Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1969, Qupperneq 22

Iti
NÁT TÚRUFRÆÐINGURIN N
S U M M A R Y
Suspected breeding of the Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) in Iceland
by Arnthor Gnrclarsson
Museum oí Natural History, Reykjavik.
The Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) has not previously been recorded
in Iceland. Four occurrences are reported in this paper:
(1) Adult íemale collected on 11 July 1959 in Framengjar south oí Lake
Mývatn, N.-Iceland.
(2) Adult iemale iirst seen on 30 June and collected on I July 1901 near
Álftagerdi, on the southern shore of Mývatn, i.e. 4 km lrom the first
locality.
(3) One seen on 13 June 1963 near Eidshús, Miklaholtshreppur, W.-Ice-
land.
(4) One seen on 2 July 1963 in Framengjar, about 1 km from thc place
where the first bird was coliected.
Framengjar is the name of an extensive area of bogs and marshes soutli of
Lake Mývatn. Most of the area is periodically flooded by the river Kráká.
The area supports a high density of waders (especially Tringa totanus, Calidris
alpina and Phalaropus lobatus), surface-feeding ducks (Anas spp.), as well as
other birds. Of tlie tliree records of Tringa glareola from this area two, (1)
and (4), are from the southern part of the marshes, characterized by a mosaic
of willow scrub (Salix phylicifolia) and marshes (mainly Carex spp.). The third
bird (2) was taken in a hayfield just north of the limit of Framengjar. The two
specimens taken are preservecl in the Museum of Natural History, Reykjavík.
Tlie circumstances of the occurrences reported liere indicate that this species
is of more than just accidental status in Iceland. Wliile direct evidence is
lacking, the following facts point to tlie existence of a small breeding popula-
tion in the country: (1) The possibility of the birds being passage migrants
l'rom Scandinavia seems unlikely because of the dates of the records. (2) The
repeated occurrences in the same inland locality, Framengjar, witli only one
record from another part of Iceland. (3) The two birds collccted were both
adult females, the dates on which tliey were taken are compatible with the
assumption that these birds had nested in the area. The bird seen on 2 July
1963 was found by an organized search of tlie area considered most likely to
harbour Wood Sandpipers. It was seen lo return three times to the same spot
during the short period of observation. This behaviour was taken as an in-
dication that the bird hacl young in the vicinity. (4) It seems relevant here
that Tringa glareola has bred in Scotland since 1959 (e.g. Downhill and Pennia
1963, Thom 1966).