Iceland 2019 Day 1-2
After a lot of time and planning the day had come. After an over night stay at the Hilton Gatwick ( probably the best hotel we were going to stay in all week) we were on our Easyjet flight to Keflavik International Airport. I was being joined by my Uncle Adrian on this trip who has a passion for nest recording so this would be a good fit. He finds the birds and hopefully I photography them. The flight landed at 8.45am and we had soon picked up our Hire Car. We hired a Mazda 3 from Thrifty which appeared to be brand new. Wasn't long before we were on the road and off to our first stop Sandgeroi a small town about 8km from the airport. Grey Phalarope had been seen here on migration in years gone by so was worth a look. Driving into the town we saw the first of many Golden Plovers which were just happily feeding on peoples freshly cut lawns. Sandgeroi has a couple of ponds on the outskirts of town this would be our first stop.
Our hire car at Sandgeroi
The ponds were stacked with birds mainly Gulls, Tuffed Ducks, Greylag Geese and our first sightings of Red-necked Phalaropes (Life Tick) these tiny waders were present all over the Island. The sun was already pretty high in the sky by now and photography opportunities were limited. A Phalarope took my eye close to the shore, so close I couldn't focus on it. A sign of things to come. We had a walk past the ponds and onto the surrounding area. A couple of Redshanks were going nuts and following us along the road, clearly had chicks nearby. As we crossed the area we flushed a Greylag Goose we both shat ourselves as it flew up, loudly calling!! This must of been sat on a nest. It didn't take to long to find our first nest of the trip.
Greylag Goose - Sandgeroi, Iceland, June 2019
Greylag Goose, Sandgeroi, Iceland, June 2019
It was nice to see some genuine wild Greylag Geese, unlike the feral population we have throughout much of England. Wasn't to long before our 2nd nest of the trip was located. A Pair of Oystercatchers were easy to see amongst the moss covered rocks. They moved off as we approached to reveal 2 eggs. (All nest pictures were taken using my Iphone Camera and once photographed were left alone all birds were witnessed to return to their nests)
Oystercatcher, Sandgeroi, Iceland, June 2019
From the car we had been watching a couple of Whimbrels walking around and hoped they maybe nesting nearby as we walked across the top of a small ridge a bird came into view and it sulked off in away that sugguested it had a nest nearby. Adrian sat out of the way and attempted to watch the bird back to its nest. I carried on across the rocky ground to see what else I could see. It wasn't long before I was watching a pair of Whimbrel and Golden Plover acting very strange, both clearly had a nest nearby. Adrian soon came back clearly happy and had found his first ever Whimbrel nest. Whimbrels are rare nesters in the UK and therefore Schedule 1. In Iceland they are very common and are breeding in numerous habits across the Island. We both sat up on some rocks and watched one of the birds I had been watching walk straight back to its nest. 2 Sets of 4 Whimberl's nests and it wasn't even midday. The Golden Plover weren't looked for and we left the area.
Whimbrel, Sandgeroi, Iceland, June 2019
Whimbrel, Sandgeroi, Iceland, June 2019
Whimbrel, Sandgeroi, Iceland, June 2019
Habit around Sandgeroi
Not a bad start to our first day in Iceland. Also in the area were a couple of pairs of Ringed Plover, and Numerous Meadow Pipits these birds are literailly everywhere in Iceland.
We hadn't booked any accommodation before we left as we planned to travel around the Island and seek out the good weather. Although we had a list of areas we wanted to visit we had no set itinerary. The weather looked pretty bad around Lake Myvatn all week, but it was a place we wanted to visit mainly for the Barrows Goldeneye and Harlequin Duck. These are two ducks that are only found in Europe on Iceland. With a rough plan to maybe head this way midweek we set off to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Here the weather looked good for the next few days. We booked to stay at the Laekjarkot Rooms and cottages in Borgarnes for the next 2 nights a good base to check out the local area. After a pretty slow afternoon and not much in the way of photography opportunities we drove into Borgarnes for some tea. After Tea we headed out on the 54 to check out some of the side roads. Side roads in Iceland are unlike our roads as they are basic gravel roads. We took the 533 which was devoid of life for a large part. Eventually we found some Redshanks and a Couple of the Icelandic subspecies of the Black-tailed Godwit. The Redshanks posed beautiful on a Post and so begun my birds on a post Photography, something I had read a lot of birds do in Iceland.
