ICELAND TRIP - 2015 TRIP REPORT LOCATION SUMMARIES: Day 1 – June 23 (6/23): This column includes all species seen from the time we arrived at Keflavík International Airport at about 6:30 a.m.; during our breakfast stop at the Keflavík Hotel; as we drove to Reykjavík to pick up our fellow travelers; on our drive north along Route 1 with a detour around Hvalfjörður on Route 47; and along Route 1 north to Routes 54 and 56 to Ólafsvik, arriving at 6:00 p.m. Lodging : Hotel Ólafsvik Day 2 – June 24 (6/24): This column includes all species seen during our early morning walk from Hotel Ólafsvik; as we drove counter-clockwise around the Snӕfellsnes Peninsula (Route 574) with stops at Rif Lagoon, Öndverðarnes, and Lóndrangar; and during our 2.5 km hike from Hellnar to Arnarstapi. (6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.). Lodging: Hotel Ólafsvik Day 3 – June 25 (6/25): This column includes all species seen from the time we left Hotel Ólafsvik at 7:45 a.m.; during our drive east to the ferry terminal at Stykkishólmur for the 9:00 a.m. departure to Flatey Island; as we walked through the village on Flatey; during our return trip to the mainland starting at 1:00 p.m.; and during our visit to the Berserkjagata lava flows, returning to Stykkishólmur at 6:00 p.m. Lodging: Hotel Stykkishólmur Notes: The ferry to Flatey is large and carries vehicles as well as passengers. The crossing to Flatey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Day 4 – June 26 (6/26): This column includes all species seen during our early morning walk around the harbor at Stykkishólmur; during our return visit to the Berserkjagata lava flows starting at 9:00 a.m.; on our drive east via Route 54 along the south coast of Hvammsfjörður to Buðardalur; along Route 59 to Hrútafjörður with lunch at Borðeyri; and along Route 1 through the Öxnadalur Valley with a stop at Blönduós en route to Akureyri, arriving at 6:00 p.m. Lodging: Öngulstaðir III Lamb Inn Day 5 – June 27 (6/27): This column includes all species seen on the grounds of Lamb Inn; during our drive east along Route 1 starting at 9:00 a.m.; during our visit to the Lake Mývatn area including Grjótagjá (mid-Atlantic Ridge fault); and during our late afternoon visit to Goðafoss (“Waterfall of the Gods”). We returned to Lamb Inn at 6:30 p.m. Lodging: Öngulstaðir III Lamb Inn Day 6 – June 28 (6/28): This column includes all species seen during our early morning walk from Lamb Inn; as we drove along Routes 1 and 82 to Dalvik and birded the harbor area there; during our ferry ride to Hrísey (11:30 a.m. departure); during our walk through the island village and along the nature trail for about three hours; during our return ferry ride starting at 3:00 p.m.; and during stops at the botanical garden and forest at Akureyri. We returned to Lamb Inn at 6:30 p.m. Lodging: Öngulstaðir III Lamb Inn Day 7 – June 29 (6/29): This column includes all species seen during our early morning walk from Lamb Inn; during our all-day trip via Route 1 to Shálholt with stops at Öxnadalur (glaciated valley), Blönduós, Grabrok (volcano crater), and Glanni (waterfall). We arrived at Skalholt at 6:45 p.m. Lodging at Shálholt (Skálholtsskóli) Day 8 – June 30 (6/30): This column includes all species seen during our early morning walk at Shálholt; during our drive to and visit at Geysir; at Gullafoss, Haukadalur (forest reserve), and Lake Þingvallavatn where we had a picnic lunch; and during our visit to Þingvellir (Althing); and during our return trip to Skálholt with a stop at Snӕfoksstađir (forest reserve) arriving at 6:45 p.m. Lodging at Shálholt (Skálholtsskóli) Day 9 – July 1 (7/01): This column includes all species seen during our early morning walk at Shálholt; during our drive east along Route 1 (starting at 9:00 a.m.) to the Fljotshliđ Valley with stops at Gluggafoss (Window Fall) and Seljalandsfoss; during our ferry ride to Vestmannaeyjar (Westmann Islands) starting at 12:30 p.m.; during our tour of Heimaey Island; and during our 6:00 p.m. return ferry trip and drive back to Shálholt, arriving at 8:30 p.m. Lodging at Shálholt (Skálholtsskóli) Day 10 – July 2 (7/02): This column includes all species seen during our early morning walk at Shálholt; during our drive along Route 35 south to Route 1 at Selfoss; along Route 1 west to Hveragerđi; along Routes 38 and 427 to Strandarkirkja (church) and Grindavik (Pilot Whale Bay); along Route 425 to the lighthouse and Great Auk memorial at Reykjanes; and along Routes 425, 44, and 45 to Gardskagi Lighthouse before ending our trip at Keflavik International Airport, arriving at 3:00 p.m. .