Saturday, 15 February 2025

Iceland, Day One

Arrived in Akureyri, Northern Iceland today for a short family break over the school half term. Will mainly be a family tourist trip but also got a few birding targets. Managed to get a few minutes today checking out the Fjord near the hotel which was pretty lively. Highlights included 7-8 Iceland Gulls, a Glaucous Gull, 4-5 Black Guillemots, 50 Eider, 15 Long-tailed Duck, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Goosander and 2 Red-throated Divers. 

Adult male Northern Eider, borealis (above and below). Typically in this race of Eider the bill is a mustard colour, the bill feathering doesn't quite reach the nostril and there are distinctive 'sails' on the back (more erect on the image below)

First-winter male Northern Eider (above) and female Northern Eiders (below)

Male and female Long-tailed Duck 
Black Guillemot 

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