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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 503995
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2012-04-21
    Season OOther
    Start time 08:30
    End time 11:30
    Shoreline covered 95
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 26
    Total Count 1048
    Wetland Condition 2Partially full (mid tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes Zandvlei is in the process with a golden algae bloom. First observations of the smells and discolouration was recorded late February and early March 2012 from various locations in the Zandvlei. There were plenty of dead fish 1 week ago along various shorelines near the mouth of the estuary. The water clarity is very good today considering the position, still brown in colour but not excessively so. In places clarity to the bottom in 0.5 metre depths was clear. There was cut water weed washed up along the banks in places with a little white residue trapped in the weed which was wind driven onto the shores. We found no dead or stuggling birds or any other dead or struggling aquatic life. Cape Cormorants were coming in and leaving the estuary at a later stage. Coots were nest building, a Great crested Grebe was on a nest being attended by the male. Cool wind from south west, high clouds dense around the mountains for over 2 hours of the count, clearing to bright sunshine. I had no one to do the southern section of the Marina da Gama channals (southern section from Park Island Way to Battleridge Way).
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    Observer NumberNameOptions

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		40
    6Grebe, Little
    (Tachybaptus ruficollis)    		30
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		50
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		160
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		180
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		130
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		10
    57Heron, Purple
    (Ardea purpurea)    		20
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		80
    60Egret, Intermediate
    (Ardea intermedia)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		90
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		70
    85Spoonbill, African
    (Platalea alba)    		10
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		1790
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		170
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		60
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		5760
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		110
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		680
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		30
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		760
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		120
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		20
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		10
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		20
    10015, Hybrid Mallard
    (Anas hybrid)    		70


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    Thursday 18 April 2024 03:19
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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