I shall call it ... Springter!...

I love this time of year, when the arriving Spring migrants meet the Winter visitors who are preparing to leave.

I feel this photo sums it up...

Garganey & Wigeon - RSPB Boyton Marshes - Mar. 2012 - Mike Ixer

So first, a brief catch up on what I've been up to since the last post. Last week we had an impromptu trip to North Norfolk which was probably a month too early. Migrants were still somewhat in short supply with the exception being my first little ringed plover of the year at RSPB Titchwell followed by a Spoonbill at Cley. We then followed this first trip with another a couple of days later when we headed over to Lake Vyrnwy in Mid Wales. Again, since this site specialises in species such as wood warblers, redstarts and pied flycatchers, we were too early since these species wont be appearing for another month or so. I might post some pictures from these trips at a later date.

So that brings us up to today. I'm now back in Suffolk for a couple of weeks and I intend to catch up with as many migrants as I can because when I get back to Birmingham, time will be at a premium. Anyway, my first target species for my trip home was a garganey. They had been popping up all over the place in the last week and I thought I must have a good chance of seeing one. After a relaxed morning I heard that one had been seen just a short drive away so I grabbed my gear and headed out to RSPB Boyton Marshes. As I arrived I was greeted by one of the most pristine looking male marsh harriers I have ever seen - perfect definition of the dark wing tips, crisp contrast between the white and brown and a clear pale head. It appeared so quickly that I hadn't even got my camera out of the car as it past overhead. After this encounter I headed off to look over the first of the flashes and after seeing curlews, redshanks, oystercatchers and avocets I clocked a very handsome drake garganey cruising across the water.

Drake Garganey - RSPB Boyton Marshes - Mar. 2012 - Mike Ixer

Having swam around a little he took to the edge and adopted this position:

Drake Garganey - RSPB Boyton Marshes - Mar. 2012 - Mike Ixer

I guess he must be tired after a long overnight migration! Unfortunately I couldn't find the mixed group of bean geese and white-fronted geese which were supposed to be lingering around in the area, but not to worry, a beautiful female marsh harrier drifting over more than made up for it.

I finished up at Boyton pretty quickly because despite the beautiful weather, the breeze coming off the river made the earlier choice of shorts seem a tad optimistic. Driving back home I passed Upper Hollesley Common where a great grey shrike has been residing for the past few days - I would have been an idiot not to stop! Although the shrike was somewhere around the common, my real hope was to see a woodlark and a yellowhammer (believe it or not, I haven't stumbled across this species yet this year). So off I trotted down the main path towards the crossroads and after a while I paused because of what I could hear. Singing somewhere across the common was a yellowhammer. I scanned the bushes and heather and clocked a dartford warbler and a stonechat. So now I could see two fantastic species whilst still listening to a the yellowhammer. Some crossbills flew overhead but there was no sign of the seemingly elusive yellow devil. I pressed on and was greeted by the sound of a singing woodlark who refused to make himself visable. I arrived at one of the two famous drinking pools on the common - there are literally hundreds of photos on birdguides which have been taken of birds coming down to drink and bathe at them - and I bedded in for a short time with a couple of proper photographers.

Crossbills - Upper Hollesley Common - Mar. 2012 - Mike Ixer

Siskin - Upper Hollesley Common - Mar. 2012 - Mike Ixer

And the crossbills just kept coming, it was fantastic.

Crossbills (with a cheeky chaffinch) - Upper Hollesley Common
- Mar. 2012 - Mike Ixer

So after spending some time at the puddle, I walked on in search of a woodlark and yellowhammer. Further up the path I found a goldcrest who refused to be photographed and as I turned to carry on walking, two birds flew down to the path to feed - yellowhammers!

(Overexposed) Yellowhammers - Upper Hollesley Common - Mar. 2012 - Mike Ixer

After the yellowhammers dispersed a singing woodlark drifted overhead and into the distance - I couldn't ask for anymore in a day (except for maybe the shrike). On the return to the car I passed the puddle again and rejoined the photographers for another short puddle-watching vigil. They informed me that I had missed yellowhammers coming to drink and a stonechat bathing. You can see a picture taken by one of the photographers here. I did however manage to get some lovely views of yellowhammers coming down from the trees though.

Yellowhammer - Upper Hollesley Common - Mar. 2012 - Mike Ixer

Yellowhammer and Chaffinch - Upper Hollesley Common
- Mar. 2012 - Mike Ixer

And so concluded another lovely afternoon's birding. This also highlights another reason for loving Springter - you can have a productive morning doing stuff and still get a good afternoons birding in!