Pillar 07 · Walks & Nature

Birdwatching and Nature Near Żejtun

Malta sits on a major bird migration route, and the south of the island is one of the better places to watch the spring and autumn passages. Around Żejtun, a few quiet locations reward time and binoculars.

This article is a stub. We’ll add a species checklist and location-by-location notes as we expand it.

Where and when

Malta’s location on the central Mediterranean flyway means that hundreds of species of migratory birds pass through every spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). The agricultural land east of Żejtun, the Delimara peninsula, and the cliffs at Xrobb l-Għaġin are all good places to watch — the cliffs especially for raptors during the autumn passage. Resident species worth listening for include Sardinian warbler, Spanish sparrow, blue rock thrush (the national bird), and the various swifts in summer. Bee-eaters pass through in spring; honey buzzards and harriers in autumn.

BirdLife Malta is the conservation organisation working actively in the country and runs guided walks and surveys; their reserve at Salina (north of the island) and at Għadira are the headline sites, but the south is where some of the more local watching happens. Bring binoculars, dress for sun and wind, and respect any signed reserves. [LOCAL FACT — Mattew to confirm any locally-organised walks, BirdLife events around Żejtun, and the best access points to the cliffs at Xrobb l-Għaġin.]

Hunting season and ethics

Hunting and trapping have a long tradition in Malta and have been the subject of substantial controversy in recent decades. The autumn migration coincides with the autumn hunting season, and walking in rural areas during this period brings you into proximity with hunting hides. This is legal and licensed, but it constrains where you can comfortably watch birds during certain weeks. The spring migration is generally less affected. BirdLife Malta and the Maltese hunters’ federation have ongoing disagreements; visitors should respect signed reserves, avoid trespassing on private hides, and keep their distance from active hunters.

What this article will cover

  • Migration calendars by season
  • Species checklists for the area
  • Where to watch from and how to access each location
  • BirdLife Malta and how to engage with their work
  • Other nature notes: wildflowers, insects, the autumn fungi
  • Etiquette around hunting season and protected areas

Read more on this pillar

Part of our Walks & Nature pillar. Pair with to Xrobb l-Għaġin, to St Thomas Bay, and cycling routes.

Mattew Cassar

Resident · Writer

Mattew writes zejtun.com from a flat above his grandfather’s old workshop on Triq San Girgor. He has lived in Żejtun for twenty-three of his thirty-one years.