Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1986, Page 58

of the records, which are spread
throughout the country. Many of the
autumn birds have survived the winter
under favourable conditions.
4. Porphyrula martinica. A very rare
Nearctic guest, only two records (one
from 1983) from the southwest and
west, one from autumn (adult) and one
from spring (probably one year old).
5. Fulica atra. This is the most common
species with approximately 140
records. It has been found in all sea-
sons, but like Gallinula chloropus most
records are from November-Decem-
ber (Fig. 7). The species has been
found all over the country, most of the
records are from the southwest, but
also abundant in the northeast (Fig. 8),
and survives commonly during the win-
ter. Three breeding attempts are
known. The first was in 1889 at Víkinga-
vatn, NE Iceland. Seven eggs were
collected and one bird shot (record no.
12). The second was at Hvítárvellir, W
Iceland, in 1943. Only one bird was
ever seen and six fertile eggs never
hatched (no. 63). The third was in 1954
at Lake Mývatn, NE Iceland (no. 77).
Most of the information on this breed-
ing attempt is lost. One egg was col-
lected, which probably was the only egg
laid. There is also the possibility that
eggs may have hatched before the
single egg was collected. Whether a
pair or just a single bird was responsi-
ble for the nest was not confirmed.
There probably was a second breeding
attempt in a new place 2.5 km away
from the first. A bird was observed
with young, but it was not certain that
the young belonged to this species. This
breeding attempt remains a mystery.
6. Fulica americana. Very rare vagrant
from the Nearctic, only two records,
one from autumn in W Iceland (found
freshly dead), and the other from late
winter in SE Iceland (found long dead).
7. Grus grus. There are ten records from
all over the country, half of which are
from 1983. The number of birds is
uncertain, as some of the individuals
probably were sighted on more than
one occasion. These are all spring and
summer records.
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