Notes

All Notes submitted to British are subject to independent review, either by the Notes Panel or by the BB Editorial Board.Those considered appropriate for BB will be published either here or on our website (www.britishbirds.co.uk) subject to the availability of space. Spanish Sparrows apparently migrating through the Maltese Islands The Spanish Sparrow hispaniolensis is an migrating flocks were attracted down by the abundant breeding resident in (Sultana & calls of local resident sparrows but, less than a Gauci 1982) which appears to form separate minute after landing, they left to continue in the ‘town and country’ populations, each with its same direction. No migrants were recorded in own pattern of behaviour (Summers-Smith 2007, but the first records of migrating birds in 1977–78). This has a more obvious spring were made in 2008. These spring birds pattern of migratory behaviour than other were migrating between NNW and NNE, in Passer species (Summers-Smith 1988) but there moderate to fresh west to northeasterly winds. is little evidence that Maltese sparrows are migratory. Of Table 1. Records of apparently migrating Spanish Sparrows 25,459 Spanish Sparrows ringed Passer hispaniolensis in the Maltese Islands. in the Maltese Islands up to the Date Locality Numbers end of 1999, only 13 were recov- (M)=Malta, (G)=Gozo ered beyond 5 km, while just two 22.10.2003 Ghadira (M) 4 flocks, largest c. 150 crossed from one island to the 23.10.2003 Ghadira (M) 2 flocks, each of c. 40 other (distances of c. 11 km and 22.10.2004 Ghadira (M) 1 flock, c. 60 21 km respectively; data from 23.10.2004 Qawra (M) 2 flocks, 14, 20 BirdLife Malta Ringing Scheme 22.10.2005 Comino 1 flock, 20+ Reports). Bannerman & Vella 29.10.2005 Qawra (M) 1 flock (50+) coming in off the sea 31.10.2005 Ghadira (M) 2 flocks, each of c. 75 Gaffiero (1976) claimed that ‘Past 23.10.2006 Ghadira (M) 3 flocks (150+, 20+, 15+) historians have asserted [that it] Comino 2 flocks (250+, 100+) migrates in large numbers to 24.10.2006 Ramla Valley (G) 3 flocks (100+, 50+, 50+) Sicily where farmers allege that it Ramla Valley (G) 2 flocks, each of c. 25 causes considerable damage to 25.10.2006 2 flocks, each of c. 25 the corn fields and have conse- 26.10.2006 2 flocks, each of c. 400–500 quently named it il ladro Maltese, 27.10.2006 Marsalforn Valley (G) 1 flock (c. 200) 04.04.2008 Ghadira (M) 4 flocks, each of 20–25 the Maltese robber’, although 06.04.2008 Ghadira (M) 2 flocks, each of 40+ there is no evidence that those 13.04.2008 Marfa Ridge (M) At least 5 flocks, c. 200 birds in all birds originated from Malta. Sultana (2007) documented the first autumn Acknowledgments records of migrating Spanish Sparrows in the I wish to thank Charles Gauci for the Ghadira records, Maltese Islands, when flocks were recorded Raymond Galea and Charles Coleiro for the Qawra and coming in off the sea during the last ten days of Marfa Ridge records and Joe Theuma for the records from October each year from 2003 to 2006 (table 1). the Ramla and Marsalforn Valleys. They occurred in the morning of days with References light to moderate southerly winds and were all Bannerman, D. A., & Vella Gaffiero, J. A. 1976. Birds of the heading south; their flight resembled that of Maltese Archipelago. Museums Department, Malta. migrating flocks of Carduelis finches, being Sultana, J. 2007. Ein neues Eregnis:Wanderndne undulating yet unhurried, and they uttered Weidensperlinge Passer hispaniolensis in Malta. Ornithologische Mitteilungen 59 (1): 30–32. somewhat agitated contact calls almost contin- — & Gauci, C. 1982. A New Guide to the Birds of Malta. uously. Local sparrow flocks heading towards The Ornithological Society, Malta. their evening roost sites employ a much more Summers-Smith, D. 1977–78.The Spanish Sparrow in Malta. Il-Merill 19: 9–10. direct flight. On 23rd October 2006, on — 1988. The Sparrows: a study of the Passer. Poyser, Comino, some of the sparrows from two Calton.

Joe Sultana Dar Ta’ Gajdoru / 3, Xaghra Gozo, XRA 104, Malta; [email protected]

602 British Birds 102 • October 2009 • 602