A Lesser Kestrel created interest amongst the Islands recently with an unseasonable appearance for the British Isles. The bird is only the eighteenth of its breed to ever have a confirmed sighting in the UK.
The rare bird of Prey attracted excited birders from across the Southwest of England, and even as far afield as Poland, in a ‘mini influx’ of visitors to the Islands. The bird was spotted at the golf course on St. Mary’s and there were also reports of it being sighted in ‘Prince of Wales’lane near the hospital.
The Lesser Kestrel breeds in Mediterranean countries, and as far east as China. In winter it migrates to Africa in large numbers and to India in smaller numbers, so its appearance was somewhat of a coup for birders in the region. At this time of year, the Lesser Kestrel should really be in Southern Europe or Northern Africa and one theory put forward is that this bird has been pushed up from the Sahara on the recent Northerly winds.
The initial sighting was recorded by two local members of the Isles of Scilly bird group, since which, news has spread and some have predicted that the sighting has drawn in up to 2000 extra visitors.
The bird was last spotted in the Islands back in 1891 but it then only appeared for several days. This bird seems to be making the most of Scillonian hospitality, staying, as it has, for over a week. Its distinction from a common Kestrel is mainly in its size (the Lesser Kestrel being noticeably smaller) and also the lack of speckles on its back.
Photo courtesy of http://www.scilly-birding.co.uk/.