680 mSkjern Enge
Same wetland with bird towers, trails, pull ferries and the great river valley story.
The bird tower by Skjernåvej is one of the places in Skjern Enge where you quickly get an overview. From the tower, Hestholm Lake lies open to both east and west, with grazing meadows, water surfaces and low dikes as clear lines in the landscape.
It is a good place even if you do not have binoculars with you. You stand above the meadow and can see how water, cattle grazing and open areas fit together in the restored river valley close to the mouth of the River Skjern in Ringkøbing Fjord.
By Skjernåvej there are good chances of seeing ducks and wading birds. In spring, migrating waders such as ruffs may appear, while summer can among other things bring spoonbills. White-tailed eagle is mentioned as a possibility year-round, which suits the site’s wide, open views well.
The Hestholm Lakes are considered among the important resting areas for birds in Skjern Enge, so even short stops can bring life on the water, in the air and along the meadow edge.
The tower is listed as accessible for people with disabilities, and locally it is stated that there is parking by the tower, about 20 metres away, as well as access suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. North of the parking area you can continue out onto the dikes. At extreme high water in spring, the access road can rarely be flooded, and dogs should generally be kept on a leash in Skjern Enge.
The birdwatching tower by Skjernåvej/Hestholm is one of the most used birdwatching spots in Skjern River Valley. From the tower, the view is directed toward Hestholm Lake, open water surfaces, and low meadows, where flocks of resting waterfowl often gather.
There is parking by the tower, about 20 meters away, and the access road is suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs. There is no toilet at the tower. A rare black-winged pratincole could once gather people with large binoculars within a few hours.
From the bird tower at Skjernåvej, the white-tailed eagle can be more of an effect than a sight: a dot high up, yet enough to send large flocks of geese into the air over the meadows. In the photo, the dot at the top is indeed a white-tailed eagle.
The white-tailed eagle has bred in the Skjern River Valley area since 2010 and can be seen foraging in the western part of the valley all year round. The spot by Skjernåvej is also mentioned for ducks and waders, so your gaze must go both down to the water surfaces and up over the open meadows. In autumn, thousands of geese can rest in Skjern Enge, and sometimes their sudden alarm reveals the bird of prey before the binoculars do.