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    Botriviervlei: A1 Bridge to Benguela Cove (34201908)

    Western Cape
    Card 504451
    Compiler 58
    Location code 34201908Botriviervlei: A1 Bridge to Benguela Cove (Western Cape)
    Start date 2011-07-09
    Season WWinter
    Start time 08:15
    End time 11:45
    Shoreline covered 95
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 24
    Total Count 480
    Wetland Condition 1Full (High tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats
    Count Condition 3Moderate
    Count Type 1On foot
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes The day started with a "Temperature Rollercoaster" ride. Set off from Vredekloof at 06h45 and the temp was 9 degrees - driving down the R300 it dropped to 6 - at the foot of Sir Lowry's Pass it had risen to 13 and half-way up it touched on 15 - cresting Sir Lowry's it dropped to 6 again and by the time we reached Grabbouw it was 4!!! Then we hit the "Pea Soup" stuff (mist) on Houw Hoek Pass and when we reached Bot River Lagoon the guage had settled on 9 with a very sneaky & icy wind blowing off the water. Lots of Cormorants of varying species, as many Egyptian Geese, a diving Caspian Tern, 2 African Fish Eagles (1 Adult, 1 Juvenile) and oh so many Orange-breasted and Malachite Sunbirds were the highlights of the day and by the time we'd finished at 11h45, the temp had risen to 22 - a stunning day, despite the long walk, bundu-bashing through the felled Port Jackson and then back up to the main road for a 2km slog back to Benguela because the lagoon's water level is tipping the scales at "full" and the short cut around the boundary fence was a no go area. Between the bridge and Arabella we had a huge flock of 100 (and maybe more) juvenile White-breasted Cormorants - never seen such a huge number together before - we took a picture but the camera's zoom wasn't sufficient enough to get a good enought shot of the flock. Another Highlight was a Cape Clawless Otter which we saw in the water at the Bot River Bridge - Nature at its best!!!!
    Survey notes


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    Observer NumberNameOptions

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		10
    44Gannet, Cape
    (Morus capensis)    		10
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		1200
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		30
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		890
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		40
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		10
    55Heron, Black-headed
    (Ardea melanocephala)    		10
    61Egret, Western Cattle
    (Bubulcus ibis)    		130
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		10
    88Goose, Spur-winged
    (Plectropterus gambensis)    		30
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		1500
    94Shoveler, Cape
    (Spatula smithii)    		20
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		60
    149Eagle, African Fish
    (Haliaeetus vocifer)    		20
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		100
    270Stilt, Black-winged
    (Himantopus himantopus)    		30
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		20
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		180
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		290
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		20
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		150
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		10
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		30


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    Friday 19 April 2024 11:40
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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