Harlequin Duck ~ Iceland - 29.06.14

Most reports that I had read suggested that the drakes come down from the rivers to the coast around mid-June, but had thought that our best chance was on the Laxa River near Myvatn ..

So when driving on the 54 out towards Grundarfjordur on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula we spotted a drake in the roadside pools ...

The bird flew back up stream and joined another drake and a duck, all three drifted down into the pools ..

A pair remained in the pools most of the time, where as the lone drake flew up stream and drifted back many times ...

Great birds that were just feeding in the fast flowing water but gave us chances for some images ... 

Harlequin Duck

Settings were 1/800 ~ 1/1250 

F 5.6 at iso 400

Given that these were all taken in dull overcast conditions im pleased with my results ...  

Golden Plover ~ Iceland - 29.06.14

Numerous lava fields were the place for Golden Plover, set against the rock covered in lichen and moss made for perching on, and when the same rock was diffused as the back-drop it gave off hues of purple and green ...

Our most productive lava field was where the main road 54 Snaefellsnesvegur forked off with the Helgafellssveitarvegur on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula ...

Golden Plover

The lava fields were vast and covered huge areas, a great location ...

Red-Throated Diver ~ Iceland - 29.06.14

We found so many pairs of Red-Throated Divers, most had young out on the water ..

Six adults on what was just a large puddle and I found a creche pool with 9 young birds with 1 adult ...

We found a small lake not far from where we were based, we watched the bird, checking its routine, then did a trial run which went well, so we backed out to return in the morning ...

The following morning was dull and overcast, but after a lengthy approach all the way in prone, I finally push my lens out through the long grass and was treated to a 1 on 1 with the diver, at times to close to fit it in the frame, twice preening itself  and a wing stretch all fantastic to watch but the bird had moved so close to me it was impossible to frame it ..

A great experience ...

Red-Throated Diver

I backed out the way i went in ...

Happy days ..

Red-Necked Phalarope ~ Iceland - 28.06.14

These smart little waders can be found fairly easily on the Snaefellsnes peninsula where we were based ..

With the largest flocks being found at Myvatn 48 in one group !!

The first set of images where taken on the island of Flatey, you take the ferry Baldur in Stykkisholmur its a 1 1/2 hr crossing, this is a must visit if your planning a trip ...

  

Returning on the half one ferry we then drove the coast road 54, and found some small pools at the road side heading west about 1km before Grundarfjordur here you could get down to eye level with the birds on the water ...

Enjoyed my time with these birds ..

Kumlien's Gull ~ 2cy ~ Littlehampton, West Sussex - 18.05.14

An easy decision to make, go and have another look at the Kumlien's Gull on West Beach, Littlehampton and with absolutely nothing else on offer it turned out to be a great afternoon ...

Still with a complete set of juvenile feathers.

The juvenile feathers are now well worn and faded.

See how its faded since this image from 01.03.14