A coastal Danish protected landscape where wetlands, farmland, and historic estates frame one of Zealand's strongest raptor migration points.
Stigsnæs-Borreby-Basnæs Nor
Stigsnæs-Borreby-Basnæs Nor is a protected Danish landscape spanning roughly 1,215 hectares near the western edge of the southern Zealand fjord system. The area stretches from the Stigsnæs peninsula in the west through the Borreby estate and across to Østerhoved and Sevedø, linking farmland, manor grounds, wetlands, and coastal habitats. Much of the terrain is shaped by shallow fjord waters, reed beds, and meadows, with deeper cultural layers in the form of old estate landscapes and a restored coastal battery from the Napoleonic-era wars.
The protected landscape is recognized as an important Natura 2000 site and a Ramsar wetland area, reflecting its ecological value beyond Denmark. It combines several distinct habitat types: coastal meadows along Stigsnæs and Sevedø, the enclosed Borreby Mose marsh separated from Skælskør Inderfjord by a levee, and the reed-fringed shallows at Basnæs Nor. This combination of agricultural land, open water, reed swamp, and shoreline creates a particularly rich setting for both wintering and migratory birds.
Stigsnæs-Borreby-Basnæs Nor is most often associated with bird migration. Because Stigsnæs is the last stretch of land before birds must cross open water toward Lolland, Falster, and beyond, it concentrates huge numbers of autumn migrants, especially raptors, wood pigeons, and finches. The protected area stands as one of the most valuable birding landscapes on Zealand and a key part of the broader Skælskør Fjord coastal system.
