Nature and Scenery

The safety of the population and consideration for the birds go hand in hand at Sneum Sluse
south of Esbjerg. When, ten years or so ago, work was carried out to reinforce the Tjæreborg Dike, a large shallow lake was established at the same time. Today, it is one of the finest areas for birds in the region. The lake is what is known as a clay pit. To make the dike able to resist the power of the storm floods, a layer of “klaeg” – as the clayey soil of the marshes is known – has to be applied. The excavation of this “klaeg” created an artificial lake
behind the dike, a lake that wading birds and ducks use at high tide. Previously, such lakes
were dug deep so as to avoid using too much of the fertile agricultural land, but today lakes are often designed to be larger and shallower. In addition, when the banks are angled, the birds – and, in particular, their chicks – can easily enter and exit the water.

Access
The advantage of Sneum Klæggrav (clay pit) is that the area is easily accessible. Out of
consideration for the birds, it is not permitted to enter the meadows around the lake - but you do not need to. From the car park, there is a fine view out over the southern part of the lake, and from here you can walk up along the dike from where you can see the whole lake. The shallowest part of the lake is best observed from a small gravel track to the east, alongside the road. Many of the wading birds are to be seen here at high tide in the migration season. There is also always something really special on the other side of the dike. A small ladder leads to the top of the lock, from where there is a magnificent view over the foreland and the Wadden Sea. There are always birds here. In spring and autumn, you can almost always see a flock of Brent Geese below the lock. Like many of the other birds in West Jutland, these geese have travelled great distances. In fact, Brent Geese breed in Northern Siberia.

More clay pits
The clay pit by Sneum Sluse is not the only one of its kind in the Wadden Sea area. A similar
lake has been established by Ribe Kammersluse. However, the number of breeding birds here is lower, mainly because the banks are so steep. However, in spring and autumn, you can see large numbers of ducks, geese and wading birds here. In the late summer, the elegant spotted redshank can form groups numbering hundreds of birds. Work is currently being done to reinforce the dike a little further to the south at Rejsbydiget. This means that the old clay pit is being enlarged and, just like at Sneum, being designed to make it more attractive to the birds.