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Iceland,
a bird photographers paradise
June 17th-27th, 2008
-participation limited to 10 (full)
Arrive on the 16th (lodging and meals incl.)
-depart 27th.
Join
Master photographer Charles Glatzer on a workshop to Iceland, the
Land of Fire and Ice. Our itinerary has been custom tailored to maximize
Iceland's unique bird and sea mammal photographic opportunities. If
you are a bird photographer, this
workshop
will
provide very close access to some of the best shorebird and seabird
breeding ground and habitat in the world. Areas visited hold around
50 breeding bird species, including European Shag, Glaucous Gull,
Common Eider, Black Guillemot, Thick-Billed Murre and Snow Bunting.
Breiðafjörður holds important staging areas for both
Brent Geese and Red Knots as they pass through Iceland during their
migration. Seascape cliffs have enormous seabird colonies with millions
of nesting birds, including the world’s largest Razorbill colony.
The Puffins are known worldwide for being exceptionally tame and in
some cases so tame they can almost be touched with out being flushed.
Nesting shorebirds include Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Dunlin and
Redshank plus Red-necked Phalaropes and Red-throated Loons. A few
pairs of Parasitic Jaeger are also in the area. Arctic Terns and Eider
Ducks can be photographed among drifting icebergs. We may even have
photographic encounters with Gyrfalcon, and White-tailed eagle.
We can also expect
to see some species of Cetaceans that are commonly found including
Common Porpoise, White-beaked Dolphin, Killer Whale and Minke Whale,
as well as common and grey seal.
Itinerary
Day 1. Early pickup at Keflavik airport
Drive to the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Snaefellsnes Peninsula is
on the west part of Iceland located between Faxaflói bay in
the south and Breiðafjörður bay in the north. A mountain
range goes lengthwise along the peninsula with the highest mountain
being the Snaefellsjokull Glacier (1446m) that sits on top of an extinct
volcano. Snaefellsjokull Glacier is famous for said mystical powers
and has captured the imagination of people all over the world, ever
since Jules Verne wrote “The Journey to the Centre of the Earth”
in 1871. The area features extraordinary moorlands, meadows, marshlands,
rivers, streams and small ponds along with beautiful rock formations
and black sand beaches. The birdlife in the area includes Harlequin
Ducks, Common Shelduck, Horned Grebe, and the Icelandic race of Black-tailed
Godwit, Puffins and Thick-billed Murre. Night at Hotel Hellnar before
heading out to seabird colonies and to one of Iceland's largest colonies
of Arctic Tern by Hellissandur.
Day 2. Crossing the Breiðafjörður bay.
We start the day by going on a whale-watching trip from Ólafsvík
where we can expect to see some species of Cetaceans that are commonly
found including Common Porpoise, White-beaked Dolphin, Killer Whale
and Minke Whale.
In the afternoon, we cross the Breiðafjörður bay. Breiðafjörður
bay is located in the west of Iceland between the Westfjords in the
North and Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the south. Breiðafjörður
has both landscape and seascape of different kind. It consists of
small fjords and bays and is literally dotted with around 3,000 islands,
islets and skerries. The area holds around 50 breeding bird species,
including European Shag, Glaucous Gull, Common Eider, Black Guillemot,
Thick-Billed Murre and Snow Bunting. Breiðafjörður holds
important staging areas for both Brent Geese and Red Knots as they
pas through Iceland during their migration. Both Common Seal and the
Grey Seal have their main haul-out in Iceland in the islands and skerries
of Breiðafjörður.
Day 3. A day's session at Látrabjarg and surroundings.
Látrabjarg cliff is the westernmost part of Iceland, and therefore
the westernmost part of Europe. It is about 14 km long and up to 440
m high. Situated in the Westfjords an area characterised by huge mountains
and harsh landscape in everyway Látrabjarg cliff offers spectacular
landscape as well as bird photography opportunities. Látrabjarg
is Iceland’s biggest bird cliff including enormous seabird colonies
with millions of nesting birds. The colonies at Látrabjarg
cliff include the world’s largest Razorbill colony. Other auks
include Puffin, Common Murre, Kittiwake, Northern Fulmar and the high
arctic Thick-billed Murre. The Puffins at Látrabjarg are known
worldwide for being exceptionally tame and in some cases so tame they
can almost be touched with out being flushed.Harbour Seals are common
near the cliffs and can sometimes be seen swimming under the surface
from the top of the cliff which is an amazing sight. Grey seals can
sometimes also be seen from the top of the cliff both swimming as
well as resting on reefs close by.
