Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk and Its Ornithological Importance

Species Month Of Occurence December 2014 - June 2018

Wood Warbler - Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Little Stint - Calidris minuta

European Bee-Eater - Merops apiaster

European Pied Flycatcher - Ficedula hypoleuca

European Turtle-Dove - Streptopelia turtur

Sterna sandvicensis

Zitting Cisticola - Cisticola juncidis

Eurasian Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs

Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita

Sardinian Warbler - Sylvia melanocephala

European Robin - Erithacus rubecula

Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola

Common Whitethroat - Sylvia communis

Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

Spanish Sparrow - Passer hispaniolensis

White Wagtail - Motacilla alba

Meadow Pipit - Anthus pratensis

Western Marsh-Harrier - Circus aeruginosus

Black-Winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus

Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus

Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava

Northern House-Martin - Delichon urbicum P/M

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica P/M

Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata P/M

Species Month Of Occurence December 2014 - June 2018

Icterine Warbler - Hippolais icterina

Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus

Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis

Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis

Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago

Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Little Egret - Egretta garzetta

Spotted Redshank - Tringa erythropus

Dunlin - Calidris alpina

Rail - Rallus aquaticus

Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps

Bird sightings during autumn migration

(25 September – 17 December 2017)

Vagrant Bird

The Brown Shrike was recorded for the first time in the Maltese Islands in the marshland of Marsaxlokk. Primarily it was sighted on

2 November 2017.2 On Saturday 4 November 2018, Shrike was recorded again along with other wintering birds. It has been sighted perching in the tamarisk trees adjacent to the courtyard of the Hunter’s Tower feeding on insects.3 On 19 November it was noted again.

This bird is considered as a vagrant bird to Europe as Brown Shrikes are familiar with the

Asian continent. Its breeding grounds are mainly found in Myanmar and South China. In June, part of the population starts to migrate to central, southwest and southern plains of Myanmar.4

From mid-October 2017 onwards, the number of migratory birds followed the normal orthodox pattern. Sightings of Meadow Pipits, Robins, White Wagtails, Stonechat, Common

Starlings, Black Headed Gulls and Chiffchaffs were usually recorded in the area of il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk.

A pair of Yellow Wagtails was recorded late in September. In the beginning of October an adult Willow Warbler was sighted in a tamarisk tree.5 In autumn, Willow Warblers which reach the Maltese shores in mid-August, continue to be sighted until October.6 During the same birding session, a Sedge Warbler was feeding close to one of the pools filled with brackish water.7

Mid-October brought an influx of new Robins, both in the wetland and its surroundings. Three or four Robins were always recorded in the wetland. However, during the month of December, fewer Robins were noted. By the end of October, a pair of Stonechats and one Black Redstart were also sighted. Two Black Redstarts were noted on 19 November. Chiffchaffs seem to have arrived late in the wetland. In fact, they were sighted in the third week of November 2017. In the preceding year, Chiffchaffs were initially sighted on the fourth week of October. Common Chiffchaffs arrive in good numbers in Malta.

Two new species were noted in autumn migration. One Tree Pipit and a Red Throated Pipit had been recorded on 22 October. Red Throated Pipits are more common in spring rather than autumn, but a small number of Red Throated Pipits winter in Malta. In the meantime, a Linnet was observed perching on a tree. Late in October, beginning of November, an occurrence of a Song Thrush along with three Skylarks were also noted.

As observed in previous years, two to three White Wagtails were recorded, while an average of one or two Meadow Pipits were sighted. Exceptionally, five Pipits were counted on

10 November and a week later. A good number of White Wagtails roost in the ficus trees of the Great Siege Square in Valletta. It is estimated that over fourteen thousand White Wagtails roost in the capital city alone.8

Common Starlings appeared in the area of Marsaxlokk in mid-October. Since then, sightings of Starlings were sighted approximately on a weekly basis. The biggest two flocks of around forty to fifty Starlings were observed in the first two weeks of December.

Between late September and late December, three different gull species have been recorded. The Mediterranean Gull was the most commonly sighted gull although its main sightings were mainly limited to the third week of November. A flock of fifty Mediterranean Gulls were recorded on 19 November. Further Mediterranean Gulls were listed during the first two weeks of December. Good counts of Black Headed Gulls were also recorded on site. Compared to the Mediterranean Gulls, the number of Black Headed Gull sightings was comparatively lower.

