English Experience the BirdsIN THE TOP OF DENMARK DENMARK’S BEST LOCATION FOR BIRDWATCHERS Experience birdlife at any time of the year. Experiences can be shared with others. WELCOME TO THE TOP OF DENMARK - the best place to spot birds - whatever the time of year! The northern part of Denmark is a magical region in which to watch birds. This region of Denmark contains a great mosaic of land- scapes and habitats, as a result of which there’s a huge number of different species of birds - ranging from the smallest Goldcrests to Europe’s tallest bird, the Crane - that can be spotted in the region. You can see a great number of common species of birds at various locations such as the beach, sea, salt marshes, dune heaths, bogs, deciduous and coniferous forests, river valleys and rocky islets. You may also be lucky enough to see extremely rare species. In the Land of Light you can see fantastic birds all year round. Winter There are often large numbers of birds to be spotted over the sea, including ducks, gulls, auks and guillemots. The fishing ports at Hirtshals, Skagen and Strandby are well worth a visit to see the fascinating gulls. Spring Birds come to breed, and announce their arrival via their different songs. Depending on the location, you can find many breeding birds. Spring migration takes place over Skagen, but large migra- tions can also be seen along the east or west coasts depending on the weather conditions. Summer Breeding pairs raise their young during the summer. It’s a quiet time, but try heading out into one of the dune plantations on a summer night to listen to the strange churring trill of the Nightjar. Autumn The time for birds migrating south. Watching the staging areas of waders on beaches and salt marshes as well as seabirds and web- footed birds over the sea are interesting ways to pass the time. HOW TO SEE THE BIRDS IT’S NOT AT ALL DIFFICULT There are birds everywhere, but once you’ve decided to really WATCH them, then your vision will be sharpened; you notice their shape, colour, flight and silhouette. Your hearing will also be en- hanced as you listen to the bird’s song. But what species is it? Get hold of a pair of binoculars – preferably with a magnification of 8-10x and bring an ornithology book with you. Good guides can be purchased at reasonable prices or borrowed from the library. If you enjoy birdsong, CDs are also available. It’s also a good idea to browse the internet (www.dof.dk) and visit the websites of local ornithological societies. Here you’ll often find news of excursions you can go on. Good tips for a successful trip Visit, for example, the places we suggest in this folder. If you meet someone with a telescope or an expensive pair of binoculars, then you’ll almost certainly have come across an ornithologist. If you take care of the countryside and don’t make a lot of noise, are friendly and courteous, then you’re likely to strike up a conversa- tion in which you’ll pick up a lot of knowledge and help in finding the right places to spot birds. Who knows, you may even get the chance to look through his or her telescope. Children are extremely curious and love to get out into the coun- tryside, but it’s important to let them know that when out bird- watching we must look and listen, not be noisy and rush about. It’s also a good idea to leave your dog at home. Remember Warm clothing – even during the summer! Good waterproof shoes or boots, hot coffee or something else to drink and a good packed lunch. Take a small rucksack and something to sit on, so you don’t get cold and wet. Take care of the countryside, both for your own sake and that of the local flora and fauna. Remember that we share the country- side. It’s the only one we’ve got... WHICH BIRDS CAN YOU SEE? The Corn Bunting: “Tick-tick” crackling sound The Golden Plover’s plaintive “toee” call. THE CORN BUNTING - North Jutland’s bunting The Corn Bunting is characteristic of North Jutland, and isn’t -of ten seen elsewhere in Denmark. It’s in the bunting family, which is closely related to the familiar sparrow. The Corn Bunting can be seen in the open landscape, where the male can often be found sitting - at any time of the year - on an observation post, a gate, a post or a road sign singing its simple song which consists of a series of whirring sounds that start slowly and accelerate to a conclusion 2-3 seconds later. The Corn Bunting is a small brown bird with a white belly and a lightly speckled throat and breast. In the winter they often gather in small flocks on the fields and their short sharp tick-tick crackling call can be heard. THE EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER - golden and quiet The European Golden Plover is an autumn and winter guest in Denmark from Northern Scandinavia, where it breeds. Large flocks gather in Denmark and fly from field to field, where you can -fre quently see several hundred birds in the company of starlings and lapwings. In its winter plumage, which is what we most often see in Denmark, it has a light golden colour with a lot of light spots. With its round head and short bill, it’s easy to recognise compared to the other waders we see in the landscape. However, if the plover is at the beach, things become a little more difficult, as it can eas- ily be confused with its cousin, the Grey Plover. The Grey Plover is greyer (silvery) than the Golden Plover and has black feathers at the base of its underwing, which can be clearly seen in flight, as op- posed to the Golden Plover’s white feathers. The Golden Plover’s melancholy call, toee, is also easily recognisable compared to the three-part pee-oo-ee of the Grey Plover. WHICH BIRDS CAN YOU SEE? Red Kite with its striking “swallow’s tail”. The Thrush Nightingale has a beautiful and powerful song. THE RED KITE - taking the highway During the last 15-20 years the Red Kite has returned to Denmark to breed, initially in North Jutland, where a pair established them- selves at a plantation in Elling. The Red Kite can now be seen at many locations in the region throughout the year, and, along with the Vejle region in the southeast, North Jutland has become a key area for the Danish population. No other bird of prey resembles the Red Kite, which, with its fantastic hues of red, brown and white, is highly visible in the blue sky. Its striking “swallow’s tail” also makes it easy to recognise. You’ll see the kite gliding on long, slim wings with its tail making continuous corrections in flight along highways or sitting on a mast or a tree on the lookout for carrion. The kite is indeed one of the most important and attractive “waste collectors” in the countryside. THE THRUSH NIGHTINGALE - a voice in the dark The Thrush Nightingale is in decline, but remains a fairly common bird in North Jutland, where it can be found in areas with thicket, marsh and lakes. It has a habit of singing at night. It has a beautiful song, which is so powerful that it can be heard up to a kilometre away. The male sings to attract females from the sky when migrat- ing, and when looking for a mate the female flies over areas in which males build nests. If the female is attracted by the male’s song and flies down to him, he’ll immediately show her the nest he’s built. It’s well hidden in dense thicket, and indeed the Thrush Nightingale itself is often difficult to spot. If she’s attracted to him and likes the nest, then they’ll mate. The Thrush Nightingale sings in North Jutland from its time of arrival at the end of April until Midsummer. So head out on a quiet evening to listen to its song. WHICH BIRDS CAN YOU SEE? The Black Guillemot lives most of its life at sea. The Crane, Europe’s tallest bird. THE BLACK GUILLEMOT - with its bright red legs If you sail to the islands of Hirsholmene off the coast of Frederiks- havn, you’ll be welcomed by a small black auk with bright red legs. This is the Black Guillemot, which breeds between the rocks on the harbour’s southern breakwater. There are very few breeding colonies in Denmark, with the approximately 700 pairs on Hirsholm being the biggest. The Black Guillemot belongs to the group of auks which live most of their life at sea, where they are fantastic at catch- ing fish and can withstand storms and extreme cold like no other birds. Only during the breeding period - from April until the end of June - do they go ashore. They can dive deep below the waves and shoot up to the surface with a bill full of sand eels and other small fry. When the Black Guillemot flies, it does so at a low height above the water with very rapid beats of its wings, almost like a small rocket above the water. The two large white wing linings on the otherwise black bird are among its distinguishing marks. THE CRANE - trumpet and potatoes During recent years the Crane has returned to the Danish country- side.