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    Zandvlei: Westlake Wetlands (34071827)

    Western Cape
    Card 504079
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071827Zandvlei: Westlake Wetlands (Western Cape)
    Start date 2012-04-21
    Season OOther
    Start time 08:30
    End time 09:30
    Shoreline covered 30
    Openwater covered 50
    Total Species 21
    Total Count 115
    Wetland Condition 2Partially full (mid tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats
    Count Condition 3Moderate
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes 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. The Westlake River and the tributaries in the reed beds observed from the railway bridge were clear of invasive waterweed held back by the booms. The reedbed to the south and on the western side of the railwayline had burnt 4 days prior to the count. This opened vistas not seen before in more than 25 years. It helped define the landscape and levels down to the waters edge of Rutter Road Pond.
    Survey notes


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    Observer NumberNameOptions

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		20
    6Grebe, Little
    (Tachybaptus ruficollis)    		20
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		20
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		80
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		90
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		50
    69Night Heron, Black-crowned
    (Nycticorax nycticorax)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		110
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		70
    85Spoonbill, African
    (Platalea alba)    		30
    88Goose, Spur-winged
    (Plectropterus gambensis)    		30
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		60
    94Shoveler, Cape
    (Anas smithii)    		20
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		140
    208Swamphen, African
    (Porphyrio madagascariensis)    		10
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		140
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		40
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		40
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		80
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		40
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		50


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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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