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 Пірникоза велика, Лебідь-шипун, Гуска сіра , Крижень, Попелюх звичайний, Чернь чубата, Водяна курочка, Лиска звичайна, Чайка чубата, Сутора вусата, або синиця вусата, Підкоришник короткопалий, Горихвістка звичайна, Очеретянка ставкова, Очеретянка чагарникова, Кропив’янка прудка, Кропив’янка сіра, Шпак звичайний, Зеленяк звичайний and Вівсянка очеретяна. In the bog Яструб малий, Канюк звичайний, Зозуля звичайна, Дятел звичайний, Сойка звичайна, Гаїчка болотяна, Повзик звичайний, Ополовник звичайний, або синиця довгохвоста, Підкоришник звичайний, Підкоришник короткопалий, Дрізд співочий, Соловейко східний , Кропив’янка чорноголова, Кропив’янка садова, Вівчарик весняний, Вівчарик-ковалик, Костогриз, Щиглик звичайний, Снігур звичайний and Зяблик звичайний.

Summer guests include Клуша, Крячок каспійський, Крячок рябодзьобий and Крячок річковий are seen on a regular basis. In winter, especially during frost periods, Brobæk Mose (Brobækken) is known for freely exposed foraging Пастушок in the spring of the bog, in addition can which occasionally Слуква лісова and Плиска гірська are seen. Бугай водяний and Сіра сова are also observed in the area. Яструб великий can also be seen hunting in the area occasionally, and flocks of Омелюх звичайний can also be seen in the winter months. On the lake are often seen Лебідь-кликун, various ducks, including both Крех великий and also Крех малий 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 Чепура велика and various geese and ducks. A beautiful Чернь червонодзьоба 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 Канюк звичайний, Осоїд євразійський, occasionally spiced up withЗимняк, Шуліка рудий, Шуліка чорний, Орлан-білохвіст, Сапсан, Лунь очеретяний, Лунь польовий, Скопа (often foraging!) - and Підсоколик великий, Підсоколик малий and even Кібчик червононогий! Large flocks of Журавель сірий 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 Набережник палеарктичний, Коловодник лісовий, Баранець звичайний can be seen regularly. Furthermore, a flock of Сивка морська is noted pulling over the lake. Крук звичайний is regular. Рибалочка блакитний is regular, both in the bog and along the lake and Пронурок біловолий 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 Трав’янка лучна, Кам’янка звичайна, Мухоловка сіра and Мухоловка строката as well as Золотомушка жовточуба in the migration season. It can also be mentioned that Сорокопуд терновий and Сірий (Великий) сорокопуд 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.