Iceland 2014
June 2014
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In June 2014, 14 travelers joined Joppa Flats Sanctuary Director, Bill Gette; Travel Director, Karen ONeill; and Iceland Naturalist guide, Andy Jones, for a fascinating tour of Iceland.
The group shared many wonderful experiences – beautiful scenery, exciting wildlife, amazing geology, and interesting villages and people.
Participants voted for the following bird species as the top ten bird species seen:
- Horned Grebe
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Harlequin Duck
- Atlantic Puffin
- Whimbrel
- Rock Ptarmigan
- Common Snipe
- Barrow’s Goldeneye
- Short-eared Owl
Other trip highlights include:
- Watching the water flowing over Gullfoss (“Gold Falls”) – hearing the thundering water, seeing the rainbow;
- seeing the many glacial formations - including the arête along the Öxnadalur Valley;
- having picnic lunches in beautiful places, including on the volcano’s rim;
- swimming in the hot spring at Hveravellir;
- finding the Alpine Bartsia;
- walking around Flatey Island – being so close to the birds – having our picnic lunch with the Atlantic Puffins and male Snow Bunting;
- seeing the Arctic Fox running across the barren lava fields;
- seeing the seabird nesting colonies – wondering how the Black-legged Kittiwakes can stay on the very narrow cliff shelves;
- walking around the geyser at Geysir and feeling the spray;
- seeing the dorsal fins of the Killer Whales swimming off Öndverðarnes (Snӕfellsnes Peninsula);
- hearing and seeing so many Redshanks – almost everywhere;
- and having Andy as our guide – so patient and knowledgeable.