Spring
In April, when the spring sun starts to prevail, you may spot grass snakes on the north side of Slåensø. They mate from April onwards and may be observed throughout the summer. This is also the time when the deciduous trees start turning green.
In several areas of the forest floor, anemones bloom, but they are less numerous now than earlier as the many deer forage on their roots in the winter. In the light and open meadows, you may see a variety of different flowers, such as broad-leaved marsh orchids, yellow marsh marigolds and ragged robins.
The bird song also peaks now, and with more than 50 breeding species, there is much to see and hear. Start before the trees come into leaf. Listen to the birds that overwintered and note how migrating species slowly appear and join the choir.
In early May, in Millingbæk, Hulebæk and Rødebæk, you may spot lots of roaches which have migrated up from Borre to lay their eggs. Incidentally, Millingbæk acquired its name from the small cyprinids - bleaks - which are locally known as “millinger”. Just like the roaches, the bleaks also migrate to lay eggs in May.
Summer
In Sønderskoven, you may spot roe deer, red deer and fallow deer all year round, but they look great in the summer. It is usually better and easier to observe them at sunrise and sunset.
Around the woods, there are several large systems of badger burrows. As the nights are very short, they are often forced to be out in daylight and you may be lucky to spot them in the early hours of the morning.
In August, when the heather blossoms, it is also time to pick cranberries and blueberries. Remember buckets and baskets.
Fall
In September and October, crowds of people gathering mushroom may be seen collecting boletuses, russulas and chanterelles. Trumpet chanterelles are abundant.
Autumn is abundant in birds. For example, one may spot the grey wagtail, which is easily recognisable with its long tail, yellow belly and grey back. It breeds along streams and waterfalls – preferably naturally winding streams. Those years, when the beech has blossomed and grown mast, the woods are teeming with flocks of chaffinches and bramble finches that gorge on the nuts.
Winter
When the cold and the frost make themselves felt, the colourful kingfishers – blue-backed and orange-bellied – are found near streams and lakes. The kingfisher may be spotted at Stigsballe Vig, for example, where grebes are found. Incidentally, birds and wildlife roam here apparently unaffected by sailing, etc. In winter, you may spot dippers at Millingbæk.