards distant, and did not feel the need anymore to be immediately next to their young. However, the cygnets still swam together “in formation”)

Trumpeter Swan Cygnets on July 12th

If you would like to see the difference in growth from when I first found the swan family on July 6th … here is one image from that date (see post)

Trumpeter Swan Cygnets on July 6th (There is a sixth chick; it is just hiding behind one parent)