Iceland February 2014 (a non Gull Blog)

One of the main reasons for going to Iceland last month was for the Aurora Borealis which was probably at its best while we were there. However where we were staying at Grundarfjorour we were plagued by cloud, where as at Keflavic airport at least one photographer got fantastic images.

The very poor image below was my best effort, taken on our last night in Iceland at Keflavic, at ungodly hour in a freezing gale.  

Another reason for our trip was to go on a whale watching boat trip from Grundarfjorour with virtually guaranteed up close and personal views of Killer Whales. Unfortunately the whales hadn't been told we were coming and didn't show. A small compensation was provided by a pod of White Beaked Dolphins. The boat was quite small and very crowded, with far to many passengers for comfortable viewing, not a trip I would recommend even had we seen the Orcas.

White Beaked Dolphin

White Winged Melee over the Dolphins

Grundarfjorour from the Whale watch Boat

 Just a ten minute drive from Grundarfjorour is a fjord called Kolgrafafjourdur that has a bridge over it that the Orcas swim under following the Herring shoals. So after the disappointment of the boat trip we drove over there to try our luck.

Watching Killer Whales from the bridge at Kolgrafafjourdur

 As soon as we arrived we spotted 4+ Killer Whales which never really came close. They constantly had large melee of Gulls over them taking advantage of the Herring that the Whales pushed to the surface. Despite waiting till virtually dark the whales stayed in the inner part of the Fjord instead of heading out under the bridge to the open sea which would have given us great views.

My best effort of a Killer Whale in the Fiord

 While watching the whales we saw another pod of White Beaked Dolphins, 5+ White Tailed Sea Eagles, 40+ Purple Sandpipers, 100s of Shags, 100s of  Northern Eider and 100s of White Winged Gulls.

White Beaked Dolphins in the Fiord

Harlequin Ducks

From our base at Grundarfjorour we saw Harlequin Ducks each day, unfortunately they were only reasonably close in the early morning, as it did not get light till 09.00 photographing them was problematical with ISO and very slow shutter speeds. We also saw there White Billed, Great Northern and Red Throated Divers, Red Breasted Mergansers, Goosanders, White Tailed Eagles, Northern Eiders, Shags, Long-tailed Ducks, a flock of several hundred Snow Buntings and 100s of White Winged Gulls.

We also found what we at first thought was a King Eider which got us very excited. On closer inspection the shoulders should be black and the bill is not quite right. It is an Eider/King Eider hybrid!   

On our last day we visited Geysir where Strokkur performed about every 8 minutes.

Strokkur Geyser

Photo Bombed!!!

 Many of the lakes held Whooper Swans

On our way back to Reykjavic we caught up with several Barrow's Goldeneye and a an American White Winged Scoter and more Long-tailed Ducks, all of which were to distant for any worth while images.

 Also on our last day we visited the Poll Garden Centre, where an American vagrant a Lincoln's Sparrow has taken up residence, which I believe is a first record for the Western Palearctic. While at the garden centre we saw a Common Crossbill (an Icelandic rarity) a Wren, a Goldcrest, a Short Eared Owl, Redwings, Blackbirds, Sbnow Buntings, Icelandic Redpolls and the seemingly ever present Ravens which were decidedly camera shy. 

 Lincoln's Sparrow

Tree dwelling Snow Buntings

 A frozen landscape!

The stunning view of 100s of White Winged Gulls from the harbour wall at Sneafellsbear.

Hopefully the Gull Blog tomorrow!!!

Back at Dungeness!

Keeping the Emu company.

A Dunge tick!!!!!!!

 Driving down to the ARC this morning the Glossy Ibis was showing well with the Emu just south of Cockles Bridge. On the opposite side of the road a Great White Egret and Little Egret feeding in the fields. On the New Diggings the 2 Black Throated Divers still in situ. The 1w Glaucous Gull was still by the fishing boats per DB.

Still on The New Diggings

Walking from the ARC car park to the Viewing ramp at Hookers, plenty of Tree Sparrows by Boulderwall Farm and another Great White Egret in the fields, with a few Curlew and the usual Greylags and Canada Geese. Marsh Harriers were much in evidence but the Penduline Tits were a no show while I was at the ramp. Back at the ARC 2 Smew could be seen with 2+ Goldeneye and the usual diving and dabbling ducks, 2 Common Buzzards and 2 Marsh Harriers were over the Tower Pits. Hopefully will soon get get some of the Iceland stuff on, am still but sorting out the images. 

Jack Snipe

Guessing that Dungeness would be very busy today, I opted for parking up at the ARC and walking out past the Water Tower towards the mirrors and back to the airport pools and reed beds. Highlight was flushing a Jack Snipe, but I also flushed 3 Common Snipe and a Bittern. Marsh Harriers were much in evidence, 2 Little Egrets and a Great White Egret. On the way back a Red Crested Pochard flew over with 6 Tufted Duck. By the pines 5 Chiffchaffs but not the Siberian. No more posts for a few days as I'm off to Iceland tomorrow.

Camber Beach in the sunshine!

