Falcons and Dingli Cliffs

Today we wanted to go back to the Falconry Center that was closed on our first day in Malta.  There was a bird show scheduled for the afternoon, but it was a bit windy so we half expected it to be cancelled.  We decided to check it out anyway.

After missing our bus that was so late that we thought it wasn't coming, we finally made it over to the town of Siġġiewi where the falconry center is located.  The show was cancelled due to wind, no surprise, but the care takers were happy to chat with us and let us hold some of the birds.  There were just a handful of people in the whole place, so we chatted for over an hour.  Last year, I had been to the Falconry Festival in Al Ain, and snapped a picture of the Malta crew. 

The town square of Siġġiewi

A big ol' vulture.

First, we got to hold a Barn Owl.

Harris Hawks sunning themselves.

Thomas and his new girlfriend, Hanna the Hawk.

Little love bites.

Looking at the old church while waiting for the bus.

It was a bit later than I hoped it would be, but still enough time to take a short ride out to Dingli Cliffs and catch the sunset.  Dingli Cliffs are the highest point on the island reaching about 250 meters above sea level.  I know this is wrong, but I really kept wanting to call it Dingleberry Cliffs!  Tee hee!

Thomas, with Filfla Island in the distance.

Sheepies and goaties!  Here they come!

And there they go.  Poor guy on the left was trying to keep his small dog from getting trampled.

 Stampede!!

It was getting dark -fast! And very cold. I decided I didn't like the idea of being on a bus that would be careening around the cliffs in the dark, so we hopped the very next bus we could at dusk and headed back in to town.