Black Sun in the Tøndermarsken
Just before settling down for the night, large flocks of starlings create fascinating patterns in the sky that almost eclipse the sun; hence the Danish name, Sort Sol (Black Sun).
The Tøndermarsken wetlands in western Sønderjylland are the setting for a remarkable natural phenomenon known as Black Sun, Sort Sol in Danish. Here, close to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wadden Sea, huge flocks of starlings gather on their migration north or south.
In spring, and again from late summer through autumn, you can see starlings gathering across the Tøndermarsken. Just before sunset, hundreds of thousands of birds sweep across the sky in vast, shifting formations. As the flocks become so dense that they almost darken the sky, the spectacular phenomenon known as Sort Sol unfolds.
The starlings stop in the Tøndermarsken because the area offers excellent feeding and roosting grounds. During the day, they forage on the marshland's damp grasslands, while in the evening they gather among the reed beds to roost for the night.
Sort Sol is a natural spectacle, and nature does not follow a timetable. The starlings regularly change their roosting sites, partly to avoid birds of prey. This means you can never know exactly where or when the birds will appear. To increase your chances of seeing the phenomenon, we recommend joining a guided tour with an experienced nature guide.
Experience Sort Sol with a nature guide
On a guided tour, an experienced nature guide will take you into the Tøndermarsken in search of the starling flocks. Along the way, you will learn more about the starlings' fascinating behaviour, the area's distinctive landscape and its rich birdlife.
The guides use their local knowledge and observations from the day to find the places where you have the best chance of seeing the starlings gather.
Find a guided tour and book your tickets through the links below.
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When can you see Sort Sol?
Your best chance of seeing Sort Sol is in spring and again from late summer through autumn. The number of starlings and their roosting locations vary, so no two days are quite the same.
Outside the main season, you may still encounter smaller flocks of starlings in the Tøndermarsken.
Things to do in Sønderjylland
Make more of your Sort Sol experience and discover more of Sønderjylland. Take in the wetlands from above at Marsk Tower, join an oyster safari in the Wadden Sea, or lace up your walking boots and explore the landscape on foot, from the marshes and wetlands in the west to the rolling hills on the east coast.
You can also get a taste of a true Sønderjylland tradition: Sønderjysk Kaffebord, the region's famous coffee and cake spread.
Much more Sønderjylland...
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