At Scotney this morning 44 Greater Whitefronted Geese  on the new pit viewable from Scotney Farm Cottage, the Black-necked Grebe was on the main pit with a handful of Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Pochard. At Camber no sign of the Snow Buntings but a very pleasant walk along the beach in glorious sunshine.

At the ARC near the pines the Siberian Chiffchaff was being difficult, after just over an hour I gave up and went to the beach.  

 Numerous Gulls feeding along the tide line and off shore including the 1w Glaucous Gull which made a few flybys, strangely I saw no Little Gulls there this afternoon, there were a few Auks and 2 Red-throated Divers off shore.

Gulls Again!

What with domestic stuff and the rubbish weather this morning I didn't get to the beach until c14.00. Watching from the point in the comfort of the car a few Auks, Gannets and Kittiwakes were tooing and froing among 1,000s of Gulls off shore.

When the sun came out I moved to the fishing boats along with DW where we carried on with the Gull watching. Still no passage at sea and no sign of that Gull, but up to 4 Little Gulls were just asking to photographed feeding along the waters edge. While we doing that the 1w Glaucous Gull appeared giving brilliant views in the glorious sunshine. 

Chiffchaffs!

Again very quiet at the fishing boats this morning just a few Auks tooing and froing and a few Kittiwakes patrolling the strand line. The main attraction was the 100s of Great Crested Grebes on view on the flat calm sea.

At the south end of the causeway a Great White Egret, a Little Egret and 2 red head Smew. On the New Diggings the 2 Black-throated Divers were showing well from the causeway.

 Parking at the ARC and strolling to the viewing ramp, 10+ Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall and another Great White Egret out the fields north of the track, a flock of c60 Golden plover flew over. Arriving at the viewing ramp CT and BH were already there watching a Bearded Tit. No sign of the Penduline Tits while I was there (They showed later per Tony and Brenda) a Bittern gave a brief flight view and a couple of Marsh Harriers quartered the reed bed. A look at Scotney with The Joker saw the Long staying Long-tailed Duck and the Black-necked Grebe but little else of note, we also drove around Galloways and Dengemarsh but saw little there.

 Siberian Chiffchaff 

Back at the ARC I wandered up to The Pines where 4 Chiffchaffs could be seen including one which looked to be a Siberian Chiffchaff. Because I could only see a silhouettes I went home for lunch and returned a couple of hours later when the sun had gone round, this time I was able to see the bird well and hear it call and grab some record images, but could not read the ring. 

That Gull!!!

No post last night as I spent most the night at Kent and Canterbury Hospital. I was suffering with severe toothache and that was the nearest emergency dentist. As the dentist prodded and scraped the offending molar, I just had to remark to him, "Gosh that smarts a bit " as he proceeded to scrape me off the ceiling. Anyway that's why no post last night!

 The gull experts seemed of the opinion that the above bird is a Lesser Black Backed Gull. I am definitely not an expert, but I would have thought that the obvious pale tips to the primaries would rule out LBBG. All comments welcome.

 While watching That Gull a Hare came bounding across the beach, earlier apart from a few Auks off shore the only other thing of note from the fishing boats was the 1w Glaucous Gull dropping onto the beach in front of me.

Razorbill Demise!

Once again the sea was very quiet this morning with the only bird of note seen being the 1w Glaucous Gull in the roost behind the fish hut. 

No photographic opportunities with the 1w Glaucous Gull today, this one was taken on 30/01/2014

 At the ARC 3 Great White Egrets, 3 red head Smew, 5 Goldeneye, a Water Rail was squealing and a Chiffchaff by the hide were the highlights.
At Scotney the Long-tailed Duck still insitu and 2 Egyptian Geese.

46 Greater White-fronted Geese heading for Sussex

 On the reserve the 2 Penduline Tits were showing from the ramp but very distant and hardly worth the effort, 46 Greater White-fronted Geese made a brief stop at Dengemarsh before flying off towards Sussex, a Bittern flew over Hookers where 3 Marsh Harriers were putting on a show and several Bearded Tits were pinging in the reed bed.

As views were distant here is one I took on Saturday. The female.

Razorbill plucked from the surf by a Great Black Backed Gull.

 This afternoon at the fishing boats a Razorbill that was obviously sickly and floundering in the surf, was quickly put out of its misery by marauding Great Black Backed Gulls.

North Thames Herring Gull RX3.T by the concrete road this afternoon.

Penduline Tits!

Driving past the south end of the ARC this morning after clearing the garden of last nights storm damage, 3 Great White Egrets and a Little Egret were sheltering behind the bushes. DW was at the fishing boats when I arrived and had only seen a few Fulmars and a couple of Little Gulls of note. A few more Fulmars and another Little Gull moved west, the 1w Glaucous Gull appeared among the Gull melee then flew into the roost behind the fish hut.

 With more clearing up to be done I went back home for breakfast. Early afternoon a Call from SB and DB about to 2 Penduline Tits performing in front Hanson hide. A few minutes later I was in the hide snapping the male and female Pendulines, both were sporting rings one a Paris ring. While I was there up to 6 Little Gulls, a red head Smew, 2 Marsh Harriers and the usual wildfowl.

4 of the 6 Little Gulls from Hanson.