Birds all Year Round

In March and April – and, in mild winters, from the start of January – Brent Geese are the dominant species, particularly around Knopper Enge, where food has been put out for them every spring since 1991. Large numbers of pintails and wigeons arrive in March, and in April, they are joined by teals, garganeys, shovelers and some gadwalls. The first weeks of May mark the peak of the spring migration of wading birds, and the large numbers of brightly coloured ruffs make a pretty sight.

However, the autumn migration is more impressive as regards the numbers of birds and species on view. The migration of adult wading birds is already well underway in the middle of July, while the younger birds wait to follow until August. At low tide in good years, up to 25 species of wading birds can be observed at the beginning of August. All the species native to Denmark are on view. This is one of the best areas in West Jutland for spotting the red-necked Phalarope, and you can also see large numbers of knots, little stints and curlew sandpipers – as well as few broad-billed sandpipers. Several species of American sandpipers and grey phalaropes have been spotted on Harboøre Tange, and ringed plovers, golden plovers, black-bellied plovers, lapwings, common snipes, bar-tailed and black-tailed godwits, redshanks and greenshanks appear in large numbers.