DRAFT***

                  ..............Continued from Part 1

    Saturday, August 16, 2025- 5th Cruise Port, 3rd Port in Iceland-

            Morning Scenic Sailing Isafjardjup, and Arriving                                                       Isafjordur, Iceland.   

                                         PART 2 of 2-

      Continuing............ Back on board the Nieuw Statendam, we still had about an hour before our scheduled meeting time for the excursion. Since the tour would start just after noon, We headed back to our suite to pack our day bags after making a quick stop to the ship's Lido Market for a sandwich snack to take with us. One more quick look from the veranda revealed that the Gulls and Eiders were starting to congregate along the opposite shore on the falling tide. 

      Another look through the binoculars showed that the majority of the Gulls were Black-headed with a few adult Glaucous Gulls mixed in.

         

      And in the group was a single adult Great Black-backed Gull,. One of the sheep feeding higher up the slope came down to browse along the shorelines edge.                                                                

      More drake Eiders in advanced transitional moult were showing up to rest on shore. 

More of the Sheep came down to the edge of the shoreline grass to feed. Interesting scene..... Glaucous Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Iceland Eiders and Iceland Sheep. Definitely a new experience in the field and something we will never see at home.                                                                                               

Apparently this family has a Black Sheep too!! 

               A good side by side comparison of a Great Black-backed and Glaucous Gulls- 

                     .......and also with a Glaucous Gull and Black-headed Gulls-

    Even though it was late morning, the bird traffic was continual. Good images showing the plumage of a juvenile Black-headed Gull......

      Arctic Terns were continually on the move throughout the day- 

      Perfectly timed...... this stunning adult Glaucous Gull flew right past me a few yards away..... what a magnificent Gull species.

     The Excursion tour for today was not the original plan. My beautiful wife Jen had arranged a very special tour for me when we first signed up for this cruise. She wouldn't tell me what it was since she wanted it to be a surprise and was very good about keeping it that way. I found out about it a week  before we were scheduled to leave for our cruise. Unfortunately, her planned surprise trip was cancelled and had we to choose another tour. Come to find out, Jen had signed us up for a tour of a private Eider Farm...... something that I have always wanted to see! Talk about disappointing! Even though it was late August and the Eiders would have left the Farm, it would have been amazing to see the Farm, the abandoned nests, the process of  working with the down, and the commercial procedure to producing at special blankets and jackets made from the down. And of course go home with a jacket or two! 

    Oh well! We had to select another excursion because of the cancellation. And as expected, most of the other tours on the list were filled, with only three having a few openings. The one that appealed to Jen the most was the excursion that highlighted the life and culture of Isafjordur. The tour featured a bus ride along the coast that would visit five points of interest. First stop would be a tour of the small historic fishing harbor in Bolungarvik (+). From the harbor, the next stop would be an old historic Chapel just a five minute bus ride up the side of the hill (+). From the church the tour continued down the hill to the other side of the bay to the Museum of Osvor, which is a recreated historic fishing station (+). After leaving Osvor, the tour continued back down the coast towards Isafjordur to a very unique location: Opinn Skogur, where you can taste pure ice field melt water from a waterfall. The last stop for the tour after leaving the waterfall is the Westfjord Maritime History Museum (+)! The itinerary for this excursion was very interesting, we were looking forward to it!

     With our day bags packed, including a sandwich and snacks, the only item left to pack was water. This is one of those interesting parts of a cruise that you don't often think about, we just take it for granted. We just assume that the cruise line will supply you with bottled water for your convenience. And I am sure that is common on many cruise lines, such as our Alaskan Cruise the year before on Viking. However, Holland America takes a different approach to bottled water, and one that Jen and I agree with. Holland America does not offer water or any soft drinks, etc. in plastic bottles, in fact they prohibit them. They encourage you to bring your own refillable personal drink containers which you can fill up at designated water filling stations on board and also from your rooms. 

