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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 503991
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2013-01-19
    Season SSummer
    Start time 08:50
    End time 12:10
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 23
    Total Count 1657
    Wetland Condition 1Full (High tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes Condition of the wetland - The Zandvlei estuary mouth was closed by management methods for December 2012 and January 2013 and kept this way for public safety reasons over the peak holiday season. Clear, sunny and the wind from the SE at a moderate and varying speed estimated 5 to 10 knots. Susan Wishart counted the caravan park and Park Island. Alice Ashwell and Pat Garrett did the southern Marina channels in a canoe and reported a low activity of birds for this area as an observation. Again the previous weeks of south east winds have probably been a contributing factor. Lee Vestey had another Cory's Shearwater in her car and was hydrating it at intervals waiting for the SANCOB people to fetch it. It was also found on Muizenberg beach the day before. Another indicator the Flamingos were not in their "usual place" at the second bend of the estuary, they were in the Central Pan in the Nature Reserve the upper end of the Reserve in a sheltered area. The Flamingos mainly juveniles have been at Zandvlei since mid October 2012, numbers varying from 10 to 100. There were no Zandvlei Nature Reserve staff on duty this day.
    Survey notes


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    Observer NumberNameOptions

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		10
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		270
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		120
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		290
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		30
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		30
    60Egret, Intermediate [x]
    (Ardea intermedia)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		20
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		170
    88Goose, Spur-winged
    (Plectropterus gambensis)    		110
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		7340
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		10
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		3630
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		180
    258Sandpiper, Common
    (Actitis hypoleucos)    		10
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		70
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		1430
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		40
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		180
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		100
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		2010
    10008Wader, Unidentified
    (N/A N/A)    		30
    10015Mallard, Hybrid
    (Anas hybrid)    		480


    FITZ logo Ramsar Wetlands International http://www.sanbi.org/

    Tuesday 28 October 2025 10:41
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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