Today we have a nice selection of Nearctic birds from reader Kenneth Crook:
I just returned from a 2 week vacation in Iceland with my own family and that of another WEIT reader (indeed I think it was he who first pointed me in the direction of your website a few years ago). Completely stunning (and even awesome!) landscapes and I highly recommend a visit to anybody. In any case, it’s got an interesting population of birds and I saw many that I’ve never seen before and here are a few photos of said birds. They’re not anywhere near the quality of a lot of the material you post, but I was happy with some of them.
Outside one of the houses we rented was a pair of golden plovers (Pluvialis apricaria) guarding their territory and keeping a close eye on all invaders. Here is one of the pair and then both of them mugging a whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) that strayed too close.The others are an oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), a black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), a redshank (Tringa totanus), a couple of puffins (Fratercula arctica), a fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), an arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) and finally a family of red-throated divers (Gavia stellata).
Flying whimbrel:
Puffin taking off:
Puffin:
Red-throated divers (also called red-throated loons):
Vey nice. Redshanks do love to stand on fence posts…
I agree that Iceland is an incredible and beautiful place. Your bird pictures are lovely, too. Thanks.
Nice photos! Any broader landscape views to share?
Thanks. Yes I do have LOTS more landscape pictures. Once I have sorted through them I will maybe send a few to see if PCC would like to share those too.
Thanks. Or send a link in a comment here.
Looks like I’m going to have to make the trip after all. Looks like the birding is first rate.
Very nice. We see in these birds a wide range of beak specializations for different ways of catching food.
Nice pictures of nice birds. A question: is the fulmar landing or taking off ?
I do have some of one taking off, but I can’t remember what this one was doing.
Just checked my other pictures – this one is definitely coming in to land.
Poor whimbrel! I can almost here the “oomph”.
And what’s the plover saying?
Really enjoyed these. Thanks.
Awesome BIFs….and the puffin taking off has total street cred. Just like PCC has philosophy street cred now. Kudos!