Puffins at Westman Islands (Iceland)

[Fredrik Backman]

I am planning a trip to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) in Iceland to shoot atlantic puffins in their breeding season. I was wondering if anyone on this forum had been there and could contribute some tips and advice?

Things on my mind are:

- When to go? I am currently aiming at end of July, early August
- Getting there. Flight from Reykjavik/elsewhere or maybe even the ferry?
- Where to stay? Anything recommended?
- Where on the main island (Heimaey) should I go to have the best chance of nice shots of the puffins? Any sweetspots?

Thanks a lot in advance for any help!

Rgds,
Fredrik

[Fredrik Backman]

Is there really no one on this forum who has been there who could share some pointers?

Would be incredibly helpful!

[John Chardine]

Hi Fredrik- I've been to Iceland twice but sadly never to the Vestmannaeyja. August is when the puffin young fledge and are gathered up by the locals and let go at sea. if you want to see puffins with food in their bills you should go before then when they are still feeding chicks in the burrows. There are regular flights from Keflavik Airport. I would send a PM to Reynir Skarsgard, one of our few BPN participants from Iceland. I'm sure he would be able to help.

[Gunnlaugur Sigurjónsson]

I am Icelandic and have been following the discussions on birdphotographers.net for some years. I have never participated in the discussions or critique forums but I think that I soon have to change that.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
I have not been to Vestmannaeyjar for some 25 years now and I have only taken puffins shots at Látrabjarg.<o:p></o:p>
I think July might be the right time to get the most activity in the puffins colonies, but I am no puffin expert.<o:p></o:p>
The homepage to the airline that serves Vestmanneyjar is www.eagleair.is (http://www.eagleair.is), <o:p></o:p>
The homepage to the ferry is http://eimskip.com/EN/iceland_domestic/herjolfur/<o:p></o:p>
There have been some problems for the ferry service after the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, the new harbor built to serve the ferry partly filled with ash and sand but now it seem that the problem will soon been taken care of. This winter the ferry have some days sailed from the old harbor in Þorlákshöfn but other days from the new harbor Bakki. It is about an hours drive between those locations.<o:p></o:p>
Keep away from Vestmanneyjar the weekend before the first monday in august, this year the 30. July -1. August, then there is a big fest there and thousands after thousands of youngsters go there to fest for 3 days. Travelling and accommodation are difficult during those days and all the people make photographing difficult. <o:p></o:p>
You can also look at Vestmannaeyjar homepage in English. There are information about accommodation and transportation. http://www.vestmannaeyjar.is/?p=100&id=2260 (http://www.vestmannaeyjar.is/?p=100&id=2260) or http://www.visitwestmanislands.com/english/<o:p></o:p>
I belive the best spots for puffins in Heimaey are Norðurklettar (the Northern-Cliffs) whose name are Dalfjall, Klif, Há, Heimaklettur og Ystiklettur and then there is Stórhöfði where there is a platform for observing puffins.<o:p></o:p>
Because puffins are hunted in Vestmanneyjar then they can be a little skittish of people. In Látrabjarg (on the northwestern corner of Iceland) and in Borgarfjörður Eystri (on the northeastern corner of Iceland) the puffins are more tame and I have been able to crawl to within a meter from them on the edge of the Látrabjarg cliff. <o:p></o:p>

[Fredrik Backman]

I am Icelandic and have been following the discussions on birdphotographers.net for some years. I have never participated in the discussions or critique forums but I think that I soon have to change that.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
I have not been to Vestmannaeyjar for some 25 years now and I have only taken puffins shots at Látrabjarg.<o:p></o:p>
I think July might be the right time to get the most activity in the puffins colonies, but I am no puffin expert.<o:p></o:p>
The homepage to the airline that serves Vestmanneyjar is www.eagleair.is (http://www.eagleair.is), <o:p></o:p>
The homepage to the ferry is http://eimskip.com/EN/iceland_domestic/herjolfur/<o:p></o:p>
There have been some problems for the ferry service after the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, the new harbor built to serve the ferry partly filled with ash and sand but now it seem that the problem will soon been taken care of. This winter the ferry have some days sailed from the old harbor in Þorlákshöfn but other days from the new harbor Bakki. It is about an hours drive between those locations.<o:p></o:p>
Keep away from Vestmanneyjar the weekend before the first monday in august, this year the 30. July -1. August, then there is a big fest there and thousands after thousands of youngsters go there to fest for 3 days. Travelling and accommodation are difficult during those days and all the people make photographing difficult. <o:p></o:p>
You can also look at Vestmannaeyjar homepage in English. There are information about accommodation and transportation. http://www.vestmannaeyjar.is/?p=100&id=2260 (http://www.vestmannaeyjar.is/?p=100&id=2260) or http://www.visitwestmanislands.com/english/<o:p></o:p>
I belive the best spots for puffins in Heimaey are Norðurklettar (the Northern-Cliffs) whose name are Dalfjall, Klif, Há, Heimaklettur og Ystiklettur and then there is Stórhöfði where there is a platform for observing puffins.<o:p></o:p>
Because puffins are hunted in Vestmanneyjar then they can be a little skittish of people. In Látrabjarg (on the northwestern corner of Iceland) and in Borgarfjörður Eystri (on the northeastern corner of Iceland) the puffins are more tame and I have been able to crawl to within a meter from them on the edge of the Látrabjarg cliff. <o:p></o:p>


Thanks for this great reply! Much appreciated indeed!