Saturday 14th March 2009
	The first Alpine Swift of the year was over Portland, Dorset today. Large numbers of other migrants were seen throughout southern England, including Sand Martins, Wheatears, Garganeys and Little Ringed Plovers, and smaller numbers of Swallows, House Martins and Willow Warblers. The Forster's Tern was seen off Doorus Pier, County Galway, the Bonaparte's Gull remained in Cardiff, Glamorgan, as did the Lesser Scaup, with the long staying bird still at Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire. The first-winter American Herring Gull put in another appearance on the Otter Estuary, Devon, whilst the Black-bellied Dipper returned to Letheringsett, Norfolk, briefly. A Great White Egret was at Back Saltholme Pool, Cleveland, and Cattle Egrets remained in Suffolk, Pembrokeshire, Devon, Cornwall, County Waterford and on the Isle of Wight and Isle of Man.
-  Will Soar, RBA