Does anyone know the chances of seeing puffins on the Westman Islands around August 9th or 10th? Will they still be there or have they left by that time? Thanks
Posted by
SE US
2329 posts
Puffins can be seen from early April through September. https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/jorunnsg/our-puffin-friends
Posted by
OP
53 posts
That's what I hoped to hear. Thank you
Posted by
12 posts
just got back from a trip and spent 1 day in westman islands - friday june 14. we saw ONE puffin. we saw it on the mountain in front of the bird 'blind' part of his driving tour of the island. puffins are really small actually. there were tons of other birds but we just saw one lone puffin. i know this may not help you for august but this is a recent experience from june.
Posted by
TX
496 posts
I saw zero. It's all about timing and what your priority is. I would have loved to see puffins, but decided I wouldn't waste several days looking for them, and focused on other things.
Posted by
Freehold, NJ, USA
33 posts
Just returned from a 22-day road trip around Iceland.
We saw hundreds of puffins at Borgarfjordur Eystri on the evening of June 8 and morning of June 9th.
Great place to view puffins. There is a boardwalk (with stairs) and you can get very close to the puffins without disturbing them. We drove counter-clockwise around the island (as per Rick's advise) and when we visited Dyrholaey, another spot known for puffins - we only saw 1 lonely puffin. Was told that over the last 3 yrs less and less puffins are seen at this location.
Posted by
OP
53 posts
Thank you all for your responses. The problem is that we will only have three days in Iceland and I don't think we will get to the east coast. I thought a day trip to the Westman Islands would be more doable on a three day trip.But I was really hoping to see puffins from fairly close up. I've been to Skellig Michael, where you can be right next to them, and I was hoping for a similar type of experience. Thanks for your help.
Posted by
1 posts
Hi! We visited the Westmann Islands in late May and saw very few Puffins from the blind and
none on a 2 hour RIB boat tour. Had much better luck believe it or not on a 1 hour excursion called
Mr Puffin out of the Old Harbor in Reykjavik. Great experience- saw hundreds of Puffins. They
run trips thru mid August.
Posted by
OP
53 posts
Thank you. I'll definitely try the boat tour from Reykjavik.