Birdwatching in Malta

The Maltese Islands sit on a migration route between Europe and Africa, and in spring and autumn tired migrants drop in to rest and feed. Three places to see them are wetland reserves managed by BirdLife Malta, each free to enter as of November 2026, with donations welcome. Bring binoculars: hides and screens let you watch without disturbing the birds. Dedicated photography hides require a separate booking with BirdLife Malta.

Għadira Nature Reserve, Mellieħa

Għadira sits behind Mellieħa Bay at the north end of Malta. It was declared a bird sanctuary in 1978 and covers seven hectares of brackish lake and saltmarsh. Migrant waders such as redshanks, sandpipers and egrets stop here, and black-winged stilts and little ringed plovers breed in spring. As of November 2026 BirdLife Malta lists it as open from September to May, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1.30pm to 5pm in winter and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Simar Nature Reserve, Xemxija

Simar lies at Xemxija on the edge of St Paul's Bay, a mosaic of open pools, reedbed and trees that suits herons, rails and kingfishers. BirdLife Malta lists the same September to May season, with winter weekday hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1.30pm to 5pm and Sunday opening from 10am to 4pm (as of November 2026). BirdLife Malta lists nearby bus stops Roti and Simar for routes 41, 42, 221, 222 and X1 (as of November 2026); check the operator before travelling.

Salina Nature Reserve

Salina, at the mouth of the Burmarrad valley on the coast road near St Paul's Bay, combines saltmarsh with working salt pans and a small salt museum. Gulls gather here in large numbers and Sandwich terns are seen almost daily. Unlike the other two, part of the park is open every day: as of November 2026, 7am to 6pm from October to March and 7am to 8pm from April to September.

Raptors and migration hot spots

For birds of prey, BirdLife Malta calls Buskett the best place on the islands to watch migrating raptors in autumn, when honey-buzzards and marsh harriers come in to roost; the woodland is open at all hours. Comino is a bird sanctuary where April and October are the best months, and Dwejra on Gozo is good for seabirds passing the cliffs in the migration seasons.

Leave pets at home when visiting Għadira or Simar (they are not allowed inside those reserves), keep voices low in the hides, and note that Għadira and Simar close on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.