When Will The Migratory Birds Arrive?

The arrivals of the migratory birds  are strong signs of the spring. In most peoples mind in Iceland is  the arrival of the Golden Plover and the Arctic Tern related to the spring but many species arrive earlier. One of the earliest or the earliest is the Lesser Black Backed Gull.

Yann Kolbeinsson has documented the arrivals of the migrants since 1998 mostly through a email list of people interested in birds in Iceland.

We can expect the first ones in a few days from now.This list from Yann's homepage show the mean arrivals in the period 1998-2011.

https://notendur.hi.is/yannk/migrants.htm

Mean arrival date    '98-'11	Species
27. February	Lesser Black-backed Gull / Sílamáfur Larus fuscus graellsii
6. March	Whooper Swan / Álft Cygnus cygnus
8. March	Eurasian Oystercatcher / Tjaldur Haematopus ostralegus
8. March	Great Skua / Skúmur Stercorarius skua
15. March	Greylag Goose / Grágæs Anser anser
16. March	Black-headed Gull / Hettumáfur Larus ridibundus
17. March	Eurasian Wigeon / Rauðhöfðaönd Anas penelope
21. March	Redwing / Skógarþröstur Turdus iliacus coburni
22. March	Red-throated Diver / Lómur Gavia stellata
23. March	Mew Gull / Stormmáfur Larus canus
24. March	Eurasian Teal / Urtönd Anas crecca
24. March	European Golden Plover / Heiðlóa Pluvialis apricaria
24. March	Common Redshank / Stelkur Tringa totanus
25. March	Tufted Duck / Skúfönd Aythya fuligula
26. March	Northern Pintail / Grafönd Anas acuta
27. March	Brünnich's Guillemot / Stuttnefja Uria lomvia
28. March	Common Shelduck / Brandönd Tadorna tadorna
31. March	Brent Goose / Margæs Branta bernicla hrota
2. April	Pink-footed Goose / Heiðagæs Anser brachyrhynchus
2. April	White-fronted Goose/ Blesgæs Anser albifrons flavirostris
2. April	Greater Scaup / Duggönd Aythya marila
2. April	Common Snipe / Hrossagaukur Gallinago gallinago faeroeensis
3. April	Atlantic Puffin / Lundi Fratercula arctica
4. April	Horned Grebe / Flórgoði Podiceps auritus
5. April	Gadwall / Gargönd Anas strepera
5. April	White Wagtail / Maríuerla Motacilla alba alba
6. April	Common Ringed Plover / Sandlóa Charadrius hiaticula
6. April	Red Knot / Rauðbrystingur Calidris canutus
6. April	Meadow Pipit / Þúfutittlingur Anthus pratensis
7. April	Black-tailed Godwit / Jaðrakan Limosa limosa islandica
8. April	Common Scoter / Hrafnsönd Melanitta nigra
8. April	Ruddy Turnstone / Tildra Arenaria interpres
10. April	Arctic Skua / Kjói Stercorarius parasiticus
11. April	Barnacle Goose / Helsingi Branta leucopsis
11. April	Short-eared Owl / Brandugla Asio flammeus
13. April	Dunlin / Lóuþræll Calidris alpina
14. April	Northern Shoveler / Skeiðönd Anas clypeata
18. April	Manx Shearwater / Skrofa Puffinus puffinus
18. April	Whimbrel / Spói Numenius phaeopus
18. April	Northern Wheatear / Steindepill Oenanthe oenanthe
22. April	Arctic Tern / Kría Sterna paradisaea
23. April	Sanderling / Sanderla Calidris alba
7. May	Red-necked Phalarope / Óðinshani Phalaropus lobatus
13. May	Leach's Storm-petrel / Sjósvala Oceanodroma leucorhoa
25. May	Red Phalarope / Þórshani Phalaropus fulicarius
?	European Storm-petrel / Stormsvala Hydrobates pelagicus

A interesting and enjoyable time is ahead :)