The Maltese islands were visited by two rare birds on Good Friday, one spotted by a member of the KSU, and the other by CABS activists.

Bernard Farrugia, a hunter and member of Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU) sighted and photographed a rare Pale-throated Black-Eared Wheatear, also known as a Light Morph Black-Eared Wheatear or a Western race Black-Eared Wheatear, in Maltese, Kuda Dumnikana.

KSU said that although the Black-Eared Wheatear is a common migrant in spring and autumn, the Pale-throated race is a scarce migrant since it occurs in the West, mainly Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with some records in France and has scarcely been recorded in the past in Malta.

KSU encouraged its members to keep an eye on all migrating birds and report any unusual sightings.Meanwhile, the first-ever official visit of a Black-winged Kite to the Malta islands was announced by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS).

The rare bird was sighted by a CABS team on Friday afternoon at around 6pm close to the Verdala Palace in Buskett, only 6 hours after this year´s hunting season officially closed.

The activists, visitors from Germany, followed the bird for half an hour but then lost visual contact after the kite flew off in the direction of Siggiewi.

Before it disappeared the birdwatchers managed to film the bird for a few seconds. “It was great to see such a beautiful rarity flying over Malta without being harmed,” the activists said.

CABS said that the observation has been reported to the Maltese Rarities Committee for birds. The organisation also contacted local ornithologist Dr. Natalino Fenech who confirmed the sighting and said that the bird was also observed by hunters.

The Black-winged Kite, which has the size of a small falcon, is a species primarily of open land and semi-deserts in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia. In Europe the bird breeds only in Spain, Portugal and South-west France.

Photos: Black-Eared Wheatear by Bernard Farrugia and Photo taken in Spain of Black-winged Kite by Dr. Natalino Fenech

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