A long-legged buzzard, which is rare and highly protected bird, was sighted yesterday in an undisclosed area in the north of Malta, the government said.

It said the bird roosted overnight, awaiting more favourable wind currents to continue with its journey.

Immediately upon receiving initial sighting reports, several ALE patrols were deployed around the area.

The government said the location is also being monitored by officials from the Wild Birds Regulation Unit who are conducting foot and vehicular patrols and are in close liaison with enforcement officers and teams of volunteers present on the ground.

Ornithologist Natalino Fenech said this is the 11th confirmed record of this rare bird. The first record was of a bird that was shot at Wardija on May 24, 1965. Another was shot at Buskett sometime later.Since then there were the following records: one in February 1976, two in December 1983, one in October 1989, two in 2005, one in October/November 2007 and one in May 2009.All these records, he said, are listed in the book "A complete guide to the birds of Malta". The bird seen today was first spotted yesterday by Michael Sammut.

 

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