Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1955, Page 29

FUGLALÍF Á SELTJARNARNESI
23
sézt í júní og júlí og sjaldan í ágúst og september. Algengastur er
hann frá nóvember fram í apríl. Um háveturinn, þegar snjór er,
skipta þeir stundum þúsundum. Oftast urpu 1 eða 2 pör vestast i Suð-
urnesi, en siðan 1952 hefur hann ekki orpið þar sem fyrr segir. Höf-
um aðeins athugað 1 lireiður, sem fannst 24. maí 1952. 1 hreiðrinu
voru 5 stropuð egg, en það var eyðilagt skömmu síðar.
SUMMART
The Bird Life of Seltjarnarnes, SW. Iceland
by Agnar Ingólfsson and Arnthór Gardarsson.
Drawings by Arnthór Gardarsson.
This paper deals with the bird life on the outer part of the small peninsula Sel-
tjarnarnes in the southeastern corner of Faxa Bay in SW.Iceland. The study area
is surrounded by the sea on all sides except to the east where the city boundaries
of Reykjavik form its limits (marked hy a bold, broken line on the map). The size
of the area, which is lowlying and exposed, is about 2 km2, about half of which is
cultivated land (hay meadows). Trees and shruhs are not found in this area except
in a few protected gardens. The area forms a separate parish (Seltjarnarneshreppur)
inhabited by about 900 persons. The bird life of the area was studied intensively
for 3 years (1952—1954). A complete list is given of all the species observed within
the area as well as on the sea immediately bordering it. Information is supplied
about the status of the different species and about their numerical fluctuations
throughout the year. The total number of species observed was 64, of which 14
were found breeding. The breeding species are the following: Anas platyrhynchos
(4—5), Somateria mollissima (25), Mergus serrator (1—2), Haematopus ostralegus
(3—4), Charadrius hiaticula (25), Tringa totanus (5—6), Capella gallinago (5),-
Calidris alpina (3—5), Larus ridibundus (20), Sterna paradisaea (950), Oenanthe
oenanthe (7—8), Anthus pratensis (10), Motacilla alba (5), Plectrophenax nivalis
(1—2). The numbers in brackets indicate the approximate number of breeding
pairs. For most of the breeding species information is supplied about habitat selec-
tion, nesting habits, etc. In spring and autumn the tip of the peninsula (Sudurnes)
and the adjoining sand bars (Bakkagrandi and ICotagrandi) constitute a favourite
haunt of migrating waders such as Calidris canutus, Arenaria interpres, Calidris
alpina, Tringa totanus, and Charadrius apricarius. A few Curlews (Numenius ar-
quata) are regular winter visitors in the area. One of the species recorded in the list
is new to Iceland, viz. the Blue Goose (Anser caerulescens caerulescens). This bird
was obtained and has been presented to the Museum of Natural History, Reykjavík.