Visit your favourite destinations |
A Report from birdtours.co.uk |
Iceland 10-14th July 09,
References:
A: Iceland Trip Report per Steve Lister
B: Edward Rickson Iceland ExPat.
Introduction
Having already identified that Voyages Jules Verne provided a fairly economic way of visiting Iceland as mentioned at Ref A, my wife and I along with John & Val Sanders decided we’d like to visit the island. We had always planned to visit however; it was essential to plan it at a suitable time to see Brunnich’s Guillemot. I contacted Edward Rickson, who although unavailable provided fantastic site information and administrative guidance on how to see the Guillemot – Many Thanks.
Daily Itineraries
Day 1
An evening departure at 2110 from London Heathrow saw us arriving in Iceland at 2250 (1 hour behind), in broad daylight. It took us approximately an hour to get from the Airport at Keflavik to our hotel (Park Hotel) in Reykjavik. We were safely tucked up in bed by half midnight.
Day 2
The tour was not solely for birding purposes so we undertook the tour provided with the holiday to Thingvellir, where we saw Redpolls, 2 Red-necked Phalarope, a couple of Whooper Swan and numerous Redshanks and Redwings. Later at Gulfoss we saw a Northern Wheatear, whilst at the geyser at Geyser we saw a couple of Snipe. Oystercatchers, Golden Plover and Fulmars were fairly common along the road.
Figure 1 - There she blows
Day 3
We hired a car today (City Cars £93.50 for one day), on the advice of Edward Rickson and headed off towards the Snaefellsness peninsula to the North West of Reykjavik. During the journey we added Arctic Skuas (mainly dark phase), Ravens and several Ringed Plover. Arriving at the seabird breeding cliffs just to the West of Aranstapi we soon caught a whiff of the guano and after a little searching located 12 breeding Brunnich's Guillemots with chicks. Common Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Puffins and Greater Black-backed Gulls were also noted here and a light phase Arctic Skuas harassed them.
Figure 2 - Breeding Brunnich's Guillemott West of Arnastapi
Along the peninsula a juvenile Snow Bunting was seen amongst the lava flow and at Rif Harbour numerous Red-necked Phalaropes were seen on a roadside pond with a Black Guillemot and seven Purple Sandpipers being in the harbour. The area was covered with breeding Arctic Terns and a solitary Dunlin put in an appearance.
Figure 3 - Red-necked Phalarope - Rif
During the journey back along the peninsula to Borgarnes we saw several Slavonian Grebes in full breeding regalia, two Red-throated Divers, many Whimbrels and several more Arctic Skuas. In the Harbour four Icelandic race Black-tailed Godwits and circa twenty Dunlins were seen.
Day 4
A whale watching trip from Reykjavik harbour gave us more views of Puffins at Lundey Island along with more Arctic Skuas and our only Herring Gulls of the trip. Later at sea a Great Skua was noted and numerous seabirds were disturbed by a breaching Hump Back Whale. At least six Minke Whales were seen and during the journey back to port a singular Manx Shearwater was noted.
Figure 4 - Fulmar Reykjavic Pelagic
The rest of the day was spent in Reykjavik, sightseeing although a visit to the pond in the centre of the town revealed the presence of three Whooper Swans, a female Scaup and a first summer Iceland Gull. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were very numerous here whilst the odd Black-headed Gull dived in between them.
Figure 6 - 1st Summer Iceland Gull - Reykjavic
Day 5
A 1000 pick up from the hotel and a mid morning visit to the Blue Lagoon brought nothing new and we soon departed Iceland on the 1610 flight, arriving at Heathrow at 2000.
