1.9 kmWhite-tailed Eagles at Filsø
Same bird area and a specific opportunity to see sea eagles at Filsø’s towers.
Filsø lies like a large, open expanse of water south of Henne, where meadows, bogs and dune heath meet the West Jutland sky. Here the experience is not tightly packed: you can see far, hear the birds before you see them, and the landscape changes character from broad lake surface to low, wet meadows.
Birdlife is one of the clearest reasons why many people linger at Filsø. From Filsø-Ellipsen and the bird towers, you can follow resting migratory birds on the lake and the protected islands. In spring and autumn, starlings can gather in large flocks, and among the notable breeding birds in the area are white-tailed eagle, crane, bittern, marsh harrier, avocet, as well as gull and tern colonies.
Filsø is not just a lake; it is a landscape that has returned. After long periods of drainage, the lake was recreated by stopping pumps, closing ditches, leveling embankments and creating bird islands. The result is shallow freshwater surrounded by open, light-filled areas, where nature management with grazing cattle is meant to keep reeds and willow scrub down. Red deer can also be seen in the area, especially by Petersholm Tower and during the rutting season around October.
Petersholm Tower stands by Petersholm in the southwestern part of the Filsø area, overlooking Petersholm and Søndersø. It is reached from the parking area at Kærgård Plantation on Kærgårdvej, where an information building, toilet, and barbecue area are also mentioned.
The trail and tower are described as suitable for wheelchairs, and the place is known for herds of red deer. The animals are not only a beautiful sight; they are part of the grazing that keeps the marshes and meadows open.
The white-tailed eagle is not just an occasional visitor at Filsø. The pair settled in quickly after the lake was restored and has bred in the area every year since 2013.
The best chances are often from Dæmningsvejen and Langoddetårnet, where the eagles may appear over the lake surface or sit low and heavy on the islands in Mellemsø. On Eagle Day, ornithologists have stood here with telescopes; the rest of the year, you have to rely on patience and a good pair of binoculars.
Kirkebyvadtårnet is located by Mellemsøen in the northern part of Filsø and offers a view over large parts of the recreated lake. It is one of the places where there is mention of a chance to see otters, and the cormorants can sit in the trees by the tower.
There is no parking area right by the tower. Parking is indicated at Henne Church on Strandvejen 234; from there, the route follows a field path towards the tower. The sources give the distance differently, from a little over 1.5 km to approximately 3 km.