During the same period under review, five Yellow Legged Gulls were observed flying in close proximity to the wetland. The majority of Yellow Legged Gulls tend to stay either floating in the middle of the port or foraging closer to the port of Marsaxlokk, particularly in autumn and winter. Barn Swallows were recorded in the first two consecutive weeks of October. Four Swallows were mainly observed during the first week of October, whereas another Swallow was sighted the following week.

Sightings of birds of prey were mostly encountered during the last week of September and second week of October. On 25 September two Honey Buzzards were seen heading out from Delimara towards Birżebbuġa. Another Buzzard passed over the wetland at dawn. Two Common Kestrels were sighted over Delimara and an additional Kestrel flew out over the marshland. On 5 October, four Marsh Harriers were recorded,9 while four unidentified birds of prey were sighted during the first week of October.

On 11 October 2017, a Garganey Duck sought temporary refuge inside the wetland. At dusk, it took off from the main lagoon.10

On 25 September, a Common Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper were simultaneously feeding together. Occurrences of Wood Sandpipers are less frequent compared to Common Sandpipers. Sightings of Common Sandpipers were fairly scattered until the end of November.

The usual local sedentary birds have also been recorded throughout autumn. Sardinian Warblers and Spanish Sparrows were regularly recorded in the wetland. The latter remains the most overlooked bird. Zitting Cisticolas were recorded until the end of October.

Winter Sightings 2018 (24 December 2017 –18 March 2018)

The usual wintering bird species continued to be recorded throughout the winter season. Black Redstarts seem to have left the wetland by the beginning of January. Stonechats were normally sighted until 11 February. During the same period, sightings of Common Starlings were lastly recorded by mid-February. Chiffchaffs and Robins left the wetland in the beginning of March 2018. White Wagtails were recorded for the last time on 11 March, while Meadow Pipits were finally logged until the beginning of spring.11 The habitual sedentary birds have also been recorded in the wetland.12 Interesting to note is that one of the Spanish Sparrows was recorded carrying nest material as early as mid-February.

In mid-February, a Caspian Gull was noted crossing over the area between Tas-Silġ and Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk. In Malta it is considered as a rarity, however it is becoming a regular visitor in central Mediterranean and in the coastal regions of Northwest Europe.13 During the same period under review, five different gull species were recorded. The largest sighting of Black Headed Gulls was recorded in midJanuary when a flock passed over the wetland. During the same period, a small number of Mediterranean Gulls were recorded on site.

Slender Billed Gulls were noted on two separate days. One of the gulls had been observed close to the wetland embankment, while the second one was spotted together with a small group of Black Headed Gulls. Two Sandwich Terns were recorded in the beginning and in late January. An occurrence of a Common Kestrel was noted in early January, while similar sightings were noted in January and February 2016. On a cloudy day in the beginning of March, one Grey Heron crossed over the wetland heading in the direction towards Tas-Silġ. In very late winter, one unidentified wader and a Barn Swallow were recorded.

Spring Sightings 2018 (25 March 2018 –17 June 2018)

Nineteen different migratory species have been recorded during spring migration. Eighteen of the species recorded have been sighted in previous years, but one of the species has never been recorded before. From a total of nineteen species, five of the birds recorded belong to the wader species, another two birds belong to the sea birds’ family, and one belongs to the birds of prey. Yellow Wagtails were among the first migratory species that visited the wetland in spring. They had been recorded over five consecutive weeks, the last sighting being on the third week of April 2018. Tree Pipits were counted in the beginning and mid-April.

On 14 April 2018, two Turtle Doves flew over the area of Tas-Silġ. During spring migration, Turtle Doves migrate over the Maltese archipelago between mid-April until the first week of May. Very often they arrive during the night, while others reach the Maltese shores during the following days.14

Between the third week of April and the first two weeks of May, further migratory species were recorded. On 22 April, a Whinchat and a Common Whitethroat were observed in the wetland of Marsaxlokk. A Spotted Flycatcher was also recorded in the first week of May. The ornithological list added a new specie with the sighting of an Icterine Warbler inside the wetland, feeding on insects adjacent to the tamarisk trees. Another one was sighted again in the same spot a week later.

