82. Ghadira Nature Reserve

As happens every autumn, the little wetland reserve at Ghadira is again open for visits. For all its minuscule size, Ghadira is still our biggest lake, and the recent rains have filled it to more or less its maximum area. The brackish water supports its own aquatic life, which includes the rare Mediterranean Killifish. The lake, its shoreline and the saltmarsh habitat that grows around it attract birds of many species, and while they are never present in large numbers, the annual average is 150 species. A visit this weekend should regale you with sightings of wintering waterbirds like Coots (pictured), Black-necked Grebes and Little Grebes, plus a few wild ducks like Ferruginous and Pintails. Ghadira is open for schools Mon-Fri (call BirdLife 21347644/5 to book) and for the public on Sat-Sun (10am-4pm - no booking needed). Entrance is free.

Text and photo by Victor Falzon.

Copyright to Birdlife Malta.