    It was very obvious why......Jen and I never saw one discarded plastic water bottle anywhere we traveled in Iceland...... not even floating in any of the harbors or bouncing along the sides of the roads! Talk about culture shock in a great way!! On board they offer water in aluminum cans instead of the plastic bottles. There is a small charge for them but well worth it for their convenience and availability. For those planning on taking a Holland America cruise like this one, I would suggest taking advantage of the beverage package which is offered with your room package. For a relatively small nominal fee you are allowed fifteen beverages a day which include adult beverages, coffee, tea, soft drinks and water. Its a great overall deal.

     Many on board had personal reusable beverage containers with them. As I  mentioned above there were many available options to refill them with water on the ship. In the Lido Market restaurant there is a large beverage station with all kinds of coffee, a large selection of Tea, Cappuccino and Latte service, fresh Juices, and of course Ice Water. However the ice water dispensers are for the guests in the restaurant that are to be used by the wait staff for the guests. There are large signs posted on the the front of the water dispensers clearly stating that the water from those dispensers was for the staff only. Please DO NOT fill your personal water bottles in those dispensers due to health regulations. I only mention this because, there was a continuous flow of people filling their bottles even though the sign was starring at them in their faces!  Probably best to ask for canned water at your meals if you go to the Lido Market!

      After checking in for the excursion at the appointed time in the World Stage theater meeting area, we all headed down to the muster deck to disembark the ship. I will mention that the security on the ship when leaving is extremely thorough with Ship ID card scanning as well as facial recognition technology  makes you feel very safe. When embarking the ship the same procedures as well plus X-Ray scanners for your personal items. Very reassuring!  

    For the second time this morning we made the long walk down the pier to the parking lot where all the buses were lined up heading to many locations for the tours. A look across the bus field to the distant mountains.

                Of course on the walk to the buses, Glaucous Gulls made an appearance.

      The tour bus would head out from the harbor, passing through the town of Isafjordur, passing along the shore of the bay, before heading north following the coast. We really didn't know at that point which direction we would be going for the points of interest, so Jen and I took a set near the back of the bus on the left side. As it turned out...... the coastline was seen best from the right side! Oh well, this is why I never buy a lottery ticket! At least we would have the same opportunities on the ride back assuming we will be going back the same route! :^)

     Our tour guide was a young lady who was a native Icelander who spoke very good English. Along the way she told us of the local fishing culture and history (and myths) all of which were fascinating. It was amazing how the people of Iceland had forged a living from the sea in such profoundly difficult conditions such as deep water and harsh winter conditions. Keeping with the rich Icelandic fishing history, all along the shoreline close to inhabited areas were the continual wooden fish drying racks (known as Hjallar) and wooden fish drying sheds (known as fiskbyrgi). These shed and racks were used to dry their catches of Cod, Haddock, Wolfish, and occasionally Iceland Halibut and Turbot (aka Greenland Halibut) ..... the latter two being found in the warmer Western and Southern waters of Iceland. 

     The coast road (Route 61) eventually split to the left at an intersection. The road to the right was the older road that was mostly gravel that followed right along the top edges of the cliffs and slopes (similar to the road to Hofn) of the shoreline. They closed this road due to hazardous conditions and frequent rock slides. The new road which was opened in September, 2010 replaced the old coast road. A tunnel known as the Bolungarvikungong Tunnel (about five and a half km long) burrowed through the Oshlio Mountain to meet up again with the old coast road in  Osvor. 

     Over the buses pa system we heard all about the local history which included the upcoming fishing harbor. Jen and I got a little excited when she stated that we would be approaching the historic small fishing harbor shortly..... we were anxious to get out of the bus and look around. In our minds we pictured old docks and buildings, fish drying sheds, old boats and all kinds of fishing nets and fish traps piled up high on the docks. It created quite a beautiful painting subjectively!

