Għadira Nature Reserve

What makes it special

The reserve covers seven hectares of brackish lake and saltmarsh on the edge of Mellieħa, in the north of Malta. It is a fully protected bird sanctuary.

The open water is what you watch from the hides. Redshanks, sandpipers and egrets on passage feed along its margins, and around 140 species of migrating birds stop here each year.

In spring, Black-winged Stilts and Little Ringed Plovers stay on to breed. In March and April, up to eight Hoopoes at a time feed on insects among the low plants of the restored dune.

Sixteenth-century maps mark the site as old saltpans. The lake and saltmarsh around them today were restored under a plan BirdLife Malta drew up.

Visiting

This reserve's visitors centre, just inside the gate, gives you an idea of the site. From there a nature trail leads to a small birdwatching hide, a 15-minute walk away, where you sit and scan the lake for waders.

The reserve also has a reservoir hide and photography hides. The restored sand dune is seen only from a boardwalk, which keeps visitors off the fragile sand.

The entrance is on Triq il-Marfa, the busy Mellieħa to Ċirkewwa road, across from the sandy beach at Mellieħa Bay and opposite the beachfront kiosk.

Tips

Bring your own binoculars, or use the free pairs the reserve provides, since many of the birds feed some distance from the hides.

You can park at the reserve, or take the bus to the Għadira stop and walk the short way to the gate.