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Activities : Bird-Watching in Iceland

Iceland has sometimes been called a bird watchers paradise. This activity has the advantage that it cost nothing once you reach a suitable spot. Large colonies and breeding grounds are found in various places throughout the country. The most frequently-seen sea birds on the towering cliffs along the Icelandic coast are the common guillemot, Brunnich's guillemot, the razorbill, the puffin, the kittiwake, the fulma.

Come to stunning South Iceland to also see Gyr Falcon, both in both ‘white’ and ‘dark’ forms, breeding Red-necked Phalarope and Redthroated Diver, and North American birds including Harlequin Duck and Barrow's Goldeney, White-tailed Eagle, Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Arctic and Great Skua, Brunnich’s Guillemot, and brightly plumaged Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and more, with a very good chance of Red (Grey) Phalarope. Iceland's breeding waders, wildfowl and seabirds are justifiably world famous.

The Westman Islands and Dyrholaey cliffs on the south coast are almost always rewarding for bird watchers. For information about special bird tours with expert guides contact the tourist information offices. In all, 241 kinds of birds are known to have touched down in Iceland at one time or another. Of those, 72 nest regularly, 6 are common passage migrants, about 30 are regular drift migrants or winter visitors, and the rest wind up in Iceland by chance. Sea birds, waterfowl, and waders are the most common indigenous birds.

The Floi nature reserve covers a part of the eastern bank of the River Olfusá estuaries, about 40 minutes from Hotel Ranga, with a total area of 5 km², being 1 to 1½ km wide. This reserve, the Olfus Bogs and the estuary region of River Olfusá are counted among the internationally recognized bird sanctuaries. Characteristic for the reserve are marshlands, pools and ponds and during the highest tides parts of it are flooded. The average elevation above mean sea level is only about 2m.

Waterfowl and other bird species characteristic for the reserve and the surrounding areas, especially during the breeding season (May, June) are: Whooper swans, grey-legged geese, mallards, wigeons (Eurasian w.), teals (green-winged t.), scaups (greater s.), tufted ducks and red breasted mergansers. Nests of shovelers, pintails and gadwalls have been spotted, but these species are rather rare all over the country. Eider ducks nest on the estuary islands and red-throated divers (loons) are spotted near the lakes and ponds. There are also a few colonies of black headed seagulls and arctic terns, where many of the others prefer to nest for protection. Only a few arctic skuas and herring gulls breed in the area. Among other common species are dunlins, whimbrels, black tailed godwits, snipes, red-throated phalaropes and meadow pipits. The golden plover prefers drier areas. Nowhere else in the country is there greater density of dunlin nests and the same applies to the black tailed godwits. During migration in spring and autumn (fall), the grey lag and white fronted geese (greater w.f.g.), wigeons and tufted ducks, several waders and wheat-ears (northern w.e.) are most prominent.

Harbour seals (grey seals) are common in the estuaries during autumn (fall) and winter. They are most commonly spotted near the Kaldadarnes Islands, just off the nature reserve. The flora of the area is rich in species. The marshlands are mostly covered with Lyngbye’s sedge and drier areas with woolly willow, tea leaved willow, common (black) sedge and common cotton grass. Around most small lakes and ponds one can expect to find sedges, pondweed, grasses etc. In the proximity of the peat quarries is among other plants the hair-leaved water-crowfoot. In drier areas one can expect to find wild angelicas, Iceland rush, cuckooflowers, red fescue, sea peas and many other species.

Cape Ingólfshöfði is an isolated headland between the black desert and the ocean about 3 hours east of Hotel Rangá. Hundreds of thousands of seabirds nest on the cape, puffins in particular. It is named after Ingólfur Arnarson, Iceland’s first settler and it is said to have been his first home in Iceland, in the winter of 874. The area is also well frequented by swans in great numbers. A tour of the cape is usually lead by an elderly local farmer who transports visitors over waters, moors and sands in a tractor-drawn trailer to guide a brief but rewarding walk around the nature reserve.

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