The birds at Bulbjerg

The steep and inaccessible cliff is Denmark’s only bird cliff and breeding ground for close to five hundre couples of the North Atlantic seagull, Riden, which is also known as the three-toed gull. The rare fulmar can also be found breeding at Bulbjerg, however, not on the sale scale. The fulmar is not a seagull like the Ride, but is rather related to the albatross. This is evident when in flies across the water with stiff wings, even in hard wind. The fulmar can also be distinguished from Riden on the small pipe that it has on top of its beak. The beak is used to remove salt from the sea water. Both birds are acclimated to life at sea and have specialised in building nests on the small shelves and projections that can be found on cliffs, mountains and rocks.

The ocean continues to wear on Bulbjerg and therefore the entire north side towards the ocean is formed as a steep cliff. Each year there are smaller landslides and every once in a while larger pieces fall into the ocean.

World War 2

The magnificent views from Bulbjerg gave the place a strategic role during World War 2 and included the establishment of a radar- and listening post for the canons in Hanstholm. The many bunkers and concrete foundations bear witness hereof. In the plantations, approx. 1-2 km’s around Bulbjerg there are also many traces from the occupation. This includes machine gun positions, crew bunkers, concrete roods and not forgetting “Tankgraven” – which is a ditch that are several km’s long and three meters deep that was constructed in order to prevent tanks and other vehicles from attacking Bulbjerg from land.

There is a car road all the way to the top of Bulbjerg where you can find parking and restrooms. In the former observation bunker on the edge of the cliff there is a small exhibition that explains Bulbjerg’s geology, the bird cliff, the occupation and the cultural history of the area.

The plantations and dune moors around Bulbjerg

The planting of the dune plantation in Vester Torup started in 1890. The majority of the plantation is located on the Bulbjerg-island, which means that the soil is moraine – that is, sediments from the Ice Age of clay and gravel that is later covered by shifting sands.

The thickness of the shifting sand is decisive for the soil’s fertility. On the meagre dunes where the layer of sand is more than 20 meters thick there are not many trees and herbs. Here you can still find the mountain pone which was the start of the plantation. The more fertile areas of the plantation are found towards the east where the layer of sand is so shallow that the tree roots can reach the clay and chalk. Here you will find an abundance of hardwood trees and bushes.

The plantations and the open areas around them provide good opportunities to see red deer and roe deer. The best chances are in the twilight and it is also around this time of the day in the early summer that you might see the nightjar with its strange whirring voice.

To the north of Lild Duneplantation you find large connected areas of dune moors that are preserved and selected as an international nature preservation area. The dune moors are, even on a European scale, a very rare type of nature. The plant- and wildlife found on the dune moors is unique and adapted to the specific conditions that are found in dunes, moors, moor bogs and moor lakes. Among the thicket plants are moor heather, crowberry, bell heather, bog myrtle, cranberry and sundew. The moors are kept free of unwanted trees and are cultivated by mowing, burning and grazing.