Ghadira Nature Reserve

Ghadira Nature Reserve (Ir-Riserva Naturali tal-Ghadira) is a brackish lake and saltmarsh just behind the sand of Mellieha Bay, on the outskirts of Mellieha. Permanent inland water is rare on dry Malta, so these seven hectares matter far beyond their size: BirdLife Malta, which runs the reserve, records around 140 species of migrating birds here each year. It is a fully protected bird sanctuary, a Ramsar wetland and a Special Area of Conservation in the EU Natura 2000 network.

The site was a saltpan for Mellieha for centuries, then silted up and was cut off from the beach by the road. A 1960s road plan nearly destroyed it, and the dry lake bed served as a summer car park. Ghadira was declared a bird sanctuary in 1978, and in 1980 the government adopted BirdLife's plan to restore the lake and saltmarsh as a wardened reserve.

What you can see

Migrant waders such as redshanks, sandpipers and egrets work the open water. In spring black-winged stilts and little ringed plovers breed on the reserve, and with luck a passing spoonbill or greater flamingo drops in. Moorhens are easy to find year-round, zitting cisticolas call overhead, and Mediterranean chameleons hide in the shrubs. Along the trails grow sea daffodil, golden samphire and sea lavender. Two photography hides, one over the reservoir and one over a small freshwater pond in a tamarisk grove, can be booked through BirdLife Malta.

Opening days and rules

• As of November 2026, BirdLife Malta lists the reserve as open between September and May only.
• Winter weekdays: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 13:30 to 17:00. Weekends: Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00.
• Closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
• Entry is free; donations are welcome. Volunteers help newcomers spot the birds.
• No pets and no smoking inside the reserve.

Ghadira is an easy add-on to a beach day at Mellieha Bay, or a stop on the way to the Gozo ferry at Cirkewwa (see our Gozo ferry guide). The Red Tower looks down on the bay from the Marfa ridge above. Birders can continue to Simar Nature Reserve in Xemxija, BirdLife's other wetland, and read our birdwatching in Malta guide.