Birds all year round

In the period April-June,godwits are easy to see and hear on the seaside meadows, particularly around Bletholm. Dunlins, on the other hand, are much harder to spot, but
the little population can be found in places such as the meadows by Klægodde, where
avocets can also usually be observed strutting around on their long blue legs. For these meadow species to breed successfully, the grass on the meadows must be cropped by cattle or cut to make hay. The dunes to the west of the fjord house a healthy population of blue-headed wagtails, which are otherwise in severe decline.

In the spring, large flocks of golden plovers pass through the region, along with bar-tailed godwits, dunlins, reeves and knots. At this time of the year, you can also see large flocks of geese building up their strength for the journey to their breeding grounds. Most of them are Brent Geese or barnacle geese, but you may also see a number of rare pale-breasted Brent Geese, particularly just to the north of Thorsminde or near Fjandø. They are easy to spot, and their special call can be heard over great distances. Fjandø forms the breeding grounds for many species of gulls and terns, but in some years, their numbers are limited by the foxes that also breed on the island. You can normally see sandwich terns, common terns, Arctic terns, common gulls, lesser and great black-backed gulls. The marsh harrier and the bittern also breed in the reed banks around Felsted Kog. The former can often be seen hunting low over the rushes, while the “foghorn” can be heard from a long way away – both day and night.

During the migration period, Nissum Fjord – particularly its northern section – is still an important resting place for numerous species of ducks: teals, greylag geese and wigeons, which are seen in greatest numbers. Other species seen here include the grey goose, mallard, common goldeneye and common merganser. The last two species are especially common around Felsted Kog. The many species of birds in the region naturally atract many birds of prey. The common buzzard, rough-legged buzzard, hen harrier and kestrel can often be observed hunt-ing, and the peregrine falcon and white-tailed eagle are spotted every year, too.