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    Zandvlei: Upper Estuary (34061828)

    Western Cape
    Card 503953
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34061828Zandvlei: Upper 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 41
    Total Count 2337
    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 There was a major canoe activity (car registrations from all over RSA) on the upper and lower Zandvlei starting 09h30 which did not disturb the birds too much, which was interesting to observe. Cool wind from south west, high clouds dense around the mountains for over 2 hours of the count, clearing to bright sunshine. 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.
    Survey notes


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    Observer NumberNameOptions

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		440
    6Grebe, Little
    (Tachybaptus ruficollis)    		470
    42Pelican, Great White
    (Pelecanus onocrotalus)    		70
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		290
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		320
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		740
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		560
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		150
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		130
    60Egret, Intermediate
    (Ardea intermedia)    		150
    61Egret, Western Cattle
    (Bubulcus ibis)    		20
    69Night Heron, Black-crowned
    (Nycticorax nycticorax)    		70
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		130
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		70
    85Spoonbill, African
    (Platalea alba)    		310
    88Goose, Spur-winged
    (Plectropterus gambensis)    		70
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		200
    94Shoveler, Cape
    (Anas smithii)    		60
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		590
    97Teal, Red-billed
    (Anas erythrorhyncha)    		80
    98Teal, Cape
    (Anas capensis)    		350
    104Duck, White-backed
    (Thalassornis leuconotus)    		420
    149Fish Eagle, African
    (Haliaeetus vocifer)    		20
    167Harrier, African Marsh
    (Circus ranivorus)    		20
    208Swamphen, African
    (Porphyrio madagascariensis)    		40
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		350
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		14790
    228Jacana, African
    (Actophilornis africanus)    		10
    238Plover, Three-banded
    (Charadrius tricollaris)    		20
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		100
    270Stilt, Black-winged
    (Himantopus himantopus)    		170
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		90
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		10
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		750
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		110
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		50
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		150
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		50
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		160
    10006Duck, Domestic
    (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)    		160
    10015Mallard, Hybrid
    (Anas hybrid)    		630


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    Sunday 24 November 2024 02:08
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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