Redshank, Nr Borgarnes, Iceland, June 2019
it was time for some sleep. Sleeping in Iceland is pretty difficult as it doesn't really get dark.
Day 2
I was up and out early to check out the surrounding areas I walked from our room and took a local Bridleway there were Redwings signing from pretty much every tree. We hadn't seen to many Redwings yet so was nice to just sit and listen to these thrushes that we are all very familiar with during the winter months.
Redwing, Borgarnes, Iceland 2019
The scenery was stunning and it was a clear and crisp morning, the wind had picked up since yesterday making it pretty cold. It didn't take long to warm up though crossing through the pine woodland and up an across the numerous rocky outcrops. I was looking for Ptarmigan and Golden Plover to try and photograph. I heard plenty of Golden Plover around the area & hoped from some good chances as this was a bird that i didn't really have any decent photos of.
Borgarnes
I managed to find and photograph my first Ptarmigan of the trip but drew a blank on the Golden Plover. I decided to head back to our digs to meet up with Adrian. En route back I cut through the trees looking for some Redwings nest I found 3 empty ones 1 of which was clearly from last year. Whilst checking one I flushed a snipe from the grass I knew there must be a nest nearby so had a little scout around. Didn't take to long to find my first ever Snipe nest. It was difficult to see in the long grass as seen in the 2nd picture.
Snipe, Borgarnes, Iceland June 2019
Snipe, Borgarnes, Iceland June 2019
Our route today would see us take the 54 towards the Snaefellsnes National Park. We hoped to see Great Northern Divers, Ptarmigan, Skuas and lots of Waders. It was a good journey to the edge of the national park when we found a large lake that had a pair of Whooper Swans nesting on. We stopped to have a closer look at this point we flushed a Great Northern Diver off the bank. It must of been nesting nearby I took cover in the under growth to take some pictures of this magnificent bird they seem a lot bigger up close. I have seen plenty of these divers in winter plumage but never in summer plumage. It was an absolute beauty. We soon left after a quick check on the Whooper swans one bird was sat on the bank and had a couple of cygnets nearby we didn't disturb them and left them alone. There was a small lake by the side of the large one probably the size of a Tennis court it had a Pair of Red-throated Divers on these were soon off as we approached. It was my first glimpse of Red-throated Divers in breeding Plumage. I heard they loved these small lakes but didn't believe it until i saw them floating around on this tiny piece of water.
Great Northern Diver, Iceland, June 2019
Great Northern Diver, Iceland, June 2019
Great Northern Diver, Iceland, June 2019
Great Northern Diver, Iceland, June 2019
Great Northern Diver, Iceland, June 2019
Great Northern Diver, Snaefellsnes, Iceland June 2019
There was another large lake on the other side of the road and we promised to check this out if we had time on our return to our Hotel in Borganes. We carried on along the 54 stopping at a church near the coast we walked through the rocky dunes to the sound of drumming Snipe and Signing Redwing. Sounds we would hear all the time throughout of trip. I swear I could hear drumming Snipe in my Sleep.
Icelandic Church, Snaefellsnes, June 2019
We saw our first Glaucous Gull, Common Scoters and Eider Ducks from the beach. I headed back to the Church as I has seen a few tame Redwings feeding in the Graveyard. I wasn't getting the results I wanted so was pretty happy when Adrian called me across to a pair he had found nesting in a rocky outcrop. The pair were pretty tame and clearly use to people in this tourist hotspot. I fired off a few shots that I wouldn't better over the week.
Redwing nest site, Snaefellsnes, Iceland, June 2019
Redwing nest, Snaefellsnes, Iceland, June 2019
Redwing, Snaefellsnes, Iceland, June 2019 (uncropped)
Redwing, Snefellsnes, Iceland, June 2019
We then travelled on further down the 54 and headed towards Arnarstapi and Hellnar we got out at a infamous site near the home of Bjorn Petursson or Axlar-Bjorn as he was later known as. He was Iceland most notorious serial killer and as allaged to have killed between 9 and 18 people. He was executed in 1596 for his crimes. Dispite this grosome story the area around here was pretty productive. I headed up the hill towards a former hot spring feed lake and Adrian headed down the hill. I didn't have much luck apart from a few Wimbrels i didn't see to much the lake and views of Snaefellsnes were pretty impressive. There was so pretty impressive flowers growing on the lava as I walked up.
