Garigue walk

Views of Majjistral N P on coming from Anchor bay

Had planed a morning spent seawatching from Ghajn tuffieha, but the bus never came and being fed up of waiting took a bus to Ghadira and walked it from there through some great garigue habitat at Cumnija and Majjistral national park.

Ghadira nature reserve had a flock of five Little egrets resting on one of the islands, a Green , two Wood and two Common sandpipers, as well as a few feldegg Yellow wagtails of note. Common Swifts and House Martins were flying about too. Managed to spot at least one Pallid swift and a great Red-rumped Swallow which must be the nicest hirundine we get.

Nightingales were singing and calling as we started walking as were Blue rock thrushes also performing display flights blue colour sparkling in the sun. A Woodchat shrike surveying its surroundings for its breakfast. Furthermore two female Marsh harriers coming in from the sea, later a Common Kestrel and yet another two Marsh harriers.

A Hoopoe was feeding on the path before it fluttered off with its butterfly flight. Tree Pipits and Tawny pipits were also present while it seems that all the Meadow pipits have left for their breeding grounds.

Scanning the sea as we walked produced a single Little egret and several Yellow-legged gulls. Back on the garigue two Northern Wheatears, a quite tame male but of course flew off just as I got out my camera. Also sighted was a Wryneck, an Alpine Swift, which are always fun, one of the very few remaining breeding Corn buntings and a female Subalpine warbler. On arriving at Ghajn tuffieha, a half hour seawatch didnt produce anything and quite satisfyed with the morning we headed home.