     I had a feeling that that maybe it was not going to be as we had expected. The bus slowed down at a small intersection to make a right turn with  the harbor coming into view a short distance down the road from the front right side of the bus. She told us that the small restaurant on the left of the bus on the corner was known for serving the best Hamburgers and Icelandic Hot Dogs in Iceland........ but we won't be stopping there! Good thing Jen and I packed a sandwich!! The really big disappointment came within seconds......the small harbor came into view and the bus kept driving by! "There is the famous old fishing harbor" she told us as the bus just drove past it to the next small intersection. The bus started to turn left, we again heard, "That was the old fishing harbor"!! Really, that was it,,,,,, that was our tour"??  

   What made it even worse was the fact that it was a small charming old fishing harbor or at least from what I could see through the opposite window which took all of one minute speeding down the road. But to put salt in the wound (pun intended) it was low tide in the harbor and it was absolutely packed with Iceland Eiders, Gulls and the exposed tidal flats were covered with Shorebirds! The amount of birds in the harbor close to the road was astonishing! I could spend half a day here wandering around  photographing!! Oh well!

                                                      Bolungarvik Harbor-

       

     A short five minute drive up the hill leading away from the harbor (not enough time to recover form the disappointment) was our next destination; the Holskirkja Church. The timber Church was built in 1908 by Iceland's first architect. The church is situated at the base of the Bolafjall Mountains. The Church is absolutely charming and is a favored tourist attraction. For our stop here we would be going inside the church and be entertained with three traditional Iceland religious songs. The singer as it turned out was a lovely young lady with an Angelic voice. I met the tour guide at the door of the church as we entered. In my mind and heart, I really could not get over seeing the concentration of birds in that harbor; I really wanted to go back through that harbor. Even on the bus, I could take a few pictures through the window as we drove by. So why not, it worked for me with Ari in the first stop in Iceland? I asked her if we could (maybe) since the Harbor was only a five minute ride from the Church, would you consider driving to our next stop to the Museum (also ten minutes away) by just a quick drive back through the harbor and then going directly to the Museum. I explained to her the reason for my interest, and I reassured her that it would only add five minutes time to the tour. "Nope", "We are going to the Museum on the other side of the bay"!  Well, that settles that......it was worth a try! Ari where are you when I need you?! :^)

    Before we went into the Church, it was mentioned that our stop would only be for a short time and we were encouraged not to wonder the church grounds. We would walk from the bus in the parking lot to the Church and back again when the demonstration concluded. Since I wouldn't be needing it, I decide to leave my camera on the bus. If I needed to take any pictures, I had my iPhone. As usual, this turned out to be a big mistake.....I should have known! Opportunities always present them selves when you don't have your camera with you! Today would be no different! 

    On the way out of the Church after the singing mini concert concluded, Jen and I were standing outside admiring the steep and high mountainous slopes that all ran down the hill towards the church. The Church stood right in the valley of these two tremendous mountain slopes forming a funnel-like valley. The wind had picked up quite a bit being intensified by the funnel of the valley, In fact I made the comment to Jen to imagine how severe the winter storms were there at this location at the Church. At that point, Jen with her eagle-eyed vision pointed up the slopes and asked me what kind of bird is that was flying at incredible speed down the distant slope. At first I could not pick it up..... she kept saying right there, but I still could not see it. Finally I did as the rocket of a bird leveled off and eventually disappeared into the mountain slopes. Even with my all too brief view of the bird, it was definitely a large Falcon judging by its giss and incredibly fast flight. The feeling I got was a Gyrfalcon, but I couldn't really identify it under these conditions. I will research this immediately when we return to the ship and access their Wi-Fi. At that point it will remain a very possible Gyrfalcon because the habitat in that area support a population of Rock Ptarmigan.  