Views of Snaefellnes
I returned down the hill to check out the lower area. Adrian was out of sight so I walked across the bare ground to see what I could find ,I could hear a pair of Golden Plovers so pushed on to investigate. As I began to walk across an Arctic Skua started to following me, this was joined by a 2nd bird. This could only mean one thing a nest must be nearby. I sat down to photography the Skua that had landed in front of me the other disappeared out of sight. I spent a couple of minutes slowly approaching the bird and got some shots, some of which I was fairly happy with. Adrian soon joined me and as he approached the 2nd bird appeared again.
Arctic Skua - Snaefellsnes, June 2019
Arctic Skua - Snaefellsnes, June 2019
Arctic Skua - Snaefellsnes, June 2019
Arctic Skua - Snaefellsnes, June 2019
Arctic Skua - Snaefellsnes, June 2019
We watched the 2nd bird and this soon returned to an area about 100meters away from us. As we approached it took off and started to mob the both of us. Adrian spotted just in front of us was its nest contining 2 eggs. Our first Arctic Skua of the trip.
Arctic Skua nest, Snaefellsnes, June 2019
Arctic Skua nest, Snaefellsnes, June 2019
We spilt again I dececided to stay on the lower part and spend some time with a Whimbrel that was feeding nearby and Adrian choose to check out the pair I had seen further up the Hill. He was pretty successful finding the Whimbrel nest and our first Meadow Pipits of the trip. I was fairly successful with the Whimbrel
Whimbrel, Hellnar, Iceland, June 2019
Whimbrel, Hellnar, Iceland, June 2019
Meadow Pipit nest site, Snafellsnes, June 2019
Meadow Pipit nest, Snafellsnes, June 2019
Whimbrel nest, Snaefellsnes, June 2019
We tired a few other areas further round the snaefellsnes peninsula throughout the afternoon, with not much luck. We came across an area that held a lot of Whooper Swans, Geese and Gulls. This is where we found our first Pink-footed Geese and a Single Canada Goose. Canada Geese are a rare bird in Iceland. At this point we turned and headed for our base back in Borganes. The plan was to stop at the Diver site again to try and photograph the Red-throated Divers. They were both there again and a slow approach to the shore line aloud me to get down to the water level. Sadly I wasn't getting the shots i wanted so I left them in peace and crossed the road to were Adrian was checking out the lake on that side. He had found a pair of Whooper Swans with a nest containing 6 eggs. The lake also had a few other ducks and waders on. I tried my luck with these and one of the Whooper Swans which gave me a close views as it swam past.
Whooper Swan nest, Iceland June 2019
Whooper Swan, Iceland June 2019
After a pretty decent burger in Borganes we went out and checked the area surrorinding our hotel again. About 1 mile down a bridle track was a small area that appeared to be a dumping ground for the local farmer. It was also a little oasis of birdlife. Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Oystercathchers and Snipe were all nesting in the area. I set myself up by a little pool that the Godwits were bathing in. They soon saw me and flew off. They seemed to be one step ahead of me and knew I was hiding out there. I sat on the rocks nearby until I eventually gave up and left. As soon as I left they were back in bathing. Godwits 1 Matt 0. This whole time Adrian had been watching a pair of Ringed Plover and they had been giving him the run around until eventually he found the nest. I could see why it took some time to locate.
Ringed Plover nest, Borganes, Iceland, June 2019
Ringed Plover nest, Borganes, Iceland, June 2019
Black-tailed Godwit, Borganes, June 2019
Black-tailed Godwit, Borganes, June 2019
Golden Plover, Borganes, June 2019
Golden Plover, Borganes, Iceland, June 2019
Not the best Golden Plover shots you will see just liked the snowy mountain background. Same goes for the below Ptarmigan not the best photo I just like the Lupins. I have since learnt these are non native to Iceland and were introduced to Iceland from Alaska in the 60s to help with soil erosion. They are now growling wild everywhere.
Ptarmigan, Borganes, Iceland, June 2019
This brought an end to our 2nd day in Iceland. A good day all round. Cold and windy but worth the red sore wind swept faces.
