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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 504678
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2015-01-17
    Season SSummer
    Start time 08:30
    End time 12:30
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 30
    Total Count 2488
    Wetland Condition 2Partially full (mid tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 1On foot
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes Comments: (including any factors that might have affected the results, e.g. rain, wind, water level, disturbance, threats, etc. Also include any other information related to the species observed, breeding information, counts, etc.) A sunny clear sky with a gentle SE wind blowing. On the Thursday night and early Friday morning preceding the count it had rained. It was hoped this change in weather would increase the species and numbers but did not seem to have an influence. The inflow speed of the Westlake and Keysers Rivers into Zandvlei at the railway bridge was measured at 1 metre per 10 seconds. The estuary mouth was open. On the main water body there were not many birds to be seen. The Marina north and south sections were counted and helped boost the species and numbers as this is where many birds were sheltering out of the wind based on the count. Usually there are hundreds of Coots on the mainwater body at this time of the year. Very few to be seen, they were in the Marina canals. The Egyptain Geese were in the Caravan Park sheltering out of the wind too. The water level was quite low with much of the sand bar exposed down to the the second bend from the mouth. The Caspian Tern figures were back and up to the Jan 2012 count. A side observation I have never seen Boswell Circus at Zandvlei before. The operation was setup in the braai area on the western shore which falls under the City's Parks Dept.
    Survey notes


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    Observer NumberNameOptions

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		170
    44Gannet, Cape
    (Morus capensis)    		10
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		20
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		150
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		220
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		80
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		40
    57Heron, Purple
    (Ardea purpurea)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		40
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		60
    85Spoonbill, African
    (Platalea alba)    		20
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		11210
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		270
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		10
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		8210
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		320
    258Sandpiper, Common
    (Actitis hypoleucos)    		20
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		20
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		310
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		1720
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		140
    296Tern, Sandwich
    (Thalasseus sandvicensis)    		10
    298Tern, Greater Crested
    (Thalasseus bergii)    		10
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		60
    397Kingfisher, Malachite
    (Corythornis cristatus)    		10
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		140
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		10
    10006Duck, Domestic
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		10
    10009Tern, Unidentified
    (N/A N/A)    		40
    10015, Hybrid Mallard
    (Anas hybrid)    		1540


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    Tuesday 23 April 2024 10:02
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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