Day 3

The Jutland Wadden Sea – Fanø.


See map

One-day trip to Fanø – the northernmost island in the Jutland Wadden Sea . Fanø is situated off Esbjerg . The ferry will take you to Fanø in 12 minutes. See further information. Fanø is a wonderful place to observe the large flocks of migrating birds. It is estimated that between 10 and 12 million wading birds migrate across the Jutland Wadden Sea each year. Fanø has many possibilities for birding – you will find seabirds at the beach, small birds in bushes and forests, and thousands of geese, ducks and wading birds. The best time is during the rising tide when the birds have to move to higher sandbanks close to the beach. The enormous sandbank Keld Sand, to the east of Sønderho at the southernmost part of the island, has room for thousands of wading birds during high tide. Here you will also find sheldrakes, geese, and different wading birds in very large concentrations outside the breeding period. The southern part of Fanø is also excellent if you want to see migrating small birds. During the autumn months, the small scrubs and the gardens in Sønderho may be alive with tired birds which have been flying all night, and now want to spend the day recovering. Here you will find, among others, redstarts, blackcaps, willow warblers, goldcrests and robins – birds which may also migrate in large flocks. In October, all bushes will contain redwings and fieldfares. The reason why Sønderho has so many small birds is that the birds “end up at the bottom” of the island when they migrate from the north.

You should spend a day on Fanø. You can observe the birds on the tidal flats and along the shore from the top deck of the ferry on the way to the island. If you come by car, it’s a good idea to start by driving along the beach from the north (Fanø Bad) towards Sønderho in the south. Stop to the left of the beach route at Sønderho to look for bitterns and the various birds of prey which will be hunting for small birds in the reed forest or above the sea. Continue through the town to the old harbour and look across the tidal flats – the so-called Keld Sand. Binoculars or telescopes are an advantage. On the way, you can take a walk in the old town and look for small birds in bushes and trees. Finish by going north (towards the ferry). It’s a good idea to take one of the small roads on the east side of the island, where there’s a good chance of observing ducks and wading birds.