A Rare British Visitor: Lesser Kestrel at Minsmere

Yesterday afternoon, a male Lesser Kestrel made an unexpected arrival off the sea, landing in a farmer’s field near Minsmere at 4.00 pm. The lucky finder’s discovery quickly set the birding community abuzz. The bird went to roost overnight, allowing us to plan an early morning visit.

By 7.45 am, the pager buzzed with news of the bird’s activity, prompting a long journey east with Malc and Robo. We arrived on site just after 1.00 pm and, thanks to another birder’s guidance, I quickly located the bird. Though initially distant—nearly half a mile away—the scope revealed the distinctive grey head of this stunning adult male.

After a good hour, we were able to enjoy improved views of the bird. Its sleek plumage and characteristic flight style left a lasting impression, a reminder of why rare vagrants inspire such excitement among birders.

Lesser Kestrel

Me on site 

Lesser Kestrels are exceptionally rare in Britain. This sighting marked only the 18th record for Britain and Ireland. Other notable records include: 

2002 May 13 to May 21 Isles of Scilly 9 days St Mary's, first-summer male, 13th to 21st May, video., photo. 

1992 May 31 London 1 day Hampstead Heath, male, 31st May. 

1989 Apr 20 Kent 1 day Dover, male, dead, 20th April. 

1987 Jun 23 Shetland 1 day Fair Isle, male, 23rd June. 

1979 Jun 4 Yorks 1 day Fairburn Ings, male, 4th June. 

1974 Jul 31 to Aug 3, Essex, 4 days Rainham Marsh, 31st July to 3rd August. 

1968 May 30 Cornwall 1 day St Ives, first-summer male, 30th May. 

1926 Feb 24 Isles of Scilly 1 day No locality, 24th February. 

1909 Oct 14 Yorks 1 day Spurn, immature male, shot, 14th October. 

1903 Apr 11 Isle of Wight 1 day Samborough Hill, near Shorwell, female, picked up dead, 11th April. 

pre-1901 Gtr.Manchester 1 day Chat Moss, near Manchester, Lancashire, shot, no date. 

1897 Oct 25 Aberdeens 1 day, Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, female, shot, 25th October. 

1895 Nov 25 Isle of Wight 1 day 

Carisbrooke, male, shot, 25th November. 

1892 Apr 12 Yorks 1 day Thirsk area, male, shot, 12th April, now at Hancock Museum, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 

1891 Mar 3 Isles of Scilly 1 day Tresco, adult male, shot, 3rd March, now in Isles of Scilly Museum. 

1890 Nov to 1891 Feb 17 Co.Dublin 109 days Woodford, near Shankill, adult male, seen, early November to 17th February 1891 when shot, now at National Museum, Dublin. 

1877 May Kent 1 day Barton Farm, Buckland, near Dover, caught alive, May, now at Dover Museum.

Following the Lesser Kestrel, we headed to Lowestoft, where we encountered two Alpine Swifts gracefully wheeling overhead—another thrilling addition to a remarkable day.

Alpine Swift

As the weather began to close in, we started the journey home, making a final stop at Sandy for a well-earned bag of fish and chips—an ideal conclusion to a great days birding.