Falsterbo

Falsterbo is the point where Sweden ends in the south-west, and migrating birds moving down the country are funnelled onto it before the crossing to Denmark - which makes the autumn count here one of the best raptor watches in northern Europe, with buzzards, sparrowhawks, honey buzzards and cranes passing in numbers on the right wind, along with enormous movements of finches and pipits. The bird station at Nabben has counted since 1973. Outside migration the peninsula is beach: Skanor and Falsterbo have long shallow sand shores that draw Malmo out in summer, with a golf course, a lighthouse and salt meadows behind the dunes.

The landscape

• Autumn raptor migration - concentrated at the point.
• A counting station at Nabben - working since 1973.
• Long shallow sand beaches - Skanor and Falsterbo.
• Salt meadows behind the dunes - grazed and bird-rich.

When to go

August to October for migration; summer for beaches. Half a day.

Things to know

Migration depends entirely on wind - the wrong direction means an empty sky. Summer fills the peninsula and parking is difficult. The point is a walk from the nearest road. There is little shelter.

Nearby

Malmo is north-east; the Oresund bridge crosses to the north.