Deep Freeze

I don't think the temperature has risen above freezing for weeks and, in the last few days, it's been a consistent -2 to -4 with a bitter easterly wind. Today I cycled around the east coast of Amager. The sea remains frozen in places and, off southern Amager, the ice reaches over 100 metres from the shore. There are huge numbers of Fieldfares with smaller numbers of Redwing feeding on the berry-laden bushes (there are still a huge amount of berries left from last autumn's bumper crop) and, offshore, good numbers of winter wildfowl including Goldeneye, Whooper Swans and lots of duck you would normally expect to see on freshwater such as Tufted Duck, Coot, Wigeon and Mallard.

Off the east coast today there was a flock of 8 Smew, including 7 stunning drakes, diving just offshore and a little further along, near the airport, two Hen Harriers (an immature male and an adult female) were quartering the area of rough ground near the DSB train maintenance terminal. I searched the harbour at Dragør but, with the exception of 2 Rock Pipits, a few Black-headed Gulls, 4 Goosander and a Little Grebe, there was very little about.

Two Shorelarks (a potential new Danish bird for me) were seen today at Sydvestpynten so I hope to get out tomorrow to try my luck.. these northern larks are one of my favourite winter birds.

Photos: the iced up harbour at Dragør; and the slushy sea just offshore (which sounds just like pouring a slush puppie as the waves break!)