THE RICH BIRDLIFE OF SKJÁLFANDI BAY

They are around us at every turn. Sometimes, they are so common that we don't even notice them. They fill our daily lives with their presence and songs. They appear in culture, folk myths, and proverbs. Imagine a world without them.

Birds.

Most travellers come to Húsavík as it is the Whale Watching Capital of Iceland.

However, our cute little town and its surroundings offer many kilometres of coastline with beaches, cliffs, a port, the mouth of two rivers, and numerous lakes – thereof Botnsvatn, Kaldbakstjarnir and the warm Goldfish Pond just out of town – and everywhere there: birds!

In Iceland, 330 species of birds have been observed. Of these, around 85 are nesting or regularly observed species. Some of them can be easily seen in many places in continental Europe. But others, such as the Harlequin duck, can be seen only here.

How many species shown in the bird guide below have you spotted on your journey so far?

Fratercula arctica

Somateria mollissima

Sterna paradisaea

Cepphus grylle

Photos ©Jóhann Óli Hilmarsson

How to start bird watching?
As a guide for Gentle Giants, I feel that some people catch the birdwatching bug while sailing out with us to watch puffins on Lundey (Puffin Island). It’s hard to remain indifferent to other, equally interesting birds after seeing thousands of beautiful “little brothers of the Arctic” (meaning of the scientific name “Fratercula arctica”) living their daily life around the island, flying in numbers just metres above our heads, running on the water, or diving down next to the boat in search for fish.

Do you need special equipment?
Often, curiosity is enough to start. Observing what is around us. Here above, we list some of the most common species in this area as well as around Iceland. In the bookstore opposite the ticket center, you can buy a great bird guide – but the most important thing is to start looking around. To open your eyes! To awaken your curiosity! Or – maybe quite unusual – close your eyes for a moment and listen!

- Wit (guide)