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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 504648
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2014-10-18
    Season OOther
    Start time 09:45
    End time 11:05
    Shoreline covered 95
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 25
    Total Count 439
    Wetland Condition 2Partially full (mid tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats
    Count Condition 5Ideal
    Count Type 1On foot
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes Clear blue sky, initailly the morning was cool, from a clear sky night with no wind. Little to no wind till about 10h00. Slight SE breeze for duration of the count. It is felt that Thursday and early Friday morning which had an almost gale force SE wind blowing continuously, was the contributing factor to so few birds present at Zandvlei. By 11h00 it was probably 25 degees C with slight SE breeze. The estauary mouth was closed. Note that no count took place in the Marina da Gama channels. The water inflow under the railway bridge was 1 metre per 20 seconds. The water was still very turbid at the confluence at the railway bridge. In the vlei main body the visiblity was very good. The preceding days SE wind may have influenced the clarity of the water from the wave action generated. The most observed birds in the air were the African Darters. There were very few birds on the water and in the air as per the photos. A Black Sparrowhawk was seen carrying a part catch of something and was flying west across the Westlake Wetlands at about 25 metres high, with an adult Fish Eagle as an escort keeping pace and an even distance towards Pollsmoor area. Unusual behaviour not seen before. An observation in the lower part of the estuary the sand prawn blow holes have extended beyond the 3rd bend up from Royal Road bridge. An indication that saline water is reaching further up into the main body of Zandvlei. This area was inhabited by mud prawn (freshwater species) less than 15 years ago.
    Survey notes


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    Observer NumberNameOptions

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		40
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		20
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		10
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		40
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		110
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		10
    57Heron, Purple
    (Ardea purpurea)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		40
    83Ibis, Glossy
    (Plegadis falcinellus)    		10
    85Spoonbill, African
    (Platalea alba)    		50
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		1580
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		120
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		50
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		240
    258Sandpiper, Common
    (Actitis hypoleucos)    		20
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		40
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		210Confirmed Breeding
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		10
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		1520
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		20
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		20
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		140
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		30
    10006Duck, Domestic
    (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)    		10
    10015Mallard, Hybrid
    (Anas hybrid)    		40


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

    Thursday 21 November 2024 05:58
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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