Bird migration is without doubt one of the most spectacular events in a bird’s life. Twice a year, a large number of species undertake a perilous journey thousands of kilometres long from summer to winter quarters and back again.

Although spring officially starts on March 20, spring bird migration starts much earlier. In fact, in Malta, it ranges from February until May, peaking from mid-March until early May.

The robin is a wintering bird which leaves the Maltese islands in spring. Photo: Aron Tanti

During spring, birds leave their wintering grounds in Africa to migrate north to breed in Europe. Although in Europe barn swallows are known as the harbingers of spring, the first spring migrants that usually appear in Malta are the house martins, which can start arriving at the beginning of February in small flocks.

At this time of year they are usually found over water bodies either at Birdlife Malta’s nature reserves like Għadira and Simar or over freshwater valleys like Chadwick Lakes, Għajn Riħana and Marsalforn Valley.

The green sandpiper is also one of the first spring migrants to appear and can be observed in the same places as those mentioned for the house martin. These two species are usually followed by the pintail which, depending on the year, migrates in fluctuating numbers and can be mostly seen in the Malta-Gozo channel migrating northeasterly in flocks. Our breeding Scopoli’s shearwater also arrives at the end of February and can be seen anywhere along the coast especially in moderate or strong winds.

In spring birds are in their best plumage as they are preparing to breed, so the males will be in full breeding plumage and usually migrate a few days earlier than females to claim their breeding territory as quickly as possible. Resident birds like the male blue rock thrush are also singing out loud and can easily be heard along the cliffs of the Maltese islands.

Spring is also the time when the visitors leave our islands after spending the entire winter here. Robin, white wagtail, meadow pipit, song thrush, stonechat, black redstart, Mediterranean and black-headed gulls, blackcap, chiffchaff and starling, among other less conspicuous species, will all depart during spring.

March

In March more spring migrants start arriving in Malta. The garganey and the gerruginous duck join the pintail. Again they are mostly observed in the Malta-Gozo channel but a few birds are sometimes also sighted at Għadira and Simar nature reserves. But since they are in a hurry to arrive at their breeding sites, they do not normally stay for long and leave overnight unless weather conditions are poor.

Purple herons start migrating in April, you can see them at one of Birdlife Malta’s nature reserves, where this photo was taken. Photo: Aron TantI

Grey herons also peak in March and can be seen anywhere but to observe migrating flocks, overcast weather conditions are optimal. Raptors also start to migrate and marsh harrier and common kestrel are usually the two birds of prey that show up first. These are followed by smaller numbers of pallid harrier, lesser kestrel and black kite, which peak at the end of March.

As the days get longer and warmer additional species start migrating

March is also an interesting time to visit Birdlife Malta’s reserves as a number of wader species can be observed. These include black-winged stilt, little ringed plover and ruff. During this month, house martins are joined by barn swallows and common swifts. As March progresses garrigue habitats such as those found in Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park are good for hoopoe, northern wheatear and short-toed lark. Subalpine warbler and willow warbler are also around at this time of the year but due to their small size can be hard to spot.

The yellow wagtail is very common in Malta during spring. Photo: Aron Tanti

April

As the days get longer and warmer additional species start migrating. These include night and purple herons, and little egrets, which can all be seen at our nature reserves. Montagu’s harriers join marsh harriers while hobbies also start migrating. A number of wader species can also be found at our reserves especially at Għadira and Salina nature park (the salt pans), where at times mixed flocks of little stint, curlew sandpiper, ruff, greenshank, wood and common sandpipers can all be observed.

April is also a good month for turtle dove and quail. Turtle doves can be seen along valleys and also at Buskett woodland while quails can be flushed from garrigue areas along the coast but are harder to spot as they are usually very well camouflaged among grasses or bushes. With a bit of luck common cuckoos can also be seen or heard in valleys and in wooded areas, while with a bit of extra effort, you can also observe nightjar at dawn or dusk hawking insects. At times the sky in April is full of swifts and hirundines. These mainly include common swift, barn swallow, house and sand martins. However, red-rumped swallow, pallid and Alpine swifts are also frequently observed. A characteristic brightly-coloured bird that arrives in April is the European bee-eater which can be seen anywhere in the countryside, at times even in large flocks.

Bee-eaters sometimes migrate at very high altitudes and are hard to spot with the naked eye. However, they also tend to rest on wires and feed on large insects. Most of the breeding short-toed larks arrive in April and you can easily hear their beautiful song and observe them in certain locations like the rural parts of Gozo and some areas in Malta like the airport.

Tree pipit and the bright yellow wagtail are also common in April. Wood warblers, pied and collared flycatchers peak in April and can be found in most places where trees are present. Buskett is a great place to observe these species and you can also see golden oriole. Although the male golden oriole is bright yellow and is a medium-sized bird it sometimes requires some patience to get good views of this magnificent bird.

Barn swallows are known as the harbingers of spring in Europe. Photo: Denis CachiA

May

In May, the days usually get considerably warmer and the variety of species decline considerably as the month progresses. May is usually the peak migration period of honey buzzard and red-footed falcon, which numbers vary significantly between one year and another for both species. In some years they are common and can be seen in large numbers and in others they can be rather scarce.

Waders at the reserves are still numerous especially in the first half of the month where ringed plover joins the species mentioned in April. Hirundines, swifts and bee-eaters keep on migrating in May while whinchat and woodchat shrike are common in open areas and usually can be easily seen perched high on shrubs and trees.

Warbler migration is dominated by large numbers of garden warbler and whitethroat and smaller numbers of icterine warbler. These, together with spotted flycatcher, are usually the last spring migrants to arrive.

The Maltese islands offer a great opportunity to observe the diversity and abundance of spring bird migration. A pair of binoculars and a guide book having the European species mentioned above is the only thing you need together with going to the best sites for migration.

The colourful bee-eater arrives in April and can be seen anywhere in the countryside. Photo: Mark Sultana

Nature reserves’ extended opening hours

To encourage people to enjoy this natural spectacle Birdlife Malta has extended the opening hours at its Simar and Għadira nature reserves, which will now be also open to the public during the week. Għadira will be open in the afternoon (2-6pm) every Monday and Thursday, while Simar will open on Tuesdays and Fridays at the same time.

During April and May, before the reserves close for the summer break, the new opening times will be extended further and both Għadira and Simar will remain open to the public on the same days of the week for a further hour till 7pm. Opening times in the weekends will remain the same: Għadira is open every Saturday and Sunday, while Simar is open every Sunday (10am to 4pm in both cases). Saturday at Simar is reserved for events, while during weekdays in the mornings the reserves will keep on receiving visits by schoolchildren as is current practice. Maintenance work also takes place at these times at Għadira and Simar, together with regular research such as bird ringing.

Salina nature reserve, on the other hand, will retain its opening hours. The reserve is open for visits on all days. Visitors may walk through the park freely between Monday and Sunday (7am to 8pm, April to September and 7am to 6pm, October to March), while the visitors’ centre is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 1pm.

Foresta 2000, which is also managed by Birdlife Malta, remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This reserve is accessible all year round.

Edward Bonavia is Malta Rarities and Records Committee secretary.

Garganeys and black-winged stilts at Birdlife Malta’s Simar Nature Reserve. Photo: Aron Tanti

The blue rock thrush, Malta’s national bird. Photo: Ray Vella