                                                           The Holskirkja Church-   

                                The view up the mountainous slopes forming the valley- 

                            The view to the Bolungarvik Harbor from the Church-         

      The quick looks at distant (possible) Gyrfalcon soon faded but is still on my mind. Everyone loaded back onto the bus. Well, since my attempt at securing a return trip to skirt the edges of the Bolungarvik Harbor failed, the next stop was a short ten minute ride. We would be stopping in the Osvor area visiting the historic recreated fishing station; the Museum of Osvor. The bus was heading down Route 61 back towards Isafjordur. It made a left turn onto what turned out to be the other end of the old coast road. Just a short distance from the intersection along the top edge of the embankment were several old wooden buildings that had grass roofs.  There was s sign that stood at the entrance to a small pathway leading down the edge of the embankment to the buildings. We were here! The worn dirt and stone pathway was quite rustic prefect for this setting. The little wooden buildings were amazing! Their replication and recreation was so well done and convincing, you actually felt like you had been swept up and gone back in time. 

      Our tour guide told us that we had about thirty minutes to explore and enjoy the the Museum. We were looking forward to this and were anxious to move down and check out the buildings. The recreated fishing station was absolutely amazing complete everything listed in the above image of the sign. It even came with an authentically garbed sea-worn Fisherman as the Museum curator and guide for the day. Because it was a narrow pathway, Jen and I waited to let everyone else go down ahead of us, which worked out perfectly! 

Fish drying shed.......Fiskbyrgi-

     While we were waiting for the last of the Just below where we were standing along the shoreline were birds, a perfect distraction! First glance: Great Cormorant and a Great Black-backed Gull.....

         ....... and, Eiders! There were quite a few Eiders scattered in the area, which included many Eider ducklings and foster hens. 

      Once again, just as Jen did earlier that morning with the Purple Sandpipers while I was in my usual Eider trance......Jen tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I saw the three ducks standing on the rock right below us? Where? Three Harlequin Ducks (two hens and an eclipse drake) was passing the time and tide preening and grooming on the rock. Second sighting of Harlequin in Iceland. 

                       Drake Atlantic Harlequin Duck in full eclipse moult...... with shed primaries. 

     It was an interesting situation. Harlequins quietly grooming on a rock and Eiders with ducklings swimming by. 

        Lovely soft brown plumage of a hen Atlantic Harlequin Duck, complete with full primaries. Her tertials and secondaries, and secondary coverts are still worn and bleached.

                                                                      Drake-

                A Juvenile Great Cormorant swims into the camera lens and immediately dives. 

          Last images of the Harlequins. By now I had taken a few hundred Harlequin images, time for  other birds. 

     Everyone on this tour by now had made it down to the Museum, the pathway was clear. We decided to go down and enjoy the Museum. I did a quick look-see of the inside and outside of the wooden shed buildings, and I was really taken by the big, heavy row boat exhibit outside one of the buildings. Wooden boats are fascinating to me, especially their construction and seaworthy designs..... especially the historical classics. The methods that were used in their construction from that period of hand tools, fire, amazing craftsmanship, and brute strength was unimaginable. Add to that the availability of supplies, the weather, and all the other limiting factors that went into making these rugged seaworthy craft, the results were astonishing.

    While I was studying and admiring the boat, you could probably guess........... quite a few birds swimming along the shoreline about fifty yards down. Jen stayed enjoying the rest of the Museum. A closer look at the juvenile Great Cormorant and Great Black-backed Gull. A larger creche of Eiders was positioned just outside the Cormorant and Gull. This was the first actual large creche I had seen in Iceland. 

         I had no idea where this Glaucous Gull came from...... I never saw it swimming or flying in. 

                       Soft brown plumage on this juvenile Cormorant- 

           The stunning adult Glaucous Gull. Very contented and comfortable with me walking by.

     I had to start going back, as the thirty minutes was coming to an end. There were good numbers of Eiders with ducklings here.

           Back in the bus ready to move down the highway to our next destination. 

       About halfway back to Isafjordur The bus made a right turn off of Route 61, We traveled up the road a short distance following a beautifully lush golf course (not expecting that). There were a few Graylag Geese, Mallards and unidentified Shorebirds in the stream and small pond in the golf course at a distance. 

