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    Zandvlei: Upper Estuary (34061828)

    Western Cape
    Card 507581
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34061828Zandvlei: Upper Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2019-01-19
    Season SSummer
    Start time 08:10
    End time 09:45
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 31
    Total Count 2058
    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 "The preceding day it rained gently with not much wind. Today it was partly cloudy, clearing to sunny with a slight breeze from the SE. There were very few birds invisible in the air for a reason, which was difficult to understand. The barometric pressure was fine and forecasts suggested another good weather day for tomorrow 20th January. There was no water flow under the railway bridge. The estuary mouth was partially open (a berm left so only a full tide could breach the top of the opening) for the full moon tides on 20th and 21st Jan. It is presumed the mouth would be opened for the peak tides for ingress of sea water and fish movement. We could see the Greater Flamingos from the distant western shore. 2 White backed Ducks have been noted by a local resident a few times since 01 January 2019, in the Scout Basin and we only picked them up by chance as they were almost glued to a buoy and looked like dirty smudges on the side of the buoy. (See photo). When the heads moved they were seen by a sharp eyed younger member of the team! Well done Laurie. It is unusual for WBD to be here so early as the potamageton (water weed) which they thrive on has only just started to grow again. It had been cut back very hard in the Scout Basin 2 years ago (so that the yachts and rowing boats could move through the water freely). Barry and Val report that they did not find the Night Herons in their usual place. An interesting observation there were no Cape wagtails to be found along the upper western shore. We know where to find them, but they were else where."
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Barry and Val Cleveland
     
    0David and Joan Walker
     
    0Gerald Stark
     
    0Janine Smith
     
    0Laurie Johnson
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     
    0Manfred Wickerman
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		110
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		10
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		90
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		370
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		60
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		10
    55Heron, Black-headed
    (Ardea melanocephala)    		10
    57Heron, Purple
    (Ardea purpurea)    		10
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		10
    61Egret, Western Cattle
    (Bubulcus ibis)    		20
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		10
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		40
    86Flamingo, Greater
    (Phoenicopterus roseus)    		370
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		670Confirmed Breeding
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		450
    98Teal, Cape
    (Anas capensis)    		60
    104Duck, White-backed
    (Thalassornis leuconotus)    		20
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		80
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		16420
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		140
    263Greenshank, Common
    (Tringa nebularia)    		10
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		140
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		30Confirmed Breeding
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		800
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		40
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		10
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		70
    395Kingfisher, Giant
    (Megaceryle maxima)    		10
    397Kingfisher, Malachite
    (Corythornis cristatus)    		10
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		60
    10015Mallard, Hybrid
    (Anas hybrid)    		440Confirmed Breeding


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

    Sunday 14 December 2025 10:59
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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