The raptor migration in the past days provided a mega rarity for Malta as a Levant Sparrowhawk was seen at Buskett last Tuesday, late in the afternoon.

In a statement this afternoon, BirdLife Malta said that, "this is the first record of this species for the Maltese Islands. There are a few other records of this species in hunters' stuffed bird collections in Malta and Gozo, but these are most probably of imported carcasses from hunting in Eastern Europe."

The bird, a juvenile, was observed and photographed at close range with all features for this species positively identifying it as a juvenile female Levant Sparrowhawk.

"It was observed by experienced field ornithologists and birders from Birdlife Malta, who every year study the autumn raptor migration over Buskett. Monitoring autumn raptor migration at Buskett has been taking place for the last 50 years on an annual basis by Birdlife Malta field ornithologists and birdwatchers," it said.

The Levant Sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey which nests in trees, with the female larger than the male. The breeding distribution of this bird is south-east Europe, from the Balkans to the West Black Sea Coast, Moldova, Ukraine and South Russia north of the Black Sea into north-west Kazakhstan.

Its occurrence in central Europe is very rare with only a few accidental records. It winters in Africa. Other birds of prey seen on that day included: Honey Buzzards, Marsh Harriers, Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Hobbies, a Merlin, Lesser Kestrels, and Common Kestrels.

BirdLife Malta explained that the strong northeasterly winds on that day could be the cause of this rare bird coming to Malta instead of taking its normal eastern migration route.

The Levant Sparrowhawk (Photo by Ray Galea)

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