      The bus slowed down and pulled into a little pull-off parking area, we were here at our next stop. It was a popular tourist stop for tours in this area. Another bus was leaving just as we had arrived. A picturesque waterfall tumbled down the hillside. It was told to us that we were stopping as a treat to have a taste of the pure ice melted water that comes from an icefield runoff farther up the mountain. According to the guide, this was considered one of Iceland's purest water sources. This area has no animals (Sheep, Fox, Horses, Mink, etc.) that can contaminate the water...... no E.coli or bacteria contaminants. 100% pure! This is similar to what happened in Alaska where the tour boat secured a small hunk of floating Glacier ice and we all were given the opportunity to drink the melted Glacier ice water. The only difference here is that the ice field was a mile away. 

    

        Our guide walked down to the water below a foot bridge and filled two glass jugs full of this crystal clear water. The water was dispensed to everyone in plastic cups for all of us to try. It was perfect timing to have a water break, especially an ice-cold one.         

       You will ask how was it? The answer is icy cold and clear tasting. It actually had no discernable taste to it at all. Quite amazing actually......I never tasted water with absolutely clear taste, and be so refreshing and delicious. Definitely memorable and worth the effort. 

    No I'm not taking a selfie......I was taking pictures of the waterfall and my iPhone malfunctioned. I am not electronic savvy at all and don't want to be so I was trying to figure out what was wrong with my stupid phone (hint- the phone wasn't the stupid one)!! 

       After our very interesting and refreshing stop, they collected all the plastic cups from us (actually counted them to be sure no cups were left behind) to be disposed of properly. We all piled back in the bus and headed back to Isafjordur for our last destination before we end at the ship's parking lot. On the reverse trip, the window seat payed off. All along the coast road were steady groups of Eiders.

     The final stop on the tour was the Westfjord Maritime History Museum. We were really looking forward to this stop. Our love of Maritime History especially the historical fishing aspect to it was profoundly interesting to us. But this stop in the tour also offered a very special treat that I have been wanting to experience for years.....Jen not so much! 

     The location of the Museum was absolutely perfect. It was right on the shoreline of a large Bay with the amazing mountains framing the view. Even before you entered the main building, their were many exhibits scattered all  over the grounds including boats, tools, anchors, chains, ropes, fish drying racks, and so many more.

 
                                                  Love these wooden boats!!

      

    Inside the building there were many exhibits of the recreated fishing life styles and equipment. Even had an exhibit of a recreated Eider nest.  Very interesting...........

                                                        More exhibits..........

     And finally.........the exhibit "treat" that I had been waiting for and wanted to try for a long time......Greenland Shark (Hakarl)! Over the years I have seem the story behind Greenland Shark featured on more travel shows and cooking shows (I especially enjoyed the episode with Gordan Ramsey) many, many times. Now I have the opportunity to actually try some. The Museum had a little table display set up where guests were encouraged to try samples of the Greenland Shark, dry-flaked Haddock (Hert ysa) and also a sip of Iceland Schnapps ( Brennivin).  The information about the preparation for the Greenland Shark is shown below after the Schnapps image.

    I was really excited about this exhibit and rushed over to it. Jen on the other hand picked up on the "olfactory challenging fragrance" of the Shark and told me to go ahead and enjoy myself..... she would be outside waiting in the fresh air! I do have to admit, it was a little "pungent"!! 

            First the dry-shaved Haddock...... not bad actually, very chewy! The best description I could give would be wood shavings soaked in fish oil and dried to kindling firewood consistency. You definitely needed something to wash this down as it was really difficult to swallow! 

      By now, everyone else in the tour (with a few no-shows) had assembled at the display. A few of them at this point were just a little put off by the "interesting aroma" permeating from the small bowls of Shark meat, and decided they much preferred a hot dog and left..... they never got to the point of sampling a small piece. And that was the case for everyone else. They all were gathered around, but no one was reaching in for a piece. Everyone stared at each other but nobody committed..... and then they all looked at me to make the first move which I did........

