Beijershamn, Naturreservat

Thanks to an unsuccessful harbor construction in the 1800s, Beijershamn became one of Öland's most prominent bird locations. The birds appreciate the grazed beach meadows, the shallow bays, the forest, the skerries and the islets. For you as a visitor, there are great opportunities to enjoy all the birds from the birdwatching tower, the viewing platform and the walking trails.

The harbor that became a bird paradise

The story of Beijershamn includes both a large-scale failure and a success. The harbor built here in the mid-19th century turned out to be poorly constructed. The seabed silted up and there was no shipping. After 15 years, Beijer harbor was completely decommissioned. But when the dockworkers checked out, the birds moved in. Because with nature as an architect, a formidable bird environment was created with meadows, reeds and open water.

One of Öland's finest

Today, Beijershamn is a very valuable bird site, both for nesting and resting birds. In the middle of the 20th century, the picture was different. By then, the area had become so overgrown that many birds no longer thrived. Thanks to extensive clearing work in the 1980s, initiated by the Öland Ornithological Society, and annual cattle grazing, Beijershamn is once again a bird paradise. From the path leading out to the pier and the bird towers, you get a good overview of the area and its bird life. In total, well over 200 different bird species have been observed at Beijershamn. Characteristic species in the spring are the common tern, the common tern and the yellowhammer.

Not just birds

If you want to see many different butterflies, you've come to the right place. No fewer than 650 of the approximately 1000 Swedish species of large butterflies have been observed here. One of them is the window wing spinner. Beijershamn is the only known site in the Nordic region for this critically endangered species. Large butterflies mean day butterflies and large moths. The butterflies thrive in the old deciduous forest, where the temperature is high and stable, and in the open fields. The butterflies, plus all the other bugs in the area, provide a well-stocked pantry for bats. Twelve of Sweden's eighteen bat species have been found in the reserve so far.

Collaboration with surfers

The water environments south of Beijershamnspiren are also very good for wind and kite surfing. Therefore, the County Administrative Board is working with the Öland Windsurfing Club and the Swedish Kite Federation to reach out with the information that it is important that the birds in the area are not disturbed by surfers during times when many birds are nesting or looking for food in the area. Together we have produced information that is available on the surfing beaches south of Beijershamn. You can read more in the tab below.

Hiking trails

At present, these trails are not marked in the field, but it is easy to see the trampled paths and follow the wooden walkway.

Great Beijershamn round

About 2.5 km, starts and ends at the parking lot in the south. Starting to the west, the first stage goes on a trail with hardened stone dust past the southern tower, along the beach and out on the pier. A bit out, the trail and the footbridge turn off to the north and the hike goes over the wetlands with fantastic views of Kalmar Sound and the beach meadows inside. The path ends at the beginning of the alder forest and a short climb takes you up to the old seawall. Here the route goes along part of the Mörbylångaleden back towards the parking lot. The walk goes up the embankment lined with old oaks, alder forest and clearings with dry meadows. Parts of the trail go through land that is grazed by cattle for much of the year. The surface is footbridge, natural ground (sometimes wet and muddy) and gravel. Self-closing gates.

Little Beijershamnsrundan

About 500 meters, starts and ends at the parking lot in the south. The first stretch goes west and then north on a trail hardened with stone flour to the southern tower and the rest area there. Then you turn east back on natural land to the parking lot. This small loop is suitable for those who do not have the strength to walk so far and need to sit down sometimes but still want to experience nature in Beijershamn. Suitable for walkers. The surface is paved with stone flour and graveled farm road, natural land and wooden footbridge. Self-closing gates.

The pier promenade

The obvious walk in spring to experience the eider migration! From the parking lot out to the pier tip and back it is about 5 km. Starts and ends at the parking lot in the south. Starting to the west, the first stage goes on a trail with hardened stone flour past the south tower, along the beach and about halfway out on the pier. The surface on the outer parts of the pier varies depending on high or low water levels, but expect uneven surfaces and natural ground, sometimes wet.

Mörbylångaleden

At the parking lot, a path goes east. This is part of Mörbylångaleden. The path leads up the embankment into deciduous forest environments and past hay meadows. The path is only hardened with stone flour to the first hay meadow. The trail continues north out of the reserve where Mörbylånga municipality has a rest area.

Accessibility and visitor information

Parking and toilet

There is a parking lot in the southern part of the nature reserve. At the parking lot there is an accessible dry toilet and several picnic tables, one of which is accessible.

Information and access times

Information about the reserve and access times are available at the entrance to the trail from the parking lot and at two other entrances to the nature reserve. The nature reserve is accessible all year round as long as you use the trails in the area. Signs in the fields show the limits of the access ban.

Lookout points

The nature reserve has two birdwatching towers and two viewing platforms. The viewing platform on the pier is accessible. From the pier and the accessible footbridge you get a good overview of large parts of the reserve. Other viewpoints are not accessible

Resting places

At the southern tower there are picnic tables. One of these is accessible on a hard surface. There is also more detailed information about the reserve. This place is fenced off from the grazing animals and can be reached via a trail hardened with stone flour and self-closing gates. This site is easily accessible even for those with mobility difficulties.

There are resting benches next to the north tower and along the pier.

The viewing platform in the reeds in the northern part of the reserve has tables and benches and a wooden walkway out through the reeds. Level differences and stairs make the site less accessible.

Birds and butterflies

The bird towers and the viewing platform on the pier have informative signs about the bird species you can see from these places.

At the hay meadow up on the seawall, there is signage information in the form of a 'butterfly book' showing some of the species of butterflies you are likely to see on a visit there.

Wind and kite surfing

Beijershamnsviken north of Haga Park is one of Sweden's most important areas for birds that live on sandbanks, open meadows and in shallow bays. Several of these bird species are endangered and sensitive to disturbance during the spring and summer when they lay eggs and raise their young, and during the fall when they search for food in the area before a demanding migration. In Beijershamnsviken, it is not allowed to disturb the bird life during the period April 1 to October 31* in the areas marked on the map. It is of great importance that you think about it when surfing or kiting. Thank you for your consideration!

Surf- och kitekarta

Contact details and more information

If you have any questions, please contact the Kalmar County Administrative Board, contact details can be found at the bottom of this page.

More information about the valuable bird life in Beijershamnsviken can be found online, search for Beijerhamns nature reserve.

You can also talk to someone on the board of the Öland Windsurfing Club or the Swedish Kite Federation.

*There are conservation rules that prohibit the deliberate disturbance of wild birds, especially during their mating, breeding, wintering and migration periods (Section 4 of the Species Protection Ordinance (2007:845).