Roger and Christine White

Summary of a short tour from Hamburg to Fehmarn, then Copenhagen and on to Falsterbo in Sweden.

Friday 12 Sept
Collected hire car from Hamburg airport in the afternoon and drove to Grünebrink on the north coast of Fehmarn.. A lot of waders and Shelduck on the lagoon. No raptors seen.
Saturday 13 Sept

Went to Orth and walked along the dyke. Red-breasted Mergansers on the seaward side. Lapwings ++ and variety of duck on the inland water. Then on to Markelsdorfer Huk. Walked to the lighthouse then left through a gate to the beach and continued on to the point. Greenshank, then lot of Spotted Redshank, Avocet, Knot, Redshank, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Lapwing. Eiders on the sea.

Sunday 14 September

A visit to the reserve at Wallnau, It was not a good time to visit and the bird life was sparse. Avocet, Wigeon, Snipe. Back again to the east end of Grünebrink. Numerous Dunlin, Lapwing, Shelduck. Sparrowhawk.

Monday 15 September
Drive to Lübeck and then train north to Denmark. Picked up car at Copenhagen airport Crossed the Oresund bridge to Sweden, heading for Skanor.
Tuesday 16 September
Sunny today but still fresh east wind. Got to the lighthouse area about 8.45. Small bird migration still in full swing against the east wind. 3 Woodlark as we got out of the car. Stood near the lighthouse and watched Chaffinches, Linnets, Siskins coming in large numbers. Lots of Sparrowhawks (50+) a few Buzzards, Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby, Merlin around the lighthouse, 3 Red Kites, One low Honey Buzzard as we got back to the car. Ate lunch at the Heath. Some high Buzzards, Red Kites, and more Sparrow hawks.
Wednesday 17 September
At the lighthouse at 8.30. Not quite so windy, but still east. Fewer small birds and not quite the same Sparrow hawk numbers. Late am went back to the lighthouse. Some more raptors around. 2+ Hobby, Red Kites and distant larger raptors. Goldcrests, Chiff Chaffs, Black Woodpecker around the lighthouse. Cranes, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawks. Tree pipit, Crossbill.. Back to Copenhagen for the return flight to Bristol.

Full details of the sites on Fehmarn are in “A Birdwatching Guide to North East Germany and its Baltic coast” – see Information section.