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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 509886
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2023-01-21
    Season SSummer
    Start time 10:15
    End time 11:50
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 15
    Total Count 194
    Wetland Condition 3Very little standing water (low tide for estuaries
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 5Ideal
    Count Type 1On foot
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes "There were very few birds visible on the main waterbody or flying about. A few were on the southern side of Australia Island. We found the Cape Dwarf Chameleon in the reeds where we have found possibly the same one last year. The Water Thick knees were missing this count at the scout base, a possible explanation there was plenty of activity in the area during the school holidays. The schools started the new year this last week, so hopefully they will return. There were a few recreational users on the water in various craft. We found a dead fish (spotted grunter) on the shore near the Yacht Club basin, it had an oily substance coming from its insides (see the photo). It could have been a victim of the sewerage pollution washing in from the Keysers River. We established the estuary mouth was open as it is New Moon today. The water flowing out under Thesens pedestrian bridge was the same as measured at the railway bridge 1 metre per 6 seconds, which is considered fast. There were large sand bars evident with very little water in shallow and narrow channels at the ""Cookie Cutter"" between the 1st and 2nd bends from the estuary mouth. There was also a large sand bar at the Royal Road bridge. This is where the biggest concentration of birds were recorded for the lower section. The bulldozer was on the beach at the estuary mouth as part of the estuary mouth management process. A house owner opposite the vlei has had a pink spoonbill painted on the front wall and house face, which makes a striking mural with a bird theme. Note: No ZVNR staff were available to help with the count. The southern Marina canals, the Caravan Park and Park Island were not counted."
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Gigi Laidler
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     
    0Manuel Recker (Visitor)
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		70
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		90
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		10
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		20
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		20
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		30
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		80
    238Plover, Three-banded
    (Charadrius tricollaris)    		10
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		30
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		30
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		1350
    296Tern, Sandwich
    (Thalasseus sandvicensis)    		100
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		30
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		60


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

    Saturday 27 April 2024 02:05
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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