A splendid Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula was found by Jóhann Óli Hilmarsson on the shore at Eyrarbakki (S-Iceland), on 7 October 2003. Despite bad weather the bird could be seen again later in the day before disappearing. Next day (8 Oct) it was found again at the same site, in excellent weather, where it showed well all day. This bird is a juvenile male. It is part of a small influx of very rare American landbirds in Iceland (Least Flycatcher.. American Robin.. the Oriole.. Cedar Waxwing), and surprisingly no "common" American passerines have been reported (e.g. Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler...).

This is the fourth record of this species in Iceland, the previous being in Nov 1956, Oct 1957 and Oct 1971. Up to and including 1994 there had been 23 records in the Western Palearctic. See more about the occurence in Iceland here. - YK/08.10.2003