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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 510569
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2024-01-20
    Season SSummer
    Start time 09:44
    End time 11:45
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 19
    Total Count 615
    Wetland Condition 2Partially full (mid tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 1On foot
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes Note that the southern Marina canals were not counted as no water craft or volunteers were available. At the Scout base we saw a Malachite (male) and and Orange breasted Sunbird (female) at the small garden with a bench. The counters at the Caravan Park photographed a (male) Orange breasted Sunbird too. There was a fire up on the mountain above Muizenberg in December 2023 and a large part of their range was burnt so they are down the lower slopes looking for food. We saw a Black Sparrowhawk fly across from the Marina and then across the yacht basin while we were counting there. Botulism conditions are occurring in the yacht basin, the weather has been very hot and humid with very little wind for the past weeks. There has been no rain since the beginning of the new year. There were 6 Grey Herons, 1 Black headed Heron and 4 Sacred Ibis in the tree at the guest house in Axminster Road, which they are using for a roost and nesting site near the estuary mouth. Thank you to the Nature Reserve staff who counted the Caravan Park and Park Island today. It was very hot by the time we finished at 11h45 with no wind. Seldom is there no wind near the estuary mouth in the summer time.
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Gigi Laidler
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		50
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		60
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		490
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		20
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		130
    55Heron, Black-headed
    (Ardea melanocephala)    		30
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		20
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		110
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		2450
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		400
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		120
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		40
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		730
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		1070
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		140
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		150
    296Tern, Sandwich
    (Thalasseus sandvicensis)    		80
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		20
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		40


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

    Tuesday 04 November 2025 04:38
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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