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    Zandvlei: Upper Estuary (34061828)

    Western Cape
    Card 509045
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34061828Zandvlei: Upper Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2021-04-17
    Season OOther
    Start time 08:10
    End time 10:00
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 29
    Total Count 382
    Wetland Condition 1Full (High tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats
    Count Condition 5Ideal
    Count Type 1On foot
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes "The preceding days have been warm, clear and with little wind. Perfect autumn days. Today it wass clear, sunny with no wind and cool air temparatures before and just after sun rise. It warmed to mid 20's while we were counting. The main waterbody is full. There was not very much bird activity to be seen in the air over the Zandvlei and surrounding areas. There has been no rainfall this month after the highest rainfall in March for the Zandvlei area in 18 years, by the rainfall data collectors. A highlight here was a Hottentot Teal, a species long last seen here. We saw a Tropical Tent-web Spider in its nest (Araneidae: Cyrtophora citricola) and a Cape Rain Spider (Sparassidae: Palystes castaneus) a new nest, which is late in the season. They must know something or are taking advantage of the prevailing weather conditions. There are not any visible flying or crawlings insects to be seen. No dragonflies along the waters edge. The swale along side the railway near the railway bridge is visible after about 40 years being concealed by overgrown vegetation. It is interesting to note that the water level in the swale is at the same level as the water flowing under the railway bridge. The phragmites reed shoots are pushing up after the 2nd week since the fire on Easter Friday. Due to helpers being unavailable there were no counts done today for the northern and southern Marina canals or the night heron canals. "
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0David and Joan Walker
     
    0Gerald Starke
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     
    0Rodney Yates
     
    0Simon Fogarty
     
    1899Felicity Ellmore
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		40
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		40
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		370
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		110
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		20
    55Heron, Black-headed
    (Ardea melanocephala)    		10
    57Heron, Purple
    (Ardea purpurea)    		30
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		30
    61Egret, Western Cattle
    (Bubulcus ibis)    		100
    67Bittern, Little
    (Ixobrychus minutus)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		20
    88Goose, Spur-winged
    (Plectropterus gambensis)    		40
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		130
    94Shoveler, Cape
    (Spatula smithii)    		20
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		130
    98Teal, Cape
    (Anas capensis)    		300
    99Teal, Blue-billed
    (Spatula hottentota)    		10
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		90
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		1620
    238Plover, Three-banded
    (Charadrius tricollaris)    		20
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		210
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		110
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		30
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		190
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		10
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		10
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		80
    397Kingfisher, Malachite
    (Corythornis cristatus)    		10
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		30


    FITZ logo Ramsar Wetlands International http://www.sanbi.org/

    Saturday 27 April 2024 08:12
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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