Malta: Comino Island (3 Viewers)

[CharleyBird]

Rock Partridge (six) Common starlings, Spanish sparrows, pair collared doves, Cory shearwater (over channel between Gozo & Comino) Heron (probably grey though very dark all over, was large) Sardinian Warblers (m & f).

Also a pair of birds on the rocky foreshore going Tseeee, Tseeeeee. ?



Few days ago had a walk to the Tower and among the various pigeons saw two that were exactly like the description of Rock Doves. White rump, black bars, whitish under wings etc. Could they have been?

Also above were loads of swifts, never gave them a thought until got back and looked at the list off the 'Birding in Malta' website and saw they could have been Pallid swifts.

Also on the higher ground there may have been some larks, not sure.

Glad I brought my bins & scope:bounce:

 

[skylark25]

Hey CharleyBird,

Interesting post !

The Rock Partridges you saw are Chukars! They were domestic birds released a few years back by a local man whom lives on Comino. The birds have become self sufficient and now a wild population of this species has established itself on Comino island.

The Starlings you sighted are probably breeding, in the whereabouts of the Pig Farm.

The pair of birds that you heard: Do you think they are Warblers sp.? If so, they could have been a pair of Spectacled Warblers. If I'm not mistaken there are 1-2 pairs that breed on the garrigue. Check out the following link: http://www.birdinginmalta.com/species_spectacledwarbler.htm
Listen to its call which you can find at the bottom of the page

Its unlikely that the pigeons were Rock Doves. Hundreds of years ago, Malta had breeding Rock Doves but now the species has interbred and mixed with feral pigeons. Some of these feral pigeons look very similar to Rock Doves in terms of plumage

Common Swifts are now already on the move here in Malta. It could be that Pallid Swifts were mixed with them but unless you see them up close its difficult to separate them apart. Common Swifts are more common then Pallid, so most probably the swifts you saw were indeed Common, although a few Pallid Swift individuals could easily have been flying with them too!

The only Lark sp. that breeds in Malta is the Short-toed Lark. So the larks you heard/or saw were definetly them. A few pairs also breed on Comino. They have a very melodious song, and sing it from high above, making it sometimes difficult to spot it.

Hope this info helps a bit:t:

Unfortunately you visited Comino at the quitest and hottest time of the year. Malta has a few breeding birds and migration hasn't really commenced. hence this explains the lack of birds you saw during your visit. If you visited Comino during migration, it would have indeed been a different story! If you wish send me a PM, and I can send you some of my birding records from Comino in the past years that may be of interest to you.

Cheers,
Skylark25
Steve

 

[CharleyBird]

Steve,

Many thanks for your very helpful reply. Damn those feral pigeons are the spitting image of their great great great grandfather! Were flying to the large rock that is still attached to the island near the Tower, so still have the same instinct for breeding.
My wife & kids are learning to dive so have had time to play the mad Englishman and walk about in the sun. Tomorrow we're off to the bluelagoon so shall go lark and swift spotting again.

The spectacled warbler is exactly what I've seen; also seen a drab brown warbler, probably garden warbler near the greenhouse where there is a grape vine that attracts everything like a bird feeder.
Saw a kestrel fly through fast, down the road from the cemetary to the hospital. I think that's everything.

Interesting about the Chukars, you just can't trust the books100% LOL. Saw 3 of them again today, scuttled off before I could check the black around the beak etc
May get to Gozo later in the week, see a few more things.


Thanks again

Regards

Andy

 

[skylark25]

Andy...so you're still in Malta?

Great !!:t::t: Will you still be here this Friday? As I have a boat trip and we're gonna go visit the breeding Cory's Shearwater's offshore Gozo in the evening. Last week we sighted 2,500 rafting birds. If you want, you and your family are more than welcome to come along! Certainly if you are in Malta, this is something you should definetly not miss since its a great experience :t::t: Tell me if you're interested!!

Also if you'll be in Malta anytime, I can arrange to take you to Ghadira Nature Reserve, in Mellieha. Its currently closed in the summer months, but I can open it especially for you, free of charge. I'm free all week, so if you are interested do let me know. Not alot of time is required, an hour in the morning is enough to see whats present and do some birdwatching. You'll pass from near the reserve when you leave Cirkewwa in the north of Malta. So if you are interested, we can arrange a time and you can just pop by. A handful of waders already present there; Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Ringed Plover

Yes it could be its a Garden Warbler, keep an eye out also for any Subalpine Warblers as they start to migrate at this time of the year. They love eating the fruit of fig trees

Enjoy diving!!

