Timing in May/June (1 Viewer)

[Mendobirder]

We're beginning to plan a two-week trip to Iceland and wondering about the ideal timing. I'm thinking the last week of May and the first week of June looks good, but am wondering if there would be any significant difference a week earlier or later. We have some flexibility as we haven't made any decisions yet.
Fortunately my wife is also a birder and photographer so she won't mind gearing the trip around birding - it's usually a great way to get out and see the scenery anyway. She is particularly keen to see lots of Puffins of course! Also White-tailed Eagle and Gyrfalcon probably top of list for both of us. (We tried to find the Eagle in Scotland a few years ago but missed out.)

I'll probably have a lot more questions as the planning goes on... like whether the scope is critical. I REALLY missed having it in Scotland. But it is of course a huge pain to pack and nerve-wracking to check into the airline baggage crushers.

 

[James Jobling]

Hi Mendobirder,
I am unable to give precise info at present, but refer you to the thread "Iceland for the bewildered," and especially the valuable contributions by Edward Rickson (co-author, with Yann Kolbeinsson, of the excellent "Where to find birds in Iceland"). I also am undecided about whether to take my 'scope or not (weight no problem on the cruise ship, but problematic on initial 'plane journey to Reykjavik).

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Here are the Ebird bar charts for Iceland:

https://ebird.org/barchart?r=IS&yr=all&m=

I suspect your thoughts on timing are fairly optimal.

 

[Edward]

Timing wise last week of May first week of June is definitely the best period for birding in Iceland – all breeding species have arrived, many northbound migrants are still present, they are all highly visible and noisy, you have 24-hour daylight and there still aren’t that many tourists around (away from the south-west). As for exact timings, it doesn’t really matter that much, a week here or there. I always think the last week in May is the best time in north-east Iceland (where I tend to go most years), when you get into June, the masses of Sanderlings and Red Knot you see at the end of May have largely gone to Greenland. Use eBird as it’s the best resource for finding birds. Here are three eBird trip reports for the last three years I have been up to north-eastern Iceland just to give you an idea of what you can expect. Note that Gyr Falcon sightings are hidden on eBird and in these reports, but they are certainly there, I see them every time I go to that area and on all these trips (and every time I go to the West Fjords).

2020 https://ebird.org/tripreport/105256

2021 https://ebird.org/tripreport/105254

2022 https://ebird.org/tripreport/102518

 

[Mendobirder]

Timing wise last week of May first week of June is definitely the best period for birding in Iceland – all breeding species have arrived, many northbound migrants are still present, they are all highly visible and noisy, you have 24-hour daylight and there still aren’t that many tourists around (away from the south-west). As for exact timings, it doesn’t really matter that much, a week here or there. I always think the last week in May is the best time in north-east Iceland (where I tend to go most years), when you get into June, the masses of Sanderlings and Red Knot you see at the end of May have largely gone to Greenland. Use eBird as it’s the best resource for finding birds. Here are three eBird trip reports for the last three years I have been up to north-eastern Iceland just to give you an idea of what you can expect. Note that Gyr Falcon sightings are hidden on eBird and in these reports, but they are certainly there, I see them every time I go to that area and on all these trips (and every time I go to the West Fjords).

2020 https://ebird.org/tripreport/105256

2021 https://ebird.org/tripreport/105254

2022 https://ebird.org/tripreport/102518

Thanks very much - the trip reports are great.
We have masses of Sanderlings here in winter, but only a few Red Knots on passage (and seldom in breeding plumage).

We will be driving all the way round, but haven't decided which direction yet. Does it matter?

 

[Edward]

Thanks very much - the trip reports are great.
We have masses of Sanderlings here in winter, but only a few Red Knots on passage (and seldom in breeding plumage).

We will be driving all the way round, but haven't decided which direction yet. Does it matter?

Don't think the direction really matters, I think I prefer going counter clockwise. If I were doing it now I'd check the weather first and then decide but I guess you have to book accommodation.

 

[Dutchbirder64]

For White-Tailed Eagle come to the Netherlands. At Oostvaardersplassen you have them guaranteed. In late Summer you can have 20 of them feeding on the fish at low water levels. Your Iceland trip looks great.

 

[Mendobirder]

Don't think the direction really matters, I think I prefer going counter clockwise. If I were doing it now I'd check the weather first and then decide but I guess you have to book accommodation.

Yes, that's the rub. I think that's the way we will go. See the south first, then work our way around. I think we might book one of the two-week self-drive tours from Guide to Iceland. They include two or three days in the Westfjords. Just have to hope for decent weather.