Simar Nature Reserve

Simar Nature Reserve (Is-Simar) lies at the seaward end of Wied il-Pwales in Xemxija, on the edge of St Paul's Bay. It takes its name from the sharp rush (simar in Maltese) that is spreading back across the site, and the valley's name comes from the Latin palus, marsh. Run by BirdLife Malta, Simar is a fully protected bird sanctuary, a Ramsar site and a Special Area of Conservation in the EU Natura 2000 network.

Until the 1980s the site was a neglected dumping ground, degraded by hunting, litter and sewage overflow, and a theme park was proposed for it. BirdLife's alternative plan to restore the wetland was accepted instead, and work began in 1992: pools, canals and islands were dug and hundreds of trees planted. The result is a mosaic of open water, reedbed and tamarisk in a valley of farmland.

What you can see

The reedbeds suit secretive birds: water rails, herons, egrets and warblers, with the loud call of Cetti's warbler giving itself away. Kingfishers fish the pools, barn swallows hawk insects over the water in spring, and black-winged stilts first bred here in 2014. BirdLife Malta says Simar is the only place in the Maltese Islands where coots and little grebes breed. Watch for Mediterranean chameleons and geckos on the branches. The pools also hold the rare, protected Mediterranean killifish. A bookable photography hide overlooks open water lined with reeds and tamarisk.

Opening days and rules

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

Simar is small and works best as a focused hour or two, easy to fit around a stay in St Paul's Bay, Bugibba and Qawra. Combine it with Ghadira Nature Reserve a short drive north for a wetland double on a Sunday or a Monday, Wednesday or Friday afternoon, and see our birdwatching guide for timing the migration seasons.