I got the following question recently:

"Hi there just wondering..
When is the best time to come over to search for King Eiders among the groups of thousunds of Common Eiders?"

I believe we are actually getting into the best time. The records we have indicate quite clearly that from February through April you are likely to get the best results. When careful scanning the Common Eider flocks in harbours anywhere around Iceland it will often result in a King Eider.

There have been 10 King Eiders found in recent days and one Hybrid Common x King Eider.

Seven adult birds in Thorlakshofn in the south (6 Queens and 1 King), one Drake in Vestmannaeyjar archipelago where one hybrid Common x King Eider was also. One Female was recently in Hafnafjordur(Reykjavik area) and one in Hvalfjordur bay.

If you are lucky enough to see this species, we would be grateful if you could inform us.