The Black Winged Stilt was the first wader bird recorded in the spring migration, observed flying over the marshland. During the period under review, Common Sandpipers were recorded over a number of different days, with the first sighting recorded in late April. The highest count of five Common Sandpipers was registered on 29 April 2018. They were also recorded in singles until mid-May. One Wood

Sandpiper was recorded during the spring migration. A Grey Heron and an unidentified Plover were spotted in the last week of April, while a lone sighting of a Little Egret was recorded on 13 May.

Between 25 March 2018 and 17 June 2018, Yellow Legged Gulls were sighted almost weekly. In mid-April, a first year Slender Billed Gull appeared swimming close to the eroded part of the embankment. At the beginning of spring, the first Barn Swallow was recorded late in March, while the first Swift was noted in early April. Barn Swallows continued to be recorded until mid-May. The highest count of Hirundines was logged in the beginning of April. Swifts were observed until late June, reaching their peak on 10 June 2018. A Marsh Harrier was recorded in early spring and another two were sighted in the last week of April.

Between late March and late April, Zitting Cisticolas were spotted in singles. A pair of Zitting Cisticola had always been spotted from early May onwards. An average of three Sardinian Warblers had always been counted. On 25 May a leucistic Spanish Sparrow alighted on the shrubby glasswort vegetation.

Conclusion

Throughout the last four years, three important aspects emerged. First, in ornithological terms, the marshland is a good refuge point for a different number of migratory birds, as they can rest and find food before continuing their perilous journey from Europe to Africa and vice versa. It is interesting indeed that the number of bird species expanded further after June 2018. Secondly, the place is important for wintering birds that usually migrate to milder temperatures to avoid freezing climates of the north. And thirdly, such a small wetland may also be a good ornithological place in terms of vagrant, rare and scarce birds as well.

Certainly, the present state of the wetland is not enticing. The public perception remains negative towards it as its current state is

Notes and References

1 10 September – 3 barn swallows and 17 September 2017 – 13 Barn Swallows.

2 Brown shrike was spotted by Benny Scerri.

3 Handbook of Birds of the World, Vol. 13, p.778. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. (2008) Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

4 Ibid., pg.778.

5 Identification Guide to European Species, p.217, Lars Svensson, Willow Warbler had yellow predominantly distinct streaks which suggest it is an adult bird.

Left: Common Swifts have mainly been registered in spring, but they have also been recorded in mid-summer and Right: The Blackcap is one of the migratory birds that occasionally winters in the area degraded and inundated with human disturbances. More emphasis on the importance of this wetland is needed to raise awareness among environmentalist enthusiasts and the general public, which will ultimately lead to change the perception towards this tiny gem in the southern region of Malta.

Lastly, the salt marsh is deteriorating rapidly due to strong sea currents. Unless authorities act swiftly to protect it, the wetland will be lost forever, submerged under rising sea levels, and with it another valuable ecosystem and a habitat for the ever-declining bird species!

NB: All photos in this article were taken by the author except for the Brown Shrike photo as acknowledged. These pictures were taken in the wetland of Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk or other sites in Malta. Special thanks go to Mr Edward Bonavia (Secretary of Malta Rarities and Records Committee) and Mr John J. Borg (Heritage Malta Senior Curator of the National Museum of Natural History).

6 L-Agħsafar, pg.155, Joe Sultana & Charles Gauci.

7 Birdwatching done between 17:30 – 18:30.

8 ‘White wagtail roost count January 2019’, Birdlife Malta., p.3., Denis Cachia.

9 Birdwatching done between 17:30 – 18:30.

10 Birdwatching done between 17:30 – 18:30.

11 Meadow Pipits were recorded until 25 March 2018.

12 Spanish Sparrows, Sardinian Warblers and Zitting Cisticolas.

13 Collins Bird Guide, p.188, Lars Svensson.

14 L-Agħsafar, pg.132, Joe Sultana & Charles Gauci.

Hili Micallef