Vestamager

With Don "Ray Mears" Petrie spending a couple of days in Copenhagen before returning to Southend, we spent the morning at Vestamager to look for migrants. A juvenile Sedge Warbler was a good find (only my second ever in Denmark - remarkably scarce in the Copenhagen area) and 8 Bearded Tits put on a splendid show as we walked up to the hide at Sydmøllevej. Here, whilst looking at the waders (Dunlin, Ruff, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank and Greenshank), a small pipit flew up and over our heads. It called once before dropping into some vegetation to the west of the hide, unfortunately out of view. The call was unmistakeable, though - Red-throated! My second of the autumn and in exactly the same spot as two seen by local birder, Thomas Hellesen, the previous day. What chances Don picking one up in flight over Southend in the next few days with the north-east winds...?

We also came across several Chiffchaffs with a two-tone Greenish-type call. Despite checking them closely, they were definite Chiffs.. I have heard similar Chiffs in the past at this time of year on the east coast of the UK - on plumage tones, they are not abietinus or tristis, so maybe another eastern race or possibly young birds?