Day 4. Flatey Island
As we head back over Breiðafjörður bay on our way back
from Breiðavík, we make a few hours stop at the Flatey
Island. Flatey Island offers great photographic opportunities with
birds that are used to living closely with humans on this small Island.
Species such as Black Guillemot, European Shags and Snow Buntings
will be our main target birds on the Island. The bus does not go off
the ferry and after a few hours on Flatey Island, we continue sailing
in the evening to Stykkishólmur where we stay for the night.
Day 5. An afternoon session in the Flói Nature Reserve
On day 5 we drive to the south coast of Iceland where we will eventually
have an afternoon session at Flói Nature Reserve. The focus
there will be on nesting shorebirds like Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel,
Dunlin and Redshank plus Red-necked Phalaropes and Red-throated Loons.
A few pairs of Parasitic Jaeger are also in the area.
Day 6. Þingvellir National Park
In the morning, we will drive around Þingvellir National Park.
Where a clear evidence of the continental drifts can be viewed making
some nice photography opportunities. From there, we drive eastward
past scenic waterfalls and glaciers.
(Eldhestar – Kerið – Þingvellir – Gullfoss
– Geysir – Seljalandsfoss – Skógar)
Day 7. Mýrdalssandur a “Living Desert”
On day seven as we travel eastwards we go through the magnificent
Mýrdalssandur. A black desert in the realm of Mýrdalsjökull
Glacier. The still active volcano Katla causes the desert. This volcano
erupts under the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier making a massive
amount of melted water which tents to pile up and finally burst from
the glacier as earth’s most intense cascade, leaving nothing
but black sand. More magnificent natural phenomenon will be on our
way such as Dverghamrar columnar basalt cliffs and Lómagnúpur
cliff. Night at Hotel Skaftafell
(Skógar – Vík – Höfðabrekka - Mýrdalssandur
– Kirkjubæjarklaustur – Lómagnúpur
– Freysnes)
Day 8. Skaftafell National Park and Cape
Ingólfshöfði.
We start day 8 in the Skaftafell National Park. The park is an oasis
wedged between sand and glacier. Its unique natural beauty is a result
of favourable weather conditions and the interplay of fire and ice.
We’ll make a short hike there to photograph the magnificent
Svartifoss waterfall. The evening will be spent at Cape Ingólfshöfði,
an isolated headland between black sands and the Atlantic Ocean, with
hundreds of thousands of nesting seabirds. The side offers a splendid
photography opportunity such as nesting Great Skuas in the realm of
Vatnajökull Glacier. The journey out to the Cape is in a modified
hay cart pulled by a tractor.
Day 9. Jökulsárlón (The Glacier Lagoon)
Our second day in the SE allows us an early morning visit to Jökulsárlón,
where Arctic Terns and Eider Ducks can be photographed among drifting
icebergs. The Glacier Lagoon is a lagoon filled with icebergs made
by huge blocks of ice that constantly break of the Breiðamerkurjökull
Glacier. At Jökulsárlón, we take a short boat-trip
on the lagoon for different angles.
Day 10. Reykjavík
Drive back to the South the same coastal route we got there with some
new stops and opportunities to make some shots wemay have thought
off afterwards. Possibly another session in the Flói reserve
in the afternoon.
Day 11. Reykjavik pond, gives us great
opportunities for some species otherwise hard to approach. Then the
Keflavík airport. Flights out are mid-afternoon.
To ensure
the best photography and instruction possible this workshop will have
a maximum of 10 photo participants. Participation only reserved on
receipt of deposit.
Testimonials
Fee: The
cost of this workshop is $5595, includes all accomodations and meals
(including lodging and meals on the 16th), transportation, whalewatching
tour, the two boat trips over Breiðafjörður bay, the
boat trip at Jökulsárlón. Not included, r/t airfare
to and from Keflavík airport, Iceland
Terms: A
$1000 deposit per participant is required to reserve space. Additional
fee/deposit $1000 due 9/1/07 with balance due 03/01/08 and is then
non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your
check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill
your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose
your deposits only.
Booking
and Refund Policy
Please e-mail or include the the following
information with deposit:
1-Workshop Location and Date
2-Your name, address, day/evening phone numbers
For additional information, contact Charles
at -
"Shoot the Light" Instructional
Photographic Workshops
P.O. Box 987
Horse Shoe, NC 28742
tel: 828-891-4082
fax: 828-891-4982
e mail: shootthelight@mchsi.com
Contact Chas Here
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