Weekend update from Carr Vale and Saturday 30th was pretty quiet although we did log our first Little Ringed Plover of the year. Other species seen included two Pink-footed Geese, 19 Common Buzzards seen from the mound, an extra Oystercatcher, 17 Snipe, singing Blackcap, 23 Sand Martins that dropped into roost and the first Orangetip of the year. A much better day on the 31st produced the two Pink-footed Geese, still eight Wigeon, 22 Gadwall, 30 Teal, two Little Egrets (only second record this year), 19 Buzzards from the mound, single Little Ringed Plover and Curlew north, six Common Gulls, pair of Peregrines, 22 Sand Martins and five Swallows north and two singing Blackcaps. Highlight of the morning however came at 1030 when a Red Kite appeared in front of accompanied by a cracking adult male Marsh Harrier. Whilst the former has in recent years become the most regularly recorded of the scarce large raptors (up to 12 records a year, four records already this year of five birds), the Marsh Harrier record is particularly notable because of the 68 records (70 birds) that we have for this species only four have occurred during the first three months of the year (one January record and three March records) and of all the birds sexed only four have been male. A good record.