Keep us posted

Regards
Steve

 

[CharleyBird]

Steve, that's a most kind offer, shall have to pass on the boat trip, will PM you if my family schedule allows Thurs or Friday morning away. The reserve is within walking distance of the ferry terminal at Paradise Hotel I think, boat arriving at 10am.

On birds again, seen 6 gulls circling the cemetary yesterday at 7am, after ten minutes headed out to see. Probably Yellow legged? Not many gulls for a seaside place (compared to England).
Going to the cliffs, redoubt and back via the Tower today, family arrived for breakfast gotta go

Regards

Andy

 

[skylark25]

Hi Andy,

I just sent you a PM with details you need to know incase you wish to join us for the boat trip and if we manage to meet up at Ghadira Nature Reserve

Re: ''The reserve is within walking distance of the ferry terminal at Paradise Hotel I think, boat arriving at 10am.''

The reserve isn't that close to Paradise Hotel, Cirkewwa. I wouldn't recommend that you walk it as it will take long. Its better if you catch a bus ( see PM) from Cirkewwa Terminal. In around 5 mins you should then arrive at Ghadira Bay, where the reserve is situated.

Yes the gulls you saw are Yellow Legged Gulls. They are our resident seagulls and breed here too. Thye are quite common and you can see them everywhere. Very true, but by October Black-headed Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls start to arrive and take up their winter residence and the number of gulls around increases alot. Especially around the port area at Valletta.

On your walk, do keep an eye out for Blue Rock Thrush, Malta's National Bird which you are bound to see since you are visiting the cliffs. The bird's main habitat is cliff sides and garrigue.

Also first autumn Hoopoes have been sighted this week!

Regards

 

[CharleyBird]

Steve, PM'dyou.

Walked over the Eastern cliff area of Comino this morning, flock of about 70-80 probably yellow legged gulls in sillhouette, flew off south.
At the gun battery SE of Island was standing still looking at my camera about to take a shot of one of the canons, when a bird flew over the storage rooms and landed on the castellation about 15 foot away inbright sunlight. Blue, a really blue starling I thought, no... that's the blue rock thrush. Two seconds later it flew down the cliff and vanished, but absolutely made my day.
Then walking towards the Tower spotted a huge flock of gulls in the water off I think Crystal Bay...about 120 to 140 Yellow legged gulls (took my scope today).

Do tell where to see the Hoopoes, and anything else on Malta, I'll be journeying around it over the weekend. Many thanks for all the help, your enthusiasm is quite infectious.

Regards

Andy

 

[joe90]

I've just come back from Malta - only saw the pigeons, swifts and sparrows but did see a great Moray Eel whist snorkelling off of St Julian's bay plus plenty of other fish and a lobster. I did the Blue Lagoon and spent much of the time in the water I would be interested to know what all the fish we saw were - some were quite large [up to a foot long and silver - sea bass shaped]. Watch out for the boat guys throwing whole slices of bread in and the fish making them disappear in seconds. Enjoy the weather. Joe

 

[CharleyBird]

Out at 6am today to photograph the area before the intense sun startsat 7.
Saw female rock thrush, the chukars, sparrows, sardinian warblers, a few yellow legged gulls, rabbits, and a crab in a pool.
The other day I saw a black snake, a good 3 feet long at least, Western Whip snake I think it's called.

Have to say it's got quite windy the last few days, and watching the shearwaters battle their way home westwards at dusk along the Comino-Gozo channel is my favourite sight. They zig-zag into the wind just above the water, then catch a gust and fly up ten feet and go backwards. Then down again towards home.

Shame the boats off and back to Comino Island are so limited. However the isolation is one of the nicest things too.

And joe, the weather is the same today as last Thursday, but windy.

Regards

Andy

 

[skylark25]

Morning Andy,

Good to know you still are out and about trying to make the most of the birding even though there isn't much to see right now.

Make sure next time you visit Comino, it will be in October, March, April or May ! You would have loved it ! Peak migration period, plenty of birds funneling through the Comino Channel. You could easily see 40 - 5o species in one day!

I agree, I too like the isolation of Comino. Its one of my most favorite places in all Malta and some of my best birding always takes place there. I have great memories of the place. I try to visit at least twice a year - once in Autumn and at least twice in Spring

Don't give up yet about thr boat trip tomorrow. I'm gonna try my best to organise transport for you, so you still get the chance to see the Cory's Shearwaters up close. I can't promise anything yet, but I'm gonna try arrange especially for you. I'll PM you when I have any news.

