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Flatey island

Westfjords  >  Iceland

Flatey is the only inhabited island of the 3,000 small islets dotting the Breidafjordur Bay. It is the best place in Iceland to spot the Rosse Franjepoot.

Geplaatst* door Jens De Bruycker
Meest recente update 11 mei 2025

Beschrijving

Flatey is a very small island, only a 1,5 km or so long, with one dusty road leading from the ferry dock through the so called old village. No cars are allowed on the island. The island is a paradise for bird watching with over 30 different species during the breeding season. On the road from the ferry to the village look for Eider , Zwarte Zeekoet and Zeearend at sea. In every pond you see many Grauwe Franjepoot.

Flatey is the best place in the world to see Grauwe Franjepoot up close. In the villlage you see plenty of Sneeuwgors on the rooftops. On the island look out for the hyper aggressive Noordse Stern colony (especially in summer when defending their chicks) as they dive for your head when you get to close. Keep one arm (or stick) in the air to keep them at a distance. Past the village the road leads to sea cliffs with Papegaaiduiker and Noordse Stormvogel . The part of the island where the Rosse Franjepoot breeds is closed to visitors, with very clearly placed STOP – DO NOT ENTER signs giving people no excuse to trespass. However, they can be frequently seen in the village, feeding in the grass at the feet of delighted birders. The best tactic for seeing Rosse Franjepoot on Flatey is to go up to the church (check out the cool Jesus-with-Islandic-sweater murial inside) and walk along the fence which runs down to the sea. Set up your scope by the stop sign and wait, because sooner or later one is likely to feed in the bay below - this tactic does not work at low tide, the birds like to feed on the surface of the water, not on mudflats, so if the tide is low, you are better off looking elsewhere. Fingers crossed!

Details

Toegang

A ferrystop on the way between the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords. The Seatours ferry to Flatey leaves from Stykkishólmur at 9 a.m. and arrives at 10:30 a.m. You can head back to Stykkishólmur at 13:15.

Terrein en leefgebied

Stad/dorp , Zee , Meer

Omstandigheden

Vlak

Rondlopende wandeling mogelijk?

Nee

Telescoop meenemen?

Kan handig zijn

Wanneer hier vogels kijken?

Het hele jaar

Toptijd voor dit gebied

Zomer , Lente

Route

Onverharde weg , Breed pad

Zwaarte wandeling

Gemakkelijk

Toegankelijk via

Te voet

Vogelkijkhut aanwezig?

Nee

Bekijk vogelgebieden in de buurt op Birdingplaces

Kaart

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