Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1976, Page 105

time in the area and tliey are only oc-
casionally seen in autumn.
Three Arctic geese occur on passage.
The White-fronted Goose (subsp.
flavirostris) arrives about the same time as
Pinkfeet, from April 18—28, and as a
rule they do not break their westward
migration ancl neither do they occur as
regularly as Greylags. On April 21 and
22 1965 about 1000 Whitefronts migrated
in small flocks (av. flock size 30) west-
ward along the coast. They have not been
observed in autumn. Barnacle Geese
migrate regularly througli the area in
spring, mainly in the last tliird of April
but occasionally until May 10. They rare-
ly stop in spring except under special
weather conditions. Thus during a cold
spell on May 1, 1973 about 1000 Barn-
acles were counted on hayfields in the
area. But in autumn large nuntbers of
Barnacles stop for about a month in the
area (i'roni September 10-20 until October
20 or even later) when they feed to some
extent on berries (Empetrum nigrum agg.
and Vaccinium uliginosum). Brent
Geese (subsp. hrota) never stop in the
area and they have never been seen in
autumn. However, in spring, from April
13—28, scattered flocks of Brents are oc-
casionally encountered on passage, fol-
lowing the sliore westward.
Duck habitats are limited in the Ör-
aefi. Only Mallard ancl Teal nest re-
gularly and in some numbers, the sedent-
ary Mallard being the more common.
The Teal is migratory, although a few
may stay through the winter. They usu-
ally arrive in spring from April 16—20.
Eiders are common at sea throughout
the winter, spring and autumn. They
nesL in small numbers among moraines
on the Breidamerkursandur, especially at
the Jökulsá. Other ducks (Gadwall, Wig-
eon, Pintail, Shoveler, Scaup, Tufted
Duck, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Long-tailed
Duck, Common Scoter, Harlequin, Red-
breasted Merganser, and Goosander) are
only casual visitors, although Scaup,
Red-breasted Merganser and
Goosander are supposed to have bred,
each only once.
White-tailed Eagles nested on
the rock-pinnacle Loddudrangur at Fag-
urhólsmýri up to about 1860 when one
of the pair was shot ancl the other soon
disappeared. Since 1930 single eagles have
been seen 5—6 times.
G y r f a 1 c o n and M e r 1 i n botli nest,
the Merlin annually, but the Gyríalcon
perhaps only sporadically. Both nest on
cliffs or in river gorges, but a Merlin’s
nest has once been found on a patch of
creeping shrubs on a hill slope. Tlie Gyr-
falcon is sedentary wliile the Merlin is
migratory although a few Merlins may
stay through the winter. In spring Mer-
lins may start arriving on April 10 but
niost arrive about April 20 or later. The
following food remains were found at a
Gyrfalcon eyrie in 1958: 26 Puffins, 23
Common Guillemots (and Razorbills?), 4
Arctic Skuas, 4 Whimbrels, 2 Mallards
(one pull.), 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Kittiwakes,
1 Eider (pull.), 1 Snow Bunting (fledg-
ling). This year the Ptarmigan popula-
tion crashed and lience the lack of Ptar-
migan remains.
The R o c k P t a r m i g a n is a fairly
common breeding bird, especially where
bircli and willows grow profusely. As in
otlier parts of Iceland, the Ptarmigan po-
pulation is subject to cyclic population
changes, reacliing a peak about the
middlc of each clecade.
The W a t e r R a i 1 is a very rare
breeding bird. Only two nests have been
found (1948 ancl 1963), in a sedge marsh
at Fagurhólsmýri.
Six species of waders are widespread
and fairly common: Ringed l’lover,
Golden Plover, Snipe, Wliim-
bre 1, D un 1 in and Red-necked
Phalarope. They all nest in the low-
land zone but the Golden Plover and
some Whimbrels also nest in the lower
foothills. The above 6 species are all
migratory, although a few snipes may
winter at open springs or brooks. The
main haunt of the Ringed Plover is on
the Breidamerkursandur, from Jökulsá to
Hnappavellir.
The Oystercatcher was a scarce
breeding bird up to about 1940, but from
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