Sika Deer

Today I spent the afternoon in Dyrehaven, the former royal hunting grounds just north of Copenhagen. There are apparently around 2000 deer of three species - red, fallow and sika - that roam the old forests of mostly beech and oak and I came across two large herds of Sika deer today, probably numbering around 60-70 animals in total. I also saw evidence of Wild Boar, although none were seen.

There are some incredible gnarled oaks in the park and these are home to relatively high densities of Nuthatches, Treecreepers and Woodpeckers (including Black, Great Spotted and Lesser Spotted).

The area is served well by trains and a good way to see the park is to catch a train to Skodsborg and walk south (around 2 hours) to Klampenborg Station. This walk take you across a stream between Rådvad and Strandmøllen that is a traditional wintering area for Black-bellied Dipper. Today I had no luck with the Dippers but I did see a cracking male Goshawk, several Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Common Buzzards and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and heard what turned out to be an elusive Black Woodpecker. I heard a couple of Great Spots drumming but they are clearly not yet in full drumming mode - with several inches of snow still on the ground, who can blame them. Another month and the early morning air will be filled with head-banging woodpeckers - this has to be one of the best places in the country to see Greater and Lesser Spotted plus the scarcer Black.

The deer posed pretty well today - although wild, they are relatively approachable given the numbers of people that use the park for recreation.

Photos: Sika Deer; and a Nuthatch of the Scandinavian subspecies