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    Coega Saltpans (33472540)

    Eastern Cape
    Card 500972
    Compiler 2
    Location code 33472540Coega Saltpans (Eastern Cape)
    Start date 2009-02-04
    Season SSummer
    Start time 06:40
    End time 11:10
    Shoreline covered 80
    Openwater covered 90
    Total Species 25
    Total Count 885
    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 Portions of the original saltpan area are being lost to development as part of the Coega IDZ and Port of Ngqura developments (e.g. a rail line is being developed along the western portion and a new N2 road bridge to the north). During this count the area upstream of the N2 could not be counted as the new N2 bridge construction is in progress. New vacuum salt factory has started operating in Coega IDZ. Takes brine from the ponds into the factory rather than scraping salt out from the ponds. Together with a year long drought, means that many of the pans are low or empty & fewer birds than normal.
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    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    5Grebe, Black-necked
    (Podiceps nigricollis)    		150
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		130Probably Breeding
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		10
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		20
    86Flamingo, Greater
    (Phoenicopterus roseus)    		100
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		31Confirmed Breeding
    98Teal, Cape
    (Anas capensis)    		410
    232Turnstone, Ruddy
    (Arenaria interpres)    		10
    233Plover, Common Ringed
    (Charadrius hiaticula)    		370
    236Plover, Chestnut-banded
    (Charadrius pallidus)    		60
    237Plover, Kittlitz's
    (Charadrius pecuarius)    		350
    238Plover, Three-banded
    (Charadrius tricollaris)    		60
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		80
    253Stint, Little
    (Calidris minuta)    		2390
    256, Ruff
    (Calidris pugnax)    		310
    258Sandpiper, Common
    (Actitis hypoleucos)    		10
    263Greenshank, Common
    (Tringa nebularia)    		10
    270Stilt, Black-winged
    (Himantopus himantopus)    		320
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		50
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		3420
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		259Confirmed Breeding
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		90
    296Tern, Sandwich
    (Thalasseus sandvicensis)    		90
    298Tern, Greater Crested
    (Thalasseus bergii)    		40
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		90


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    Tuesday 16 December 2025 01:51
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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