Salina Saltpans

Description
Salina Salt pans is situated between Qawra and Bahrar ic caghaq on the northern side of the island. The habitat consists of saltpans and degraded marsh land. There are reeds and the dominate tree is tamarisk. Just near the salt pans, on the side of Qawra one finds Kennedy Grove which consists of many young trees planted recently. The salt pans are private but one can look with a telescope from outside. The site is a bird sanctuary where hunting and trapping is prohibited.


Flock of Little Egrets at Salina Saltpans	Salina is very good for different wader species

What to See
Resident and Breeding Birds: Sardinian Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola and Spanish Sparrow. Reed Warbler and Moorhen breed here, with 1-2 pairs for both species.

Summer Highlights: Best time for waders including Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover(Scarce) Common, Green, Wood(sometimes in large flocks) and Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Temmink's Stint, Redshank, Greenshank, Ruff, Turnstone and Dunlin. Slender Billed Gull, Whiskered Tern, Little Tern. Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail and Subalpine Warbler.

Winter Highlights: Black-necked Grebe, Wild Ducks, Yellow-legged Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Sandpiper, Robin, Black Redstart, Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Common Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Reed Bunting.

Autumn Highlights: Herons mainly Grey Heron, Night Heron and Little Egret could be passing over head or in the pans. Great White Egret also (rare). Black-necked Grebe, Common Sandpiper, Black Winged Stilt and more waders. Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed(scarce) and Wood Warbler.

Spring Highlights: Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Egret. Good spot to watch Marsh, Montagu's and Pallid Harriers hunting and roosting in nearby fields in March and April. Ringed Plover, Black-Winged Stilt, Little Stint, Dunlin and Sanderling. Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Yellow Wagtail, Red-Rumped Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common, Pallid and Alpine Swift, House and Sand Martin. Blue Throat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler, Pied and Collared Flycatcher and Woodchat Shrike.

Best time to Visit
July(best time for waders), Autumn Migration (Late Aug till Oct) and Spring Migration (March-May)

How to Get There

Public Transport:- From Sliema :-652, 645,70 or From Valletta :- 45,44,49 and stop at the first Bus Stop at St.Pauls Bay and walk it Walking Time 15 mins

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