Iceland

Lying in the cold, gray waters of the North Atlantic, Iceland is a country that has long fired the imagination of travelers and birders alike. This is the land of ice and fire and of ancient sagas, where the mighty Gyrfalcon drifts over a dramatic volcanic landscape dotted with glaciers, gushing geysers, hot springs, mighty waterfalls, and endless emerald-green vistas. Iceland is almost too beautiful to be believed.

The birdlife is equally dramatic and varied, with such special species as Barrow’s Goldeneye and Harlequin Duck, and the massive spectacle of thousands of breeding alcids and waterfowl and lakes literally covered in Red-necked Phalaropes. In recent years, the waters of northern Iceland have become famous as a place to see Blue Whales and Orcas; although it can never be guaranteed, a boat trip offers arguably the best chance of seeing this legendary mammal anywhere in the world.