It was only yesterday that I was saying it could be worth keeping an eye out for the first Wheatear and Sand Martin of the year when low and behold the UK’s first Sand Martins of the spring turn up today! 3 were seen in Waterford, southern Ireland this afternoon. I understand this is quite some distance from Poole Harbour but it shows that birds are making progress and that within the next three to four weeks we should all be enjoying the various spring migrants. From the harbour, 9 Marsh Harrier came out of the roost this morning with a male Hen Harrier amongst them and a second male Hen Harrier joining them later. At Swineham 3 Scaup (all female) were on the main GP along with 100 Shoveler, also around Swineham 5 singing Chiffchaff, a Siberian Chiffchaff and a Marsh Harrier. Some late news that a Barn Owl has been spotted around the Upton CP area a couple of times this week. At Lytchett Bay 30+ Snipe, 150 Lapwing, 4 Greenshank and 30 Brent Geese. At Middlebere there was 1 Barn Owl, 1 Hen Harrier, 200 Black-tailed Godwit and 100 Avocet. The Barn Owl at Middlebere posed long enough on a branch for me to get some video footage that you can view HERE