                

        ......... using one of the supplied toothpicks, I stabbed a piece of  Shark and the moment I had been waiting for had finally arrived. All I heard was "How was it..... is it really awful"? Actually it wasn't "that bad", it was interesting. In my many years of fishing, I have eaten just about every species that was considered edible....most are great, some are marginal and a few are an "acquired taste"! Fish is my favorite protein, I could eat fish every day. This Shark falls under the category of  acquired taste that I only have to do once to say I did it. Would I do it again.....probably! 

    Since everyone was really curious what I thought of it, and the fact that I didn't spit it out or get sick. I actually had two more pieces. The best answer I could give everyone was that it has an interesting flavor and texture. Not as bad as everyone says it is (insert a little fib there)! They all asked me how should they eat it. I replied, don't think about it.......pick up a piece, do not smell it first, pop it in your mouth, chew like hell, and then swallow it. 

    Even with my warning and advice, many hesitantly picked up a piece and smelled it which prompted them to put it back. A few others were brave and took my advice ending in mixed results: some spit theirs into a napkin, others let out a huge gasp, and a few actually finished one piece! 

    How would I describe the Shar's taste and consistency? I would describe it as having the consistency of chewing gum, the aroma of rotten fish, the taste of rancid fish soaked in ammonia for a long period of time. Overall, not that bad! :^)

     Since some made it through the Haddock and Shark experience, the last part of this tasting exhibit was the Icelandic Schnapps. Adult beverages being extremely popular, everyone lined up for a taste of this! Jen and I on the other hand are less interested in adult beverages, only very occasionally do we have a drink or maybe two. 

Although just about everyone (including me) tried a small taste of the Schnapps (appropriately called Black Death)!! This alcohol is commonly given to chase down the after taste of the Greenland Shark. All I can say is that it is STRONG!!! Even for the others that are more inclined to enjoy adult beverages..... you could hear the almost unanimous reactions of "Wow.....Holy S*%$ (in different languages) that is awful!! I gave it the nickname of rocket fuel! For me, I much preferred the Shark! 

      With a memory of this wonderful day behind us and the taste of that Shark still with me, time to head back to the ship! The tour was a wonderful way to experience the amazing culture of Iceland. Anyone going here should take this tour.... and you really have to try the Shark! 

      Back on the Nieuw Statendam, the sun made a full appearance and we were welcomed back by more rainbows including this double rainbow!

     After freshening up in our room, we decided to go downstairs to have a relaxing tea and coffee and  maybe a fresh-baked cookie or two. The ship was scheduled for a 5:00 pm departure. We had a 7:00 dinner reservation so we had a little time to relax and enjoy the harbor for the last time.

     In the afternoon, the Gulls and Eiders started congregating along the other shore. Their numbers had grown substantially since the morning. Glaucous Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were the only two species roosting there.

       The Gulls and Terns were still active flying by the ship and around the harbor. Striking adult Black-headed Gull.............

      A few Kittiwake investigate the harbor, this one landing on a channel marker pole. 

         I was beginning to wonder where all the first and second cycle Glaucous Gulls were? The first one of the day and the trip (so far) flew in. 

      More and more Icelandic Sheep came down form the upper slopes t browse along the shoreline- 

      A lot of tender boat activity in the harbor area..... it appeared like the other two Cruise Ships at the pier area were also departing today.

       This flock of Eiders seems to like this area at the tip of the breakwater. But the amount of Black-headed Gulls gathering on the water outside the Eiders gradually increased. They were waiting for something, and I knew just what that was.

                            One last Black Guillemot in the harbor for the day.

      And one last rainbow! The most rainbows we have ever seen has been here in Iceland. 

      At 4:45 pm, the Statendam, started their enormous diesel engines and tested their thrusters. This is what all the Gulls that were congregating were waiting for! The water churning caused by the engines and thrusters attracted the Gulls for hopes of an easy meal form the turbulence caused by the propellers. 

                        Its on now!...............

                  ....... and just like the beginning of a fish feeding frenzy, the Gulls started, small groups of Black-headed Gulls at first.........

              ......... and then more and more arrived making the overall group larger with Glaucous Gulls joining the frenzy.......

