Sunday 26th April
A moderate passage of Turtle Doves brought with increased illegal shooting. Our team at Fomm ir-Rih heard many shots and after scanning il-Halqun, the plateau just opposite the cliffs, saw a man in a hunting hide. After a short while he came out of the hide and walked around, his gun clearly showing. The team called the ALE and while on the phone spotted another individual with a gun not too far from the first. The ALE responded, but were unfortunately seen driving past the site by the poachers, who promptly escape. The ALE searched the area and found two active trapping sites, one of which had 3 caged Short Toed Larks, European Species of Conservation Concern.
Sunday was the last day of Spring Watch 09 and BirdLife Malta thanks all the volunteers for the great work they have done, and hopes to see familiar faces come Raptor Camp 09 and Spring Watch 10. Thanks and well done to all our volunteers.
Friday 24th April
A lovely sunny day greeted our volunteers. The highlights today were undoubtedly Montagu’s Harriers, a couple of Pallid Harriers, Little Egrets and a great passage of Bee Eaters. Much to the envy of the other teams, 2 Rollers delighted our Mizieb team with their sudden appearance. The day was unfortunately marred by three incidents where our teams saw men with guns in the countryside and after reporting these incidents received no police response. One of the men was filmed recovering a shot bird.
During the night three young men were observed running towards the parking lot where the team cars were parked. A team member observing the incident from a veranda greeted them and asked them if they needed anything when, clearly surprised by his presence, they shouted out insults and ran away. As the trio ran away they slashed two tyres of the closest car. The police were informed of this vandal attack and arrived a short while later, taking a report before patrolling the area.
Tuesday 21st April
The weather worsened again, though wasn’t as bad as the beginning of camp. Several really nice sights, including a male Pallid Harrier, Bee Eaters, Purple Heron, Red Rumped Swallow and Golden Oriole. The good was unfortunately offset by the bad and many shots were heard in the south, a Yellow Legged Gull was seen shot down at Benghisa and two injured Marsh Harriers were seen at Luqa.
15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th April
The next five days were busy with teams recovering shot birds, filming poachers in action, recording many other illegal incidents and reporting incidents to the police. Based on 
the teams observation BirdLife Malta decided to hold a press conference on the 20th of April. For more details on the outcome of these four days see our video here, or read our press release here. Amongst theshot birds was a Scops Owl found dead in Buskett.
Tuesday 14th April
Following the vulnerable raptor roosts which developed on Tuesday evening most of the morning teams deployed in the south. Many shots were heard in the south and several reports were made to the police. Of the 5 Black Kites which roosted in the south on Tuesday, only one was observed leaving its roost. The fate of the other four is currently unknown.
The afternoon watch was quiet, not many birds passed through and therefore relatively few incidents of illegal hunting were recorded. In Mosta a female Marsh Harrier put on quite a display for the team and much to the team’s delight, rested for one and a half hours in a nearby field.
Monday 13th April
The Xaghjra team reported poachers shooting at Harriers, one of which was apprehended by the ALE. A dead Montagu’s Harrier and a dead Marsh Harrier were found in a field close by. A steady stream of incoming raptors kept the teams busy. In the south a flock of 5 Montagu’s Harriers and 5 Black Kites were seen, and shots were observed fired on the Montagu’s Harriers. The Delimara team had many raptors roosting in the fields at Tas-Silg. The Montagu’s Harriers and Black Kites headed further up the coast of Malta, observed by another team who watched the Montagu’s Harriers roost and noted two vehicles following the Black Kite flock. The team drove after the Kites, but lost track of them in the twilight. Another Pallid Harrier was sighted today.
Sunday 12th April
The weather worsened further and the birds really struggled against the strong winds. A Golden Oriole occupied the Mizieb’s team attention and aroused the curiosity of some tourists passing bye. The team shared optics with the tourists, who joined in watching the Oriole for a while. Among the day’s highlights were 3 Red Footed Falcons and 3 Black Kites.
Saturday 11th April
Spring Watch 09 started half way through quite a storm. Despite the bad weather, birds braved the low clouds and high winds trying to migrate. Teams deployed in the afternoon and volunteers had some great sights, including Bee Eaters, Wryneck, Hoopoe, and a large flock of Cory’s Shearwater rafting off cliffs in the south of Malta. The days highlight was undoubtedly a female Pallid Harrier.
Not all of the sights were as pleasant… amongst the birds seen were 2 injured Black Kites. One had a dangling leg, the other damage to the wing. Both injuries were consistent with gunshot injuries.