Lesser Kes OMFL!! Wednesday 31st March 2010.
With my first big twitch of the year, myself, John Hague, Beast (Colin Towe) and Neil Hagley drove down to Suffolk for the Lesser Kestrel which had been near Minsmere RSPB for the last couple of days.
Arriving on site around 8.30am, we just missed the bird as it did it's first fly-by of the day and then had to wait for another 45 minutes when finally the group picked up the bird hunting over the nearby heathland. Get In!!! (437 BOU tick). Although the bird was a bit distant at times you could clearly pick up the distinctive features of this lovely looking Male Lesser Kestrel as it perched on the fence posts.
With the weather being pants for most of the time we were at Westleton Heath, the group was happy with the views of bird and decided on speedy retreat back to the car and then on to Kessingland for another British tick for John in the form of a Pallid Swift, which had been feeding over the local sewage works for a few days.
Waiting for a short period at the sewage works for the Swift, the weather slowly improved and on cue the Pallid Swift came into view as it cruised over the small throng of Twitchers.
As the Swift feed over the sewage works, I also took some very distant shots of the bird(see above!).
The next port of call was Lowestoft sea front and this was the only disappointment of the day when the Alpine Swifts failed to materialised. I did however pick up an adult Med Gull flying off shore which was small compensation for the dip.
An Alpine Swift was then reported again at Kessingland, so we drove back to the village but our luck was out again as we only saw the Pallid Swift again at this site!
By now we were starting to get hungry and a brief stop at Westleton for the Kestrel again, and then on to the Minsmere reserve for a refreshing Pasty and Coffee.
As Neil had to be back in Leicester for six o'clock we all decided it was home time and were all pleased on the day's proceeding, and thanks to Neil for all the driving!
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