For many, a visit to Látrarbjarg is the highlight of any trip to the Westfjords. The main bird cliffs in Iceland teem with sea birds. Látrabjarg is not only the largest sea bird cliff in the country; it also holds that honor in all of Europe. This is a special somewhere, not to be missed. …
This is the Common Redshank The Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) belongs to the family Scolopacidae and the so-called waders (Charadeiiformes). Waders are migratory birds that come to Iceland in big flocks in the spring and leave in the fall. Even tough waders migrate together and are very sociable, they do not nest in colonies. Other …
This is the Raven The Common Raven (Corvus corax) is a large passerine bird (Passeriformes) of the Corvidae family, which are all sort of crows. Corvids have been known for their intelligence and problem-solving skills which are often considered as supernatural powers. No wonder that the raven is so popular in stories, legends, and poetry. …
A big majestic bird glides over the sea until it darts into the ocean to catch a fish. The big splash and chaos that follows when the bird disappears into the sea is a sight that no one forgets. This bird is, of course, the northern gannet (Morus bassanus) which has earned the nickname “Queen …
Spot the Northern Gannet in Iceland: Queen of the Sea Read More »
Meet the Arctic Tern The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea), usually just called a tern, belongs to the tern family (Sternidae). It is a very delicate bird that weights about 100 gr (3.5 oz). Adult terns have a distinguishing look; a deeply forked tail, black hood, and dark red beak and feet. Other than that, they …
Spot the Tern in Iceland: The World’s Best Flyer? Read More »
Whales. They are the largest and loudest, swim the fastest, have the biggest brains and live the deepest of all animals known to us humans. Today, we know countless interesting facts about whales. Whales at stage one Whales’ ancestors evolved from mammals which returned to the sea, 55 million years ago. Many whale species still …
Snæfellsjökull glacier is one of about 30 active volcanic areas in Iceland. Unlike most of our volcanoes, it resembles a typical volcano you might see in cartoons; a gently sloping cone with a shallow crater on top. With a life expectancy of a million years, Snæfellsjökull will almost certainly erupt again. Can we predict eruptions? …
Snæfellsjökull: A picture-perfect volcano seen from Reykjavík Read More »