BirdLife Malta have reported a rare visitor to the Maltese Islands, the Eurasian Spoonbill. The Eurasian Spoonbill is a scarce and irregular species in the Maltese islands during migration, with no sightings whatsoever in some years.

Less than 5,000 pairs can be found within the European Union. The Eurasian Spoonbill is a Species of Conservation Concern and is given extra protection under Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. Its global population is concentrated in Europe, although the bird remains rare throughout the continent, and therefore throughout the world. Serious international conservation efforts have however seen an increase in its population in recent years.

The Eurasian Spoonbill is still resting at the Ghadira Nature Reserve to date. Those wishing to try to catch a glimpse of this rare visitor can try their luck this weekend, although the bird may chose to move on to its European breeding grounds at any given moment. The Ghadira Nature Reserve is open on the weekends between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and entrance is free of charge.

The photo by Christopher Cachia Zammit captures the Eurasian Spoonbill coming in to land at the Ghadira Nature Reserve.

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