Also, have you managed to see any Zitting Cisticola's yet?

Yes the snake you saw is a Western Whip Snake - its our commonest snake and it comes out to bask in the sun during summer time.

Regards
Steve

 

[skylark25]

Hi Joe,

Good to know you payed us a visit. Hope you enjoyed your holiday

Re: the fish you saw, fish aren't really my thing so I can't be of any help but I'll try to find some info, maybe a link or too, to try and help you identify the fish species you sighted.

Cheers

 

[joe90]

I'd appreciate that and being back at work for a few days makes me wish i was back in Malta!

Thanks,

Joe

 

[maltese falcon]

You guys are lucky...i'm maltese and i'm yet to visit comino . As skylark said summer is very quiet in Malta since we don't have many resident birds. In summer I tend to forget about birds and focus on going out with my friends...in fact ive just come back from a night out . Im going to gozo for 4 days in the 2nd week of september and I am definately going to spend the 30 minute boat ride there scanning the sky and sea for birds The only migrant Ive seen so far is a broad wing sp which im 80% sure is a fem marsh harrier. skylark do you think the kestrel charleybird saw was breeding?

 

[CharleyBird]

Steve, great boat trip, I hope I can return the favour to you someday in some way.
They are amazing birds those sheerwaters, whether rafting or flying. Do they ever dip the tip of a wing in the water I wonder. Lovely sunset too, many thanks.

Our travel plans to see Malta went a bit astray as the car hire firm Sundrive who operate out of Bubigga are real cowboys. We had a car for one day and saw Sliema and had a harbour tour then returned it - beware any visitors to Malta of Sundrive car hire.


Tomorrow is our last full day so will be round the hotel garden & greenhouse to see the warblers etc.

Rregards

Andy

 

[CharleyBird]

Actually walked to the highest point of the Island again, then northwards towards Santa Maria Bay. Saw the usual suspects,pigeons, sparrows, larks.
Later in the afternoon from the hotel saw a couple of gulls so got my bins out, and suddenly behind the gulls spotted about 70 swifts flying about, drifting over the channel towards Gozo.

May not be a great variety of birds at this time of the year, but it would be a lovely place to live.

 

[skylark25]

Steve, great boat trip, I hope I can return the favour to you someday in some way.
They are amazing birds those sheerwaters, whether rafting or flying. Do they ever dip the tip of a wing in the water I wonder. Lovely sunset too, many thanks.

Hey Andy, glad you enjoyed it so much! Thats why I wanted you to come along with us:t: it was a pleasure meeting you !! Yep its a great experience and i always look forward to such boat trips...ever in Malta again, do let me know

Hope you had a safe trip home

Till next time, do take care and all the best

Best Regards
Steve - Skylark25

 

[skylark25]

I'd appreciate that and being back at work for a few days makes me wish i was back in Malta!

Thanks,

Joe

Hi Joe, i checked the net, but i'm afraid I didn't find anything decent on identifying fish species in Maltese waters or any species profiles online. We do have a local Fishing forum, you could check that out. I know of one book about Maltese fish, its pretty good with profiles of all common fish and pictures to help identify them. I misplaced it, I'll try to find it tomorrow, I'll give you its name. Maybe you could try get your hands on a hard-copy

Skylark25

 

[skylark25]

The only migrant Ive seen so far is a broad wing sp which im 80% sure is a fem marsh harrier.

Maltese Falcon, I have word that the bird you saw was not a Marsh Harrier, but a Black Kite!! A friend of mine sighted it from Targa Gap over Naxxar, at the same time. Si its indeed the same bird:t:

 

[maltese falcon]

wow great.....its only my second one

 

[Adin 92]

I've just come back from Malta - only saw the pigeons, swifts and sparrows but did see a great Moray Eel whist snorkelling off of St Julian's bay plus plenty of other fish and a lobster. I did the Blue Lagoon and spent much of the time in the water I would be interested to know what all the fish we saw were - some were quite large [up to a foot long and silver - sea bass shaped]. Watch out for the boat guys throwing whole slices of bread in and the fish making them disappear in seconds. Enjoy the weather. Joe

Most probably the fish you saw are Saddle-breams http://gb.fotolibra.com/images/previews/375692-shoals-of-saddle-bream-comino.jpeg

which are very common in Comino