05-14 Fehmarn Island

We arrived at Wallnau just about noon, and after paying the 5 Euro per person admission, we headed straight for the bird blinds--accompanied by Karen’s large birding scope, her powerful, big binoculars, two cameras, and one pair of regular binoculars. We were ready for the birds! And, there they were.

The blinds were little wooden buildings with benches for sitting inside and little narrow windows looking out on a series of shallow ponds where a myriad of water birds were going about their daily routine, undisturbed by the humans inside the little huts. Karen had a good time using her scope to bring the birds up close and she did her best to get some telephoto shots of them with her digital camera.

There were large signs saying "Shhhh!" in German around the blinds, so much whispering went on, and birders shared their sightings. Later, we walked through some other parts of the refuge, to other blinds. We learned quickly that if you don’t like the weather near the Baltic Sea--just wait five minutes. While at the refuge for a couple hours we had sunshine, rain, hail, wind, then more sunshine!

A Rare Duck Indeed!

We purchased coffee at the refuge headquarters and used their pleasant lunch area to eat our sandwiches and apples left over from the morning’s breakfast. Karen has learned that birding in Germany is not the popular pastime that it is in England and the US, but at Wallnau we certainly had the company of other serious birders. Many of the birds had just finished their long migration from Africa to the Baltic Sea and were busy flirting and setting about the serious business of making new baby birds.

We saw our first old-fashioned windmill on Fehmarn Island. This one is now a museum and gift shop. On this flat, windswept island, there must be very few days when one cannot generate windpower!

We could not have come to Germany at a more colorful time of year. Thousands of acres are planted to a yellow mustard plant which the Germans call "rapseed." I think this is Rapeseed or Canola, and the seeds of the plant are pressed for oil, and used for many purposes including cooking and even as a fuel (similar to diesel) for automobiles. Our drive back across Fehmarn Island and then north to Schoenberg took us past many of the Rapeseed fields, now in full, glorious golden bloom. An almost blinding sight, whether the sun was out or not.

Chapter 2 Baltic Sea - Luebeck to Schoenberg:	1. Luebeck	2. Fehmarn Island	3.Schoenberg-May 14
Chapter 2 Baltic Sea - Luebeck to Schoenberg:	4.Schoenberg-May 15	5.Schoenberg May 15-16	6.Appendix

Chapter 2 Baltic Sea - Luebeck to Schoenberg:	1. Luebeck	2. Fehmarn Island	3.Schoenberg-May 14
Chapter 2 Baltic Sea - Luebeck to Schoenberg:	4.Schoenberg-May 15	5.Schoenberg May 15-16	6.Appendix