Late August is the time to be in the Westman Islands archipelago as we join Icelandic ornithologists on a ringing expedition to ring European Storm-petrels and Leach’s Storm-petrels. Even though our main interest in this trip lies with the storm-petrels, we are bound to come across a variety of other species on our way.

Day 1: Keflavik – Westmann Islands 

We will start the tour in early afternoon and drive directly from airport to Þorlákshöfn where a ferry will bring us to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar). During the sailing we could come accross various seabirds, e.g. Manx Shearwater, Northern Fulmar and Gannets, Kittiwakes and even a few Storm-petrels or the occasional Sooty Shearwater. Species such as Northern Fulmars and Atlantic Puffins will be abundant.

Day 2: Westman Islands 

The day will be spent exploring the birdlife of the islands. Atlantic Puffins in their thousands coming in with food for their chicks. Depending on the success of the breeding season and timing of the tour we might also encounter newly fledged "Pufflings" that have been lured into the lights of the town during the evening. In the late afternoon we set up our mistnets and wait for the darkness to lure in the European and Leach’s Storm-petrels that breed in huge numbers on neighbouring islands. (this might be done during the first evening depending on weather conditions)

Day 3: Westman Islands – Reykjavik

We will take the morning ferry back to the mainland and drive to Thingvellir National Park. A beautiful area that shows the meeting point of two tectonic plates in a dramatic way. Thingvellir National Park is not only a geological wonder but also one of the most important places in Icelandic history. You can read more about the park here. Few pairs of Great Northern Divers breed on the lake and if we are lucky we might see a hunting Merlin fly by. Thingvellir National Park was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2004. On our way there we will look out for Red-throated Loons (Red-hroated Loons) and Barrow’s Goldeneyes.  After our visit to the National Park we make our way to our hotel in Reykjavík.

Day 4: Reykjavik – Keflavik

A midday flight from Keflavik gives us the morning to do some birding. We will have a quick look for Common Blackbirds and Icelandic Redpolls in the city before leaving towards the Reykjanes Peninsula. We will concentrate on good birding spots near the airport which should produce more Manx Shearwaters and we might even see Minke Whale and White-beaked Dolphins from land.