Day 1
After picking up Richard from his accommodation, we headed to Gozo’s northern coast. Decent numbers of European Bee-eater were about, as well as several Tree Pipits, Northern Wheatears, Western Yellow Wagtails, Greater Short-toed Larks, and Whinchats. We also found 2 very obliging breeding plumage Red-throated Pipits, which are always a good bird to see as they make their way north to their breeding grounds in the Arctic circle. We also saw 2 Tawny Pipits here. Our next location was quieter but we managed to see a female Montagu’s Harrier just as we were leaving.
We then headed on another nice walk in the south-west of the island. Here, a field with freshly cut grass contained at least 5 more Red-throated Pipits and several Tree Pipits and Western Yellow Wagtails. During the walk, we finally managed good views of Spectacled Warblers, while many Common Swifts, Pallids Swifts, Barn Swallows and House Martins were feeding in the sky around us. After a much-needed lunch break, the weather had become overcast and windy. We headed to the southern cliffs, where several hirundines were feeding in the sheltered area below the cliffs. These were mostly House Martins but we also spotted a Sand Martin and the always elegant Red-rumped Swallow. The garrigue and fields were relatively quiet, but still contained good numbers of Tawny Pipits and Tree Pipits, alongside a few Northern Wheatears and Wood Warblers, as well as our first Pied Flycatcher of the day. After a few unsuccessful stops for roosting harriers, we called it a day.
Day 2
On the second day of the trip, we headed over to the islet of Comino. From the boat we saw several Scopoli’s Shearwaters. Shortly after arriving, we heard a Common Nightingale and had good views of a Eurasian Wryneck. We then made our way to a ringing station to observe some bird ringing carried out by BirdLife Malta. Not many birds were around but we still saw some good birds being ringed including a Turtle Dove and a European Bee-eater. We then went for a walk around the islet, seeing some Chukars, an introduced but established species, and some more Turtle Doves. Multiple Common Whitethroats were around but unfortunately not much else. Nevertheless, we managed to see a few Pied Flycatchers, Whinchats, Subalpine Warblers and Northern Wheatears.