LESSER KESTREL - directions

The adult male LESSER KESTREL is still present today at Minsmere RSPB reserve/Westleton Heath, showing distantly from the quarry mound.

Approaching Minsmere from the north, leave the A12 just north of Yoxford and continue three miles in to Westleton village. Bear left on to the B1128 and then almost immediately turn right along the Dunwich road. From here, either turn right or continue east, where there are two entrances via public footpaths on to the heath (either at TM 450 690 or TM 460 694. Park sensibly at the road side or in the designated car parking areas, then from the former reference, walk east for 500 yards, or from the latter, south for 250 yards. In either case, this will bring you out by the bombhole crater in the heather and from the raised ridge thereabouts, the Lesser Kestrel can be 'scoped as he feeds at the edge of Scottshall Covert at 250 yards range. In such cold weather as at present, he is very inactive and perching out of view in sheltered, warm Holm Oaks, and may disappear for up to four hours at a time

Good Birding Always

Lee Evans