Birdwatching

Binoculars are to be found in every cottage at Kaldbakur

The cottages at Kaldbakur are situated close to a lake that is an outfall from the geothermal electricity plant which supplies Husavik with electricity. The plant can be visited by request.

Late breaking news! Have you seen a an icelandic redhead mate with an american white head?Two ducks from two continents are to be seen at the Kaldbaks Lake.

NEW !NEW! The Birdwatchers Pages. Professional list of all the birds seen on the lake or close to the lake at KALDBAKUR and when they have been seen and news from the local birders

Birds at the cottages          The Icelandic Birder page    and   News

Birds that you can expect to see at the Kaldbaks-lake and the land close to the cottages:

Sterna paradisaea, Artic tern, Kría

Alca torda, Razorbill, Álka

Uria aalge, Guillemot, Langvía

Fratercula arctica, Puffin, Lundi

Phalacrocorax carbo, Comorant, Dílaskarfur

Phalacrocorax aritotelis, Shag, Toppskarfur

Fulmarus glacialis, Fulmar, Fýll

Sula bassana, Gannet, Súla

Larus ridibundus, Black-headed Gull, Hettumávur

Larus hyperboreus, Glaucous Gull, Hvítmávur

Larus argentatus, Herring Gull, Silfurmávur

Larus fuscus, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sílamávur

Larus canus, Common Gull, Stormmávur

Larus marinus, Great Blck-backed Gull, Svartbakur

Stercorarius parasiticus, Artic Skua, Kjói

Cygnus cygnus, Whooper Swan, Álft

Aythya marila, Scaup, Duggönd

Corvus corax, Raven, hrafn

Motacilla alba, White Wagtail, Maríuerla

 

Clangula hyemalis, Long-tailed duck, Hávella

Anas platyrhynchos, Mallard, Stokkönd

Somateria mollissima, Eider, Æðarfugl

Anser anser, Greylag Goose, Grágæs

Anser brachyrhynchus, pink-footed goose, Heiðagæs

Gavia immer, Great northern diver, Himbrimi

Gavia stellata, Red-throated Diver, Lómur

Pluvialis apricaria, Golden Plover, Heiðlóa

Gallinago gallinago, Common Snipe, Hrossagaukur

Numenius phaeopus, Whimbrel, Spói

Limosa limosa, Black-tailed Godwit, Jaðrakan

Tringa totanus, Redshank, Stelkur

Asio flammeus, Short-eared Owl, brandugla

Falco rusticolus, Gyrfalcon, Fálki

Falco colubarius, Merlin, Smyrill

Lagopus mutus, Ptarmigan, Rjúpa

Turdus iliacus, Redwing, Skógarþröstur

Anthus pratensis, Meadow Pipit, Þúfutittlingur

Troglodytes troglodytes, Wren, Músarrindill

 

Here below are some useful links to Icelandic birds and wildlife

The Icelandic Birder page

 photographs of birds

Icelandic birds links

fatbirder

Icelandic birds

paintings of birds


geography

birds of Iceland

birds

Icelandic birds

list of Icelandic birds
NATURE WORLD WIDE

birds news 

duck pictures

rare birds seen in Iceland

bird fauna

home

All counted, 241 kinds of birds are known to have visited Iceland at one time or another. Of these 72 nest regularly, 6 are common passage migrants, about 30 are regular drift migrants or winter visitors, and the rest end up here accidentally. Sea birds, waterfowl, and waders are the most common indigenous birds..

Iceland is one of the major breeding grounds of waterfowls in Europe, and Lake M?vatn is renowned for its abundance of waterfowl. There are no fewer than 16 species of ducks known to nest in Iceland, including two American species; Barrow's Goldeneye and the harlequin duck. Two nesting species and three passage migrants represent the geese. Iceland is one of few places where the whooper swan is still a common breeding bird. It is most numerous on lakes lying on the borders of the central highlands. 

On the towering bird cliffs along the coast of Iceland, the most important sea birds are the common guillemot, Brunnich's guillemot, the razorbill, the puffin, the kittiwake, the fulmar, and the gannet. The puffins, however, by no means strictly a cliff-breeding bird as it also forms huge colonies on low-lying grassy islands. It is one of the most common Icelandic bird species with a population running into millions 

The most celebrated of all Icelandic birds is the Icelandic falcon, which in former times enjoyed a great reputation amongst falconers. The huge white-tailed eagle was formerly fairly common, but now it has been reduced to such an extent that grave concern must be felt for its future. Two species of owl inhabit Iceland. The snowy owl, which is extremely rare, was restricted to certain wild parts of the central highlands. The short-eared owl is found in low-lying moorland and valleys. The short-eared owl preys on field mice and small birds, while the snowy owl, like the falcon, usually preys on the ptarmigan, which are the country's only gallinaceous bird and also its most important game bird