Our Beautiful World

The volcano island: Surtsey, Iceland 


Bird migration on Surtsey II


© Thorleifur Einarsson


Migration 1969
In 1969 and 1970 ornithological work on Surtsey was continued, especially during
the spring migration period. During 1969 observers stayed on the island from April 11 to
May 15 and again from September 11 to September 18, so let us have a look at what
happened in 1969, 6 years after the island came to live.


ardeola ralloides
©? http://www.geocities.com/ivn_vogels_dwaalgasten/Ralreiger_Ardeola-ralloides.html

A new bird to Iceland, the Squacco Heron (ardeola ralloides) was collected amongst
167 birds collected during the spring and 6 in the autumn. According to the web-site
found at http://www.birdguides.com that bird
certainly had nothing to do on Surtsey, but anyhow - it was there....


Several drift migrants were seen in spring 1969, such as Redwing (Turdus iliacus),
European Robin
(erithacus rubecula), Field Fare (Turdus pilaris),
Ring Ouzel
(Turdus torquatus), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos),
Sky Lark
(Alauda arvensis), Jackdaw (Corvus monedula),
Bramblin (Fringilla montifringilla),
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
(in autumn only)
and Swallow (Hirundo rustica).

With a few exceptions, all pictures are collected from the great bird-site
'Birds in Denmark' at :
http://www.birds-of-denmark.dk/

The arrival of Icelandic passerines such as the Wheatear, the Meadow Pipit, and the
White Wagtail was somewhat delayed, probably due to unfavourable weather conditions
in the British Isles, which may have caused a delayed departure.

The ravens that stayed on the island also last year, are still around.

Migration 1970
One month of study was carried out from April 18 to May 12. In the autumn two highly
skilled and experienced bird watchers were on the island.


cepphus grylle

The most important ornithological event happening on Surtsey in 1970 was the nesting
of the first two species on the island: the Fulmar (fulmaarus glacialis),
and the Black Guillemot (cepphus grylle).

The nest of the Black Guillemot was found on July 27 when it contained two half-grown
young. The nest was in a crevice 7 m above sea level in 13 m high cliffs on the south-west
side of the island. The young left the nest about August 20.

The nest of the Fulmar was found on August 19 on a ledge 10 m above sea level in 25 m
high cliffs on the west side of the island. One young bird left the nest on September 4.
That part of the cliffs where the nest was found has been occupied by Fulmars for a
number of years.


  
 
  

Birds collected in 1970 in addition to those collected in 1969 were Corncrake (Crex crex), Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima),
Sanderling
(Crocethia alba), Red Necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus),
Puffin (Fratercula arctica), Willow Warbler (Oenanthe oenanthe)
and a male Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus).


Another report from 1968 is given here

Text mainly extracted from reports made by
Finnur Gudmundsson,
Museum of Natual History, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Surtsey Research Report No. XI

Here you can find more about Surtsey:

 Birds
 Plants
 Insects
 Sealife
 Fossils on Surtsey
 How life developed
 The eruption
 Picture-review

See the last report from Surtsey Research - 2009. Click here

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