Species List
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Max |
Remarks |
Red-throated Diver |
Gavia Stellata |
2 |
Snaefellsness peninsular – roadside pond |
Slavonian Grebe |
Podiceps auritus |
5 |
Snaefellsness peninsular – roadside ponds |
Fulmar |
Fulmarus glacialis |
50+ |
Pelagic |
Manx Shearwater |
Puffinus puffinus |
1 |
Pelagic |
Gannet |
Morus bassanus |
4 |
Pelagic |
Cormorant |
Phalacrocorax carbo |
3 |
Borgarnes Harbour |
Whooper Swan |
Cygnus cygnus |
4 |
Seen throughout |
Greylag Goose |
Anser anser |
15+ |
In suitable habitat |
Common Teal |
Anas crecca |
2 |
Roadside ponds |
Mallard |
Anas platyrhynchos |
3 |
Seen throughout |
Tufted Duck |
Aythya fuligula |
20+ |
Snaefellsness peninsula |
Scaup |
Aythya marila |
1 |
Female in Reykjavik |
Common Eider |
Somateria mollissima |
5+ |
Small family groups seen throughout |
Oystercatcher |
Haematopus ostralegus |
4 |
Common throughout |
Ringed Plover |
Charadrius hiaticula |
2 |
Snaefellsness peninsula |
Golden Plover |
Pluvialis apricaria |
2 |
1s & 2s throughout |
Purple Sandpiper |
Calidris maritima |
7 |
Rif Harbour |
Dunlin |
Calidris alpina |
20+ |
Borgarnes Harbour |
Common Snipe |
Gallinago gallinago |
2 |
1s & 2s throughout |
Black-tailed Godwit |
Limosa limosa islandicus |
4 |
Borgarnes Harbour and 1s along the roadside |
Whimbrel |
Numenius phaeopus |
7 |
Common throughout |
Redshank |
Tringa totanus |
15 |
Common throughout |
Red-necked Phalarope |
Phalaropus lobatus |
c700 |
Rif roadside pond and 2 at Thingvellir |
Arctic Skua |
Stercorarius parasiticus |
5 |
Pelagic and common along the S peninsula |
Great Skua |
Catharacta skua |
1 |
Pelagic |
Black-headed Gull |
Larus ridibundus |
20 |
Borgarnes Harbour and several throughout |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
Larus fuscus graellsii |
30+ |
Reykjavik numerous around the capital |
Herring Gull |
Larus argentatus argenteus |
2 |
Pelagic |
Iceland Gull |
Larus glaucoides |
1 |
1st Summer at Reykjavik central pond |
Glaucous Gull |
Larus hyperboreus |
40+ |
Common on the Snaefellsness peninsula |
Great Black-backed Gull |
Larus marinus |
30+ |
Common on the Snaefellsness peninsula and during the Pelagic |
Kittiwake |
Rissa tridactyla |
800+ |
Snaefellsness peninsula and Pelagic |
Arctic Tern |
Sterna paradisaea |
1000+ |
Rif Harbour – common breeding species |
Guillemot |
Uria aalge |
30+ |
Snaefellsness peninsula and pelagic |
Brunnich's Guillemot |
Uria lomvia |
12 |
Breeding cliffs west of on the Snaefellsness peninsula |
Razorbill |
Alca torda |
20+ |
In the sea off the breeding cliffs west of on the Snaefellsness peninsula |
Black Guillemot |
Cepphus grylle |
1 |
Rif Harbour |
Puffin |
Fratercula arctica |
800+ |
Lundey Is off Reykjavik and several at the breeding cliffs west of Aranstapi |
Meadow Pipit |
Anthus pratensis |
2 |
1s & 2s throughout |
White Wagtail |
Mortacilla alba alba |
2 |
1s & 2s throughout |
Wren |
Troglodytes troglodytes islandicus |
2 |
at Thingvellir - breeding |
Northern Wheatear |
Oenanthe oenanthe |
8 |
Snaefellsness peninsula and 1s & 2s throughout |
Blackbird |
Turdus merula |
1 |
Male in the botanical gardens Reykjavik |
Redwing |
Turdus iliacus |
12+ |
Common breeding around the S Geysir |
Raven |
Corvus corax |
4 |
Common on the Snaefellsness peninsula |
Starling |
Sturnus vulgaris |
12+ |
Common around the capital |
Lesser Redpoll |
Carduelis flammea |
5 |
Around the old Parliament area at Thingvellir |
Snow Bunting |
Plectrophenax nivalis |
1 |
Juv on the lava flow on the Snaefellsness peninsula |
Summary
With the target bird in the bag the trip was a success. Although Iceland is fairly expensive, with the correct timing and a little preparation and hunting around bargains can be found. An interesting Island with many birding and tourist opportunities and I recommend a visit.
Why not send us a report, or an update to one of your current reports?