Gentofte Sø & Brobæk Mose

Lake Gentofte Sø (on almost 27 ha) and the bog of Brobæk Mose (Insulinmosen) together cover 53 ha and are the largest contiguous wetland in Gentofte Municipality. Originally the lake was in use for commercial fishing, and examples of the old fishing houses can still be seen at the lake shore. Today it is more like a park lake with several reed islands in the western part. On the east bank is Folkeparken with many old trees. To the area belongs the small lake Langkær, which lies between the lake and Gentofte Church to the east. Brobæk Mose west of the lake was previously known as Insulinmosen, as it was owned by Nordic Insulin Laboratory. The natural forest in the bog is left untouched, allowing the natural development of new growth as well as old felled trees are preserved. Efforts are made to preserve the open areas south of the bog (Gentofte Enge), where many rare plants occur. The entire nature area except for Folkeparken is an EU protected area. 14 ha (the northern half of Folkeparken and the northern part of Brobæk Mose) are also protected.

The above description has been made by caretaker Thomas Vikstrøm and Joy Klein (DOF/BirdLife Danmark). The description of bird life below is written by Frank Desting.

The area has a rich bird life both in terms of breeding birds and migratory birds in as well as summer and winter guests. Of breeding birds by the lake can be mentioned Mergulhão-de-crista, Cisne-vulgar, Ganso-comum , Pato-real, Zarro-comum, Zarro-negrinha, Galinha-d'água, Galeirão-comum, Abibe-comum, Chapim-de-bigode, Trepadeira-comum, Rabirruivo-de-testa-branca, rouxinol-dos-caniços, Felosa-palustre, papa-amoras-cinzento, Papa-amoras-comum, Estorninho-malhado, Verdilhão-comum and Escrevedeira-dos-caniços. In the bog Gavião da Europa, Águia-d'asa-redonda, Cuco-canoro, Pica-pau-malhado-grande, Gaio-comum, Chapim-palustre, Trepadeira-azul, Chapim-rabilongo, Trepadeira-do-bosque, Trepadeira-comum, Tordo-comum, Rouxinol-russo , Toutinegra-de-barrette-preto, Felosa-das-figueiras, Felosa-musical, Felosa-comum, Bico-grossudo, Pintassilgo, Dom-fafe and Tentilhão-comum.

Summer guests include gaivota-da-asa-escura, Gaivina-de-bico-vermelho, Garajau-comum and Andorinha-do-mar-comum are seen on a regular basis. In winter, especially during frost periods, Brobæk Mose (Brobækken) is known for freely exposed foraging Frango-d'água in the spring of the bog, in addition can which occasionally Galinhola and Alvéola-cinzenta are seen. Abetouro-comum and Coruja-do-mato are also observed in the area. Açor can also be seen hunting in the area occasionally, and flocks of Tagarela-europeu can also be seen in the winter months. On the lake are often seen Cisne-bravo, various ducks, including both Merganso-grande and also Merganso-pequeno now and then.

During the migration season many exciting bird species are seen, both resting and migrating over the area, this applies to, for example Garça-branca-grande and various geese and ducks. A beautiful Pato-de-bico-vermelho male has also 'consulted' the lake on and off in recent years.

There is also a nice bird of prey migration over the area with many Águia-d'asa-redonda, Bútio-vespeiro, occasionally spiced up withBúteo-calçado, Milhafre-real, Milhafre-preto, Águia-rabalva, falcão-peregrino, Tartaranhão-ruivo-dos-pauis, Tartaranhão-azulado, Águia-pesqueira (often foraging!) - and Ógea, Esmerilhão and even Falcão-de-pés-vermelhos! Large flocks of Grou-comum are seen migrating over the area every year, especially in east wind. Wading birds are not seen many of which lack some open wading surfaces where the birds can forage, but some Maçarico-das-rochas, Pássaro-bique-bique, Narceja-comum can be seen regularly. Furthermore, a flock of Tarambola-cinzenta is noted pulling over the lake. Corvo is regular. Guarda-rios-comum is regular, both in the bog and along the lake and Melro-d'água is also noted a few times.

Many different birdspecies pass the area during the migration season, various larks, pipits and various finches - and there are the occasional Cartaxo-nortenho, Chasco-cinzento, Papa-moscas-cinzento and Papa-moscas-preto as well as Estrelinha-de-poupa in the migration season. It can also be mentioned that Picanço-de-dorso-ruivo and Picanço-grande are also listed in the area. A big sensation was when on 10/11 2019 I found a new species for the country in Folkeparken by Gentofte Lake, namely Taiga Flycatcher! More about this find can be read in 'BIRD YEAR 2019' published by DOF/BirdLife Danmark.

The nearest S-train station is at Gentofte. From here, there is a walk of about 500 meters to the northern end of the locality. Bus 184 (which runs between Nørreport Station and Holte Station) stops at Sønderbakken, Søbredden and Brogårdsvej, right up to Gentofte Sø & Brobæk Mose. Buses 171, 176 and 179 also run past Brogårdsvej at the north end of the lake. If you come by car, you can park on one of the roads around the lake. There are toilets next to the jetty on the south-east bank of the lake. A 5 km long path leads all the way round the lake and through Brobæk Mose.