Even Icelanders do not expect to see the Northern Lights until winter but last night’s clear skies sported these beautiful colours. Forecasts say that in the next few nights Northern Light activity will be high. The best time to see them is usually around midnight.
Selfoss waterfall is the little sibling to Dettifoss. To get to it you take an extra walk of about one km up the river. It takes about 10 – 15 minutes from the parking space on the west side. Don’t be tempted to skip it if you are already on the path to Dettifoss.
Selfoss is part of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.
Dettifoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, it is also the most powerful one, not only in Iceland but the whole of Europe. Being the location of the breathtaking opening scene of the movie Prometheus has not made it any less attractive to tourists.
Dettifoss is around 45 metres high and 100 metres wide. It is part of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.
Meadow Pipits have now gathered in groups and roam the countrysides in search of food. They are eagerly preparing for the long journey to their winter grounds in South Europe and Africa. Most of them will leave in the coming week when flying conditions over the Atlantic are favourable. The groups are exceptionally big now which indicates that breeding was very successful this summer.
In the South Interior last week Meadow Pipits were by the thousands, bigger groups than we have seen before. They were eating berries, larva and spiders, all of which seemed in abundance. This Meadow Pipit was in Veiðivötn, South Iceland.
The summer has been exceptionally good in Iceland and its effects can be seen in both fauna and flora in the interior. Golden Plovers, Ringed Plovers and Purple Sandpipers are common breeding birds in the highlands and for them life has been good. Breeding was very successful and when summer is coming to an end bigger groups than in recent years can be seen all over the Icelandic highlands.
The photos are from Veiðivötn (Fishing Lakes) in the southern interior.
Aldeyjarfoss is a waterfall in the river Skjálfandafljót which comes from Iceland’s, and Europe’s, biggest glacier, Vatnajökull. It is situated deep in the valley Bárðardalur where the highland road Sprengisandur starts.
The waterfall, although not much higher than 20 metres, is spectacular and no photo can give it enough credit. Beautiful black basalt columns are contrasted by the force of glacial water and the drive to the waterfall and short walk down from the parking space are so much worth it.
The surrounding landscape consists of lava fields and rich green pastureland, full of birdlife and sheep. There are also a few sheep farms in the area, because although remote and on the edge of the highlands, the area is one of Iceland’s best suited for sheep farming.
See map: http://mapcarta.com/17612214/Map
Last week we saw a Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) sneak up on a Red-breasted Merganser with its chicks several meters from the shore. The Diver behaved like a sheepdog and prevented the group from going on the lake. It dived towards them and forced them up to the shore repeatedly.
The Merganser was on constant look out both on and under the water surface. Although the Diver’s mate and chick were in about 1 km distance the diver thought the Merganser and its chicks were a threat which should be kept at bay.
The Great Northern Diver is known for its fierce treatment of intruders that venture into its territory. It is known to dive under other birds wounding them with its spear-shaped bill. People have witnessed them killing both duck and geese chicks this way and even adult birds, such as the Long-tailed Duck.
The Gannet is the largest seabird in the North Atlantic. Gannets eat fish and flocks of them can be seen plunging into the sea from heights up to 30 – 40 metres. They spends most of their life at sea.
Gannets don’t reach maturity until the age of five. They breed in colonies by coasts and islands and usually lay only one egg.
Iceland’s second largest Gannet colony is at Stóri-Karl and Skoruvíkurbjarg in Langanes Peninsula. Stóri-Karl is a bird rock in the sea beside the cliff. These pictures are taken there.
Langanes peninsula is the northeasternmost part of Iceland and a treat for birdwatchers. It is one of the most remote places and there is only a dirt road so you should not be in a hurry. The road leads you to the narrow tip called Fontur where you have the North Atlantic surrounding you in several directions.
In Skoruvíkurbjarg and Skálavíkurbjarg are steep sea cliffs. The area is known for its rich birdlife and at Skoruvíkurbjarg is the second biggest Gannet colony in Iceland.
There is a very good birdwatching platform at Skoruvíkurbjarg where it is possible to see the Gannet, the Brünnich’s Guillemot, the Kittiwake and more at close hand. From the platform you have a view down to Stóri-Karl, a sea rock, which is home to the magnificent Gannet.
The Oystercatcher is mostly a migrant in Iceland and quite common in lowlands. It usually arrives in the middle of March making it one of the first migrants to great us and signal the coming of a new season. On our trip to the Northeast we came across this chick that was learning to find food on its own. Seeing it imitate the parent was more than adorable.
