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Iceland bird observations

Bird observations made during my holiday in June 2004 on Iceland.
Swedish and scientific names follow AERC - Association of European Records & Rarities Committees (2003). Taxonomic order follows AERC Taxonomic Advisory Committee (2003). Dutch and English names follow mostly European Bird Names (Sandberg, 1992).

Travel route

Date	Route	Distance
13-6-2004	Arlanda airport (Sweden) - Keflavík airport - Njarðvík	90 km.
	Evening trip to Garðskagi
14-6-2004	Njarðvík - Reykjanestá - Grindavik - Selfoss - Árnes	202 km.
	Stops at Hafnir, Krusavík thermal area, Grindavik
15-6-2004	Árnes - Hrauneyjalón - Landmannalaugar - Hella - Vík	287 km.
	Mountain walk to the top of the Bláhnúkur, Fjallabak Nat. Parc
16-6-2004	Vík - Hvoll	254 km.
	Seljalandsfoss - a walk behind the waterfall
	a walk to Skógafoss
	Sólheimajökull, glacier tongue
	Dyrhólaey bird sanctuary
17-6-2004	Hvoll - Vatnajökull - Vagnsstaðir	116 km.
18-6-2004	Vagnsstaðir - Djúpivogur - Seyðisfjörður	332 km.
19-6-2004	Seyðisfjörður - Héraðsflói - Grímsstaðir - Kópasker	308 km.
20-6-2004	Kópasker - Rauðinúpur - Jökulsá National Parc - Kópasker	162 km.
21-6-2004	Kópasker - Húsavik - Reykjahlið	201 km.
22-6-2004	Reykjahlið - Myvatn - Reykjahlið	69 km.
23-6-2004	Reykjahlið - Akureyri - Varmahlið - Sauðárkrókur - Smiðsgerði	303 km.
24-6-2004	Smiðsgerði - Varmahlið - F35 (Kjölur route) - Laugarvatn	276 km.
25-6-2004	Laugarvatn - Hamar	214 km.
26-6-2004	Hamar - Snæfellsnes peninsula - Hamar	300 km.
27-6-2004	Hamar - Hvítádalur - Borgarnes - Reykjavík - Njarðvík	277 km.
28-6-2004	Njarðvík - Keflavík - Arlanda airport (Sweden)
	Total distance traveled on Iceland:	3391 km.

Species list

For each species the date and location of first observation is given, as well as some remarks on the occurrence of the species throughout Iceland (soon to come!).

Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan Sångsvan	15-6 along the Ðjórsá
Anser brachyrhynchus Pink-footed Goose Spetsbergsgås	24-6 Hveravellir (Kjölur) - 6 ex.
Anser anser Greylag Goose Grågås	15-6 along the Ðjórsá
Branta bernicla Brent Goose Prutgås	16-6 Skógafoss - 3 ex. along the coast
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose Vitkindad gås	23-6 Mývatn - 1 ex.
Tadorna tadorna Shelduck Gravand	25-6 Hamar - 8 ex.
Anas penelope Widgeon Bläsand	17-6 Vagnsstaðir
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Gräsand	13-6 Garðskagi
Anas strepera Gadwall Snatterand	20-6 Ásbyrgi (Jökulsá á Fjöllum) - several females with ducklings 22-6 in Mývatn, in small numbers
Anas crecca Teal Kricka	17-6 Vagnsstaðir
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck Vigg	15-6 between Hella and Vík
Aythya marila Greater Scaup Bergand	21-6 Mývatn
Somateria mollissima Eider Ejder	13-6 Garðskagi
Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck Alfågel	20-6 Rauðinúpur 21-6 in the Laxá
Histronicus histronicus Harlequin Duck Strömand	15-6 Landmannalaugar
Melanitta nigra Common Scoter Sjöorre	21-6 Mývatn, 2 ex.
Bucephala islandica Barrow's Goldeneye Islandsknipa	21-6 Mývatn, 4 ex. 22-6 in Mývatn, 20+ ex.
Mergus serrator Red-breasted Merganser Småskrake	18-6 Djúpivogur
Mergus merganser Goosander Storskrake	21-6 Mývatn, 2 ex.
Lagopus muta Rock Ptarmigan Fjällripa	25-6 Staumfjörður (10 km. NW of Borgarnes), 1 breeding pair 26-6 in Berserkjahraun, 1 male 27-6 Hvítádalur, 1 male
Gavia stellata Red-throated Diver Smålom	19-6 Héraðsflói
Gavia immer Great Northern Diver Svartnäbbad Islom	21-6 Mývatn, 1 ex. with a duckling a possible observation on 14-6 in Selfoss, from the bridge over the Hvíta
Podiceps auritus Slavonian Grebe Svarthakedopping	20-6 Kópasker, 2 ex. in the pond near the village 22-6 in Mývatn, 10+ ex. near Reykjahlið
Fulmarus glacialis Fulmar Stormfågel	16-6 Selljalandsfoss
Sula bassana Gannet Havssula	14-6 Reykjanestá, a colony on a cliff very near the coast 16-6 Dyrhólaey, 2 ex. 20-6 Rauðinúpur, a large colony on a cliff
Phalacrocorax carbo Cormorant Storskarv	26-6 Grundarfjörður, 1 ex.
Falco columbarius Merlin Stenfalk	23-6 Kotagil (between Akureyri and Varmahlið, 1 ex.
Haematopus ostralegus Oystercatcher Strandskata	13-6 Garðskagi
Charadrius hiaticula Ringed Plover Större strandpipare	13-6 Garðskagi
Pluvialis aprocaria Golden Plover Ljungpipare	14-6 Árnes
Arenaria interpres Turnstone Roskarl	13-6 Garðskagi, 1 ex.
Calidris alba Sanderling Sandlöpare	13-6 Garðskagi, several ex.
Calidris alpina Dunlin Kärrsnäppa	19-6 Héraðsflói
Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper Skärsnäppa	19-6 Kópasker, 2 ex. along the beach
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel Småspov	13-6 Garðskagi
Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit Rödspov	16-6 Hvoll
Tringa totanus Redshank Rödbena	13-6 Garðskagi
Gallinago gallinago Snipe Enkelbeckasin	14-6 Árnes
Phalaropus lobatus Red-necked Phalarope Smalnäbbad simsnäppa	15-6 between Hella and Vík
Catharacta skua Great Skua Storlabb	16-6 Dyrhólaey
Stercorarius parasiticus Arctic Skua Kustlabb	14-6 Hafnir
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull Skrattmås	15-6 between Hella and Vík
Larus canus Common Gull Fiskmås	13-6 Garðskagi
Rissa tridactyla Kittiwake Tretåig mås	14-6 Reykjanestá
Larus argentatus Herring Gull Gråtrut	13-6 Garðskagi
Larus hyperboreus Glaucous Gull Vittrut	26-6 Grundarfjörður, 30+ ex.
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull Havstrut	13-6 Njarðvík
Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull Silltrut	13-6 Garðskagi
Sterna paradisaea Arctic Tern Silvertärna	13-6 Njarðvík
Chlidonias niger Black Tern Svarttärna	19-6 Héraðsflói, 1 ex.
Uria aalge Guillemot Sillgrissla	16-6 Dyrhólaey
Uria lomvia Brünnich's Guillemot Spetsbergsgrissla	20-6 Rauðinúpur
Alca torda Razorbill Tordmule	20-6 Rauðinúpur
Cepphus grylle Black Guillemot Tobisgrissla	19-6 Héraðsflói
Fratercula arctica Puffin Lunnefågel	16-6 Dyrhólaey
Columbia livia Rock Dove Klippduva	18-6 Seyðisfjörður, 1 ex.
Hirundo rustica Swallow Ladusvala	13-6 Garðskagi
Delichon urbicum House Martin Hussvala	17-6 Breiðamerkursandur
Anthus pratensis Meadow Pipit Ängspiplärka	16-6 Skógafoss
Motacilla alba White Wagtail Sädesärla	14-6 Árnes
Bombycilla garrulus Waxwing Sidensvans	22-6 Höfði (Mývatn), 1 ex.
Troglodytes troglodytes Wren Gärdsmyg	20-6 Rauðinúpur - 1 ex.
Oenanthe oenanthe Wheatear Stenskvätta	16-6 Skógafoss
Turdus iliacus Redwing Rödvingetrast	14-6 Árnes
Sturnus vulgaris Starling Stare	14-6 Árnes
Corvus corax Raven Korp	17-6 Breiðamerkursandur
Corvus frugilegus Rook Råka	18-6 Seyðisfjörður
Plectrophenax nivalis Snow Bunting Snösparv	13-6 Garðskagi

Total number of species on Iceland: 68