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11-Merm 30 2002

Partially albinistic European Storm- Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis from Filfla

The European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis colony on the island of Filfla, located some 5km off the south coast of Malta, has been monitored regularly since 1968 with over 18,000 ringed by ringers of Birdlife Malta's ringing scheme. On very rare occasions birds with one or few white prima­ ries or tail have been handled for ringing. A partially albinistic European Storm-petrel, showing some white secondaries and greater coverts was recorded on Filfla on 1st July 1978 (Sultana 1991).

While mist-netting Storm on the 31 May 2001, an adult bird was trapped having patches of white feathers on the crown, nape, lore, ear-coverts and throat. The eyes were of a paler shade than normal while parts of the legs and feet also showed very pale patches.

A similar bird has been reported from the Balearic Islands (Arbona et al. 1996)

References Arbona, P., Gonzales J. M., McMinn, M. & Rebassa, M. 1996. Noneta (Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis) parcialment albina capturada aNa Pobra, Cabrera, iles Balears. A.O.B 11:47-49. Sultana, J. 1991. Partial albinism of Storm Petrel. British Birds 84 (10): 437-438.

Joe Sultana* & John J. Borg** .. 3, Dar Gajdoru, Gajdoru Street, Xaghra, Gozo XRA 104, Malta. [email protected] ** 13, The Catacombs, Rabat RBT 07, Malta. [email protected]

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Bibby, C.J. 1981. Wintering bitterns in Britain. British Birds 74: 1-10.

Gurry-Lindahl, K. 1981. Bird migration in Africa. Academic Press, London.

Stettenheim, P. 1972. The integument of birds. In Avian Biology, D.S. Farner & King, J.R. eds., pp 2-54, Academic Press, London. page

C. COLEIRO. Post-breeding Dispersal and Adaptation of the Sylvia melanocephala in the Maltese islands ...... 1 J. J. BORG & J. SULTANA. Status and Distribution of the Breeding in Malta ...... 10 C. GALEA BONAVIA & C. GAUCI. Populations of Common Chiffchaffs Phyfloscopus collybita occurring in the Maltese Islands ...... 16 J. J. BORG, J. SULTANA & C. COLEIRO. Pre-breeding movements and early nest visits by the Levantine Shearwater Puffin us yelkouan in Malta ...... 20 M. A. THAKE. The Diet of three Black Redstarts Phoenicurus ochruros wintering at Mdina ...... 24 "- C. GALEA BONAVIA & C. GAUCI. A note on aging and sexing Common Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita using wing morphometries ...... 26 . H. PIEPER & D. RISTOW. Prey of a Peregrine Falco peregrinus pair off Crete ...... 29 C. HINKELMANN & D. RISTOW. The Eurasian Black Aegypius monachus in Crete ...... 32 ~

SHORT NOTES R. Galea. Irruption of Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra during 1990...... 34 R. Galea. A Linnet's Carduelis cannabina nest on Gozo ...... 35 J. Sultana. Male Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata raising young by itself...... 35 R. Galea. Breeding records of Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata for the period 1992 to 2001 ...... 36 R. Galea. Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides moulting while on migration ...... 37 J. Sultana & J. J. Borg. Note on the Moult of a Levantine Shearwater yelkouan and a Cory's Shearwater diomedea ...... 38 V. Falzon. Vertebrate inclusions in the diet of the Passer hispanioiensis .. .. 39 R. Galea. The Falco tinnuncillus nesting on Camino ...... 39 A. Casha. Berries as a source for various species of birds ...... 40 M. A. Thake. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis in an urban area ...... 41 M. Sammut, C. Coleiro & D.Attard. First record for the Maltese Islands of the dark morph Marsh Harrier Circus aeroginosus ...... 41 J. Sultana. Nest site selection in the Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspiciHata ...... 42 R. Galea. Red-rumped Hirundo daurica moulting wing feathers on migration ...... 42 J. J. Borg. Cross-billed Cory's Shearwaters Galonectris diomedea ...... 43 J.J. Borg & J. Sultana. Partially albinistic European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis from Filfla ...... 44

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