        .......... and the numbers grew. There were several hundred Gulls at this point-

                                     More and more Glaucous Gulls........

                         Finally an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull joins the group- 

         One of only a few juvenile Black-headed Gulls I saw is area of predominantly adults. 

     The second first cycle Glaucous Gull of the day. This ssp. of the Glaucous Gull with its heavily marked plumage is one that we never see at home in New England. We only see the first cycles that are mostly white or latte-colored with minimal plumage markings. It was a good opportunity to experience this ssp. and document it in photographs.  

    As we got closer to the time to cast off the pier, the Gulls seemed to settle a bit as if they realized that they had "clammed this tide"! 

     Little by little, all the Gulls left and settled back into their resting spots on the opposite shore and huddled in behind the breakwater. They were back in position waiting for the next cruise ship to get ready to leave the pier.

     At 5:00 pm sharp, the Nieuw Statendam pulled away from the cruise ship pier. The afternoon sun illuminated the area and the surrounding mountains came alive in this fjord.

    I had about an hour to enjoy the last birds of the day before getting ready for dinner. There were a few birds along the shore as we sailed out of the fjord. Cormorants were scattered along the shore. 

     The ever present Arctic Terns were such a joy.... they were continual on the trip into Isafjordur this morning and now on the trip out this afternoon.

  

My best look at a juvenile Arctic Tern-

 

     

                                                            Another one........

     Getting closer to the mouth of the fjord saw several Gull roosts.......

              

           These Gull roosts however had more Lesser Black-backed, Herring, Great Black-backed Gulls in them. I even saw the first (and only) Common Mew Gull for the day that I could ID in my binoculars. Also there were several first cycle Glaucous Gulls as well. 

      Another large roost at the mouth of the fjord. And in the images outside the Gulls were several small groups of Alcids (probably Razorbill) and Eiders. 

    

    A few Alcids completed the day which were mostly swimming including this first of many Razorbill groups consisting of a male parent (or two) and their fledglings.

             Another first for the trip (s far) a fledgling Atlantic Puffin known here as a "Puffling".

      Even though you can't see it in this image, their were Alcids (probably Puffins and Razorbill) scattered across the sea. 

                           One of the few distant flying Puffins to end the day.

         And this Fulmar doing what it does best......find the floating offal in this case a dead fish.

   

                      Just like how the morning started......Sooty Shearwaters-

                                                        A few more Fulmars- 

                                Sooty Shearwater and an Atlantic Puffin- 

                        The last bird for the day, and Atlantic Puffin flying closer to the ship.

                          Wait! One last Rainbow..... the final shot of the day! 

             Time to document the Puffin decoy's travels........late day in the Isajfardurdjur Fjord.

     Time to cap-off this fantastic day with a perfect finish of a beautiful dinner! Tonight we decided on Italian! For the starter: Smoked Trout Salad......... tasted a little bit better than the Shark! 

                                       Squid for me.........

                                              Chicken Florentine for Jen! 

     Isafjordur was Jen and my second favorite place in Iceland so far. This area was perfect for spending a couple of days exploring on our own!



    Bird list for today: Iceland Eider (yes), Atlantic Puffin (yes), Great Skua (no), Thick-billed Murre (no), Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Common Murre (no), Mallard, Graylag Goose, Purple Sandpiper, (Misc. Shorebirds), Gyrfalcon (Maybe/probably/most likely), Parasitic Jaeger (yes), Raven, Great Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, European Herring Gull, Common Mew Gull, Black-headed Gull, Arctic Tern, Black-legged Kittiwake, Northern Fulmar (yes) including one dark/blue morph, Gannet 

 Tomorrow August 17, 2025- We will be arriving at the 6th cruise                     port, and the 4th port in Iceland.

                                         Reykjavik-  

This blog report is in progress. I continue to work on it and am writing the next port destinations. I will post them when each destination page is posted. For now, I am posting them out of order. When I have completed the entire trip report, I will re-post them in order. 

To go back to the beginning of this in progress trip report, click on "Older Posts" below right