Experience the Thrush Nightingale – a magical morning on the common

Birdwatching
Approx. 2.5 hours
1 - 4 people*
All weather
May - June
Morning | Evening/Night
Moderate

Experience the Thrush Nightingale and a magical morning at Amager Fælled

Come along and listen to the Thrush Nightingale's distinctive and enchanting song. Experience the magical atmosphere of twilight when the impressive chorus of birds singing can be heard at dawn in spring and early summer. The Thrush nightingale is one of our most famous and mythical birds. Not least because Hans Christian Andersen immortalized the species in his famous fairy tale of the same name. Other poets and writers such as Grundtvig, Blicher, Tove Meyer, and Astrid Lindgren, have also written about the nightingale. The Thrush Nightingale is primarily known for its fantastic song, which, with its whistles, chuckles, and chirps, is perhaps more distinctive and remarkable than beautiful and melodic, such as the song of the Blackbird! It is also a bird that very few people have seen. And you can experience it in the middle of the city—just a few kilometers from the Town Hall Square! As loud as it sings, the Thrush Nightingale lives just as discreetly. With its dark brown upper side, light brown-gray underside, and reddish-brown tail, its plumage is neither conspicuous nor flashy. It lives a very discreet life and prefers to remain hidden in the vegetation. So even though the male sings loudly, it is almost impossible to see! Even at a distance of a few meters, you have to be lucky to catch just a glimpse of the Thrush Nightingale! But if you have ever heard the Thrush Nightingale sing on a beautiful early summer morning, you will remember it as one of the great experiences of nature. It is an experience you should not miss out! If you want to hear the Thrush Nightingale sing, it is in May and June. The Thrush Nightingale only stays in the country for a short time. It arrives at the beginning of May and leaves already again, by the end of July. Its song falls silent during June, and after Midsummer's Day, most of them have stopped singing! Instead, it spends its time raising its young before they migrate to southern climes. The Thrush Nightingale must be experienced in nature—because, as it says in the fairy tale: “It looks best in the green outdoor!”

Tour description

Early morning This birdwatching trip starts early in the morning – preferably 30-60 minutes before sunrise! At this time of day, you get the full experience and the magical atmosphere when the Thrush Nightingale and all the other birds wake up and start singing as the daylight increases. We walk at a leisurely pace along gravel paths and trails, stopping several times along the way to listen to the birds and experience the impressive morning chorus of bird songs taking shape. Along the way, we also try to learn to recognize the different bird species by their songs. In addition to the Thrush Nightingale—the main attraction of the tour—we expect to hear a number of more common species, such as Blackbird, Song Thrush, Dunnocks, Whitethroats, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroats, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, and, last but not least, the Cuckoo. If we are lucky, we may hear the Icterine Warbler, Marsh Warbler, or even a Grasshopper Warbler! Even if you are not a morning person, don't cheat yourself out of a magical and unique experience in the middle of Copenhagen! Evening bird walk But if a morning walk isn't your thing, don't worry—join us on an evening walk instead! The evening walk begins 1-2 hours before sunset. We walk quietly and listen to the birds singing at the end of the day and at dusk. Along the way, we experience how the birdsong gradually fades during the evening, until finally only the Thrush Nightingale continues into the night. We end the walk about 30-60 minutes after sunset. We expect to hear the same bird species as on the morning walk, but since birds are usually more active in the morning, the experience will not be nearly as intense.

Practical information

Location Amager Fælled (Amager Common), Copenhagen. Period The Thrush Nightingale tour can be booked during the period 1 May to 30 June. Duration Duration of approx. 2 - 2,5 hours. Tour start The recommended time for starting the tour changes throughout the season in line with the rising and setting times of the sun. Nightingale tour - morning: Tour starts between 04:00 - 07:00, depending on the date. We recommend start time before sunrise, but we can start at other times. Nightingale tour - evening: The recommended tour starts is between 19:00 - 20:30, depending on the date. The tour ends approx. 30 - 45 minutes after sunset (approximately 21:30 - 22:30, depending on the date). What to bring

If you have binoculars, bring them.
Warm clothes. It can be cold around sunrise and sunset, and part of the time we stand still and listen for the birds.
Practical footwear. It can be damp and muddy on some of the paths. We basically follow the larger gravel paths, but we might make small detours following footpaths.

Meeting location
Agreed when booking the tour, but typically we meet at DR Byen Metro Station, or at the entrance to Amager Fælled at Artillerivej/Axel Heides Gade.

For whom
The tour is for everyone, you don't need to be a birdwatcher to take part. The most important thing is that you want to experience birding and birdsong.

If you are a birdwatcher, the tour is suitable for beginners, for those who want to learn about the songs of the birds, or for those who just need to refresh the songs of the different species.

Registration and contact
Registration is required and is done to kontakt@whynotbirds.com

If you have any questions, send an email to kontakt@whynotbirds.com or text to +45 6140 7176.

Be aware of
No two days are the same when watching birds. Weather, wind and light conditions in particular have an impact on the experience and what you see or hear on the individual trip.

In case of persistent rain or very bad weather, the tour will be cancelled.