Birding in Iceland

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Exotic birds on an

Exotic Island

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The Lake Myvatn Birding Tour

Myvatn birds

This unique area has been described as a strange meeting place of two worlds where you are able to find flora and fauna from both the temperate and arctic zones. The area is also a highly active volcanic area situated on the west edge of the meeting point of the Eurasian- and North American plates. By the end of the day you’ll have traveled by and visited, among other things, a range of pseudo-craters, volcanoes of different sizes, hot springs and new lava fields with lava pillars.

Leave for Iceland on a Sunday evening, start birding Tuesday in Iceland. Explore for four plus days. Return on the following Monday. Or extend either end of this trip to do and see more of Iceland.

For Americans we include an extra day before birding to give you a chance to explore Reykjavik and its surroundings and to make up for a brief flight that has taken away 4 or 5 hours of your night, and some sleep.

Here is a day by day itinerary:

Sunday. Day 0
Travelers from North America leave for Iceland on an overnight flight with an early morning arrival at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.

Monday, Day 1
Welcome to Iceland!
After an early arrival in Iceland, you’ll hop on the Flybus shuttle that will take you from the airport to your hotel in Reykjavik. Then you’ll have the day to rest and explore Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly capital. We’ll provide lots of ideas for what to see and places to eat-meals are on your own today.

Tuesday Day 2:
Keflavik - Reykjanes Peninsula - Blue Lagoon - Reykjavik
You’ll be picked up at your hotel.
You’ll start the day by exploring the Reykjanes Peninsula. Reykjanes Peninsula is an exciting area on the margin of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, directly located on the Mid-Atlantic ridge. It’s a mysterious and breathtaking area of volcanic rock, lava, fissures and gorges.

Along the shore ocean waves crash onto the coast. You’ll have a look at a few wetlands on the Reykjanes peninsula, which should yield the first Red-necked Phalaropes of the trip. Other migrants, such as the Ringed Plover, European Golden Plover and drumming Common Snipe, will be conspicuous, while the shoreline will hold some visiting Red Knot and Sanderling. Dunlin and Purple Sandpiper will also be around and all will, of course, be in splendid summer plumage. Other species, such as Harlequin Duck, Great Northern Diver, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Black-legged Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, Razorbill, Redwing, Meadow Pipit and many more should also be seen during the day in the spectacular moonlike landscape. You’ll end your tour around Reykjanes Peninsula by going for a swim and relaxing at the Blue Lagoon.
In the early afternoon you’ll be taken to Reykjavik where you stay for the night.

Wednesday, Day 3.
Reykjavik – Akureyri - Lake Myvatn
You’ll start the second day with a domestic flight to the northern part of Iceland - the town of Akureyri. Akureyri is one of the prettiest towns in Iceland, known as the “Capital of the north”. From Akureyri you’ll be taken towards your destination, Lake Myvatn.

Lake Myvatn is around 23 square miles in size (37km2), making it Iceland’s second largest natural lake. It has been described as a strange meeting place of two worlds where you are able to find flora and fauna from both the temperate and arctic zones. The area is also highly volcanically active, situated on the west edge of the meeting point of the Eurasian- and North American tectonic plates.

During the day you will be exploring, among other things, a range of pseudo-craters, volcanoes of different sizes, hot springs and recent lava fields with lava pillars. You’ll see birds in the thousands, including species such as Great Northern Diver (Common Loon), Horned Grebe (Slavonian Grebe), Barrow’s Goldeneye, Harlequin duck, Long-tailed Duck, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Greater Scaup and Tufted Duck. Species such as Red-necked Phalarope, Redwings, Common Snipe and Redshank will also be abundant all around you.
Lake Myvatn area is the only place in Europe where the Barrow’s Goldeneye breeds and Iceland is also the only country in Europe where Harlequin Duck and Great Northern Divers breed.

Thursday, Day 4.
Lake Myvatn – Husavik Whale watching – Akureyri – Reykjavik City
You spend the morning observing birds at Lake Myvatn. You’ll visit Dimmuborgir, which has been described as stunningly beautiful but at the same time very eerie. It’s a lava landscape with lava pillars up to 65 feet high (20m).

After having lunch you’ll head north to the small town of Husavik, where you embark on a whale watching trip on Skjalfandi bay. It is arguably the best area in Iceland to watch whales. An astonishing number of cetacean species have been recorded there - 12 species in total.

Cetaceans you may see include Minke Whales, which are the most common species in the bay, White-beaked Dolphin, Humpback Whale and Porpoise. Orca (Killer Whale) and the magnificent Blue Whale have also been seen regularly in the area in recent years.
From Husavik you’ll be taken back on a nice drive back to Akureyri for a return flight to Reykjavik where you’ll stay overnight.

Friday, Day 5:
Reykjavik – Keflavik Airport
You’ll be taken to the airport. Depending on when your departure is you might have some free time in the morning to look around the capital before heading to the airport. You’ll leave the hotel shortly after lunch and if time allows you can visit some interesting areas before reaching Keflavik airport at around 2:00pm.

Price for May departure is $3248 per person, double occupancy. Single accommodations is $3558

Price for June, July & August departure is $3358 per person, double occupancy. Single accommodations is $3668

Travel dates: Leave US Sunday, return to US Friday. Tour starts on Tuesday and runs from May 11th - August 3rd.

Price includes round trip airfare, including fuel surcharge and US departure taxes from Boston, New York, or Minneapolis. Add $110 per person from Seattle. (ask for prices from Toronto, Halifax and Europe). The price also includes all airport transfers,and transportation, a night before the tour in a Reykjavik hotel with breakfast and all other accommodations. During the 4 days of the birding tour accommodations, all meals except dinners when in Reykjavik, all transportation and expert guiding are included. Not included meals on arrival day and during the tour, there’s no dinners while in Reykjavik

Download a PDF of this tours itinerary

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The website www.IcelandAdventure.com lists many other tours, activities and things to do in Iceland,descriptive text and ideas. with a lot of photos and descriptions

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