Tuesday 30th March 2010
	The adult male Lesser Kestrel lingered at Westleton Heath (Suffolk), although it only showed distantly and intermittently throughout the day. Of the 16 Lesser Kestrels that have previously been found in Britain only two have occurred earlier in the spring than the Westleton bird, both on the Isles of Scilly (on 24th February 1926 and 3rd March 1891). Suffolk also continued to host a Pallid Swift (at Kessingland), at least three Alpine Swifts (including two still in Lowestoft), two Penduline Tits (at Minsmere RSPB) and a Great Grey Shrike joined the Lesser Kestrel on Westleton Heath. Elsewhere rarities came in the form of the Two-barred Crossbill in Bedfordshire, Little Bunting in Highland, three Penduline Tits in Kent, Pied-billed Grebe in Co Clare, Alpine Swifts in Kent and Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, Pallid Swift in Kent and Black Kite in Norfolk. The best of the rest included Purple Heron on Isles of Scilly, Great White Egrets in Gloucestershire, Hampshire and Lincolnshire/East Yorkshire, American Wigeons in Dumfries & Galloway and Lancashire and Cattle Egret in Cornwall.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA