Iceland

Farm View by Simon Thompson

"Birding the Land of
Fire and Ice"

May 22-29, 2022

Black Sand Beach by Simon Thompson

Your place on this Venture is reserved when your completed registration form and deposit of $300/person has been received. Deposit may be made via the ‘book now’ button above, or by contacting the Ventures office. We accept credit cards for an additional fee (2.9% for MC, Visa, Discover; 3.9% for AmEx), but you may also pay by bank transfer, cash, check, or money order (payable to ‘VENTURES BIRDING’) sent to PO Box 1095, Skyland, NC 28776. This Venture is limited to 10 participants.

Cost of Iceland Venture: $3275 per person; single room supplement of $700 Price includes: All transportation throughout, all accommodation, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, entrance fees, trip information, packet & bird checklist, and guide/leader service throughout. Not included: Round-trip airfare from the US to Reykjavik, Iceland, admission to the Mývatn Nature Baths, alcoholic beverages, and gratuities, any meals as specified in the itinerary, laundry, and other items of a personal nature.

 
 

Iceland is a great birding destination throughout the year, but Iceland in the spring and summer has way more birds than a winter trip. This late spring trip has been designed to enjoy many of Iceland's breeding birds as they arrive back to display and breed. Black-tailed Godwit, European Golden-Plover, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Whimbrel all nest on the tundra or rocky shoreline, while most (if not all) of North-western Europe's waterfowl will be present and breeding across Iceland's many lakes and rivers. Landbirds are far fewer as trees are a rare sight in many parts of the country. Redwing, Common Redpoll, Snow Bunting, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit and White Wagtail will be common, and other more uncommon species include: Eurasian Wren, Eurasian Blackbird, Goldcrest and Brambling.

Of course Iceland is far more than birds, and we will explore and enjoy some of the spectacular scenery. From ancient seacliffs and crashing waterfalls to black sand beaches and Europe's largest glacier, the geology in Iceland is truly awe-inspiring – the perfect setting for filming some of the "Game of Thrones".

Join us as we explore the birdlife and stunning scenery of Iceland; only a short flight away from the Northeastern US coast.

Some Birds We Expect to See

Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Graylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Green-winged Teal (Eurasian), Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Rock Ptarmigan, Red-throated Loon, Northern Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Gyrfalcon, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Ringed Plover, European Golden-Plover, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel (Eurasian), Common Redshank, Red-necked Phalarope, Parasitic Jaeger, Great Skua, Black-headed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Atlantic Puffin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Eurasian Wren, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Redwing, Goldcrest, Common Redpoll, and Snow Bunting