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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 510148
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2023-07-15
    Season WWinter
    Start time 10:15
    End time 11:30
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 30
    Total Count 703
    Wetland Condition 2Partially full (mid tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes To carry on the raptor sightings a Peregrin Falcon came over the yacht club basin and the Harrier Hawk was seen twice more patrolling around trees in the suburb nearby. The Water Thick knees have moved to the Caravan Park as there is too much activity at the Scout Base at this time of the year. The rehabilitated seasonal wetland opposite The Outlook offices and next to the railway line, is in its 3 winter and is looking established and very good habitat for waterbirds and other associated creatures. African Sacred Ibis were feeding in it today. There are major gabion walls being installed below the Thesens bridge and above the Royal Road bridge to protect the sand banks eroding from the in and out flows of the estuary near the mouth. Then an unusual activity in a Norfolk Pine tree on the corner of Axminster and Royal Roads. We counted 6 nests being built by 12 Grey Herons and there could have been more, as sticks were being carried into the tree by circling birds using the air up draft off the flats next door. This must be desperate measures and are the birds trying to tell us something about the impact the burgenning numbers of humans choosing the suitable deminishing Cape Town habitats to make their homes in. The Night Heron roost in the Nature Reserve was decimated by fire wood cutters in January 2023 and they had to disperse after 23 years at their roost. See the photos of the exposed sand banks and the interesting path the water has chosen to flow through the "cookie cutter" as it was dredged deeper last year
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Catlin Melidonis
     
    0Felicity Ellmore
     
    0Gigi Laidler
     
    0Kyran Wright
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		30
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		100
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		2050
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		550
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		10
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		130Probably Breeding
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		220
    61Egret, Western Cattle
    (Bubulcus ibis)    		10
    63Heron, Striated
    (Butorides striata)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		130
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		170
    86Flamingo, Greater
    (Phoenicopterus roseus)    		50
    87Flamingo, Lesser
    (Phoeniconaias minor)    		150
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		780
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		450
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		20
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		120
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		40
    269Avocet, Pied
    (Recurvirostra avosetta)    		180
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		40
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		880
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		10
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		200
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		10
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		130
    395Kingfisher, Giant
    (Megaceryle maxima)    		320
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		30
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		70
    10005Duck, Hybrid
    (Anas hybrid)    		50
    10034Duck, Hyrbid Mallard/Yellow-billed
    (Anas platyrhynchos x undulata)    		90


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

    Saturday 27 April 2024 09:14
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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