https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/36522 2026-04-14T22:21:10Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/37101 Title: Il-Merill : the ornithological journal of BirdLife Malta no. 30 Abstract: 11-Merlll is the official scientific journal of Birdlife Malta. It serves as a medium for the publication of articles and short notes dealing with any aspect of ornithology having a bearing on the Maltese Islands and the Mediterranean. It also carries Systematic Lists of birds recorded in the Maltese Islands as well as bird-ringing reports, both of which are collated by the Research group of Birdlife Malta. 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/36836 Title: Partially albinistic European storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis from Filfla Abstract: 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 birds ringed by bird ringers of Birdlife Malta's ringing scheme. On very rare occasions birds with one or few white primaries or tail feathers 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). 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/36835 Title: 'Cross-billed' Cory's shearwaters Calonectrls diomedea Abstract: Various degrees of deformities affecting mainly the eyes and feet have been described in the Procellariiformes, especially on the small-sized members of the order e.g. the Storm Petrels such as Hydrobates pelagicus (Murray 1984). Pomeroy (1962) reports a case of bill deformity in a Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus from the Irish Sea. Nogales et al (1990) reported bill malformation in the Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea from the Great Selvage Islands in Atlantic. Three 'cross-billed' chicks were found in 1988 out of a total of 801 ringed, while another bird was found in 1989 out of 600 chicks ringed. 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/36834 Title: Red-rumped swallow Hirundo daurica moulting wing feathers while on migration Abstract: While bird-ringing at ls-Simar Nature Reserve on 23 October 1997 an adult and two first year Red-rumped Swallows Hirundo daurica were trapped together. In autumn these birds are rare and irregular in the Maltese Islands, passing from late September to early November. 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z