The "Birding in the North" tour takes us around the north of Iceland enabling us to spend quality time around Lake Myvatn (Midge Lake), an unbelievably picturesque geothermal area where we expect to see species such as Harlequin Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye, Gyr Falcon, divers and many more against a backdrop of bubbling mudpools and pseudocraters.

Highlights:

Day 1. Reykjavik – Akureyri

We will start the day by taking a look at birds around Reykjavik city. The shoreline around the city becomes teeming with life during the migration and we should be able to spot species such as Ringed Plover, European Golden Plover, Red Knots, Sanderlings, Dunlins and Purple Sandpipers and of course all will be in splendid summer plumage. If time allows we will also look for Common Blackbirds and Icelandic Redpolls before we connect with a short flight to Akureyri from Reykjavik.

Night at Akureyri.

Day 2: Akureyri – Myvatn

The morning will be spent around Akureyri. Several pairs of Common Shelducks have recently started breeding in the area while local woodlands hold the also recently established Goldcrest. Surrounding wetlands hold the conspicuous Black-tailed Godwit (the Icelandic race). After lunch we will drive towards lake Mývatn. Arriving at Myvatn in the afternoon will give us a chance to have a look at the local specialties, such as the Harlequin Ducks enjoying life on the River Laxá and the Barrow’s Goldeneyes on territories both on the river and lake.

Night at Myvatn.

Day 3: Myvatn

The whole day will be used for exploring the lake’s wildlife and landscape.

For a nature enthusiast to describe The Lake Myvatn Area with words is virtually impossible. The whole area is a natural wonder on it’s own in a world that has nothing else like it. Even people with no interest in nature and wildlife are blown away by the variety and magnitude of both the birdlife as well as all the different natural phenomenon that surround you in the area. The lake it self is approx. 23 square miles (37 square km) making it Iceland’s fourth largest 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 the arctic zones. The area is also 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 we have be traveling by and visiting among other things a range of pseudo-craters, volcanoes of different sizes, hot springs and new lavafields with lava pillars. We will have seen variety of bird species in thousands including species such as Great Northern Diver (Common Loon), Horned Grebe (Slavonian Grebe), Barrow’s Goldeneye, Harlequin duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Great Scaup, Tufted Duck. Species such as Red-necked Phalaropes, Redwings, Common Snipes and Redshanks will also be abundant all around us during the day. 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.

Night at Mývatn.

Day 4: Myvatn – Husavik

We will have an early start and drive north-east from Lake Myvatn towards Europe’s largest waterfall Dettifoss. On the way we might encounter several Pink-footed Geese. Nearby we will visit a wonderfully birch wooded canyon. From there we’ll head towards Húsavík where a whalewatching trip will be taken in the afternoon. On the way, Arctic Skuas, Great Skuas and Puffins will be seen in numbers while the occasional Rock Ptarmigan might cross the road. Night at Husavik.

Day 5: Husavik – Akureyri – Reykjavik - Þingvellir

We will drive in the morning to Akureyri where a flight will be taken to Reykjavík. Afternoon will be spent at Þingvellir National Park. This fabulous geological and historic site is well worth the visit. It is here that the Atlantic rift separates North America and Europe. This place is a good spot to observe breeding Great Northern Divers. Night at Reykjavik.

Day 6: Reykjavik - Keflavik

A midday flight from Keflavik gives us only the morning to do some birding before going to the airport. We will have a quick look for Common Blackbirds and Icelandic Redpolls in the city before leaving towards the Reykjanes peninsula if those birds haven’t been spotted earlier in the trip. We will concentrate on good birding spots near the airport which should produce late Iceland Gulls and the trip’s only Manx Shearwaters and we might even see Minke Whale and White-beaked Dolphins from land.