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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 511109
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2025-01-18
    Season SSummer
    Start time 09:30
    End time 10:45
    Shoreline covered 60
    Openwater covered 65
    Total Species 28
    Total Count 1030
    Wetland Condition 2Partially full (mid tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes "We did not see the usual Cape Cormorants flying in and out of the estuary. Only one was recorded flying back towards the estuary mouth. The water in the lower reaches of the estuary was very clear and clean with various size fish pods in the varying depths. We saw a human canopy glider pilot soaring along the mountain ridge above Muizenberg, a non motorized version. The estuary mouth was closed as we saw from the Royal Road bridge when we finished up there. A trend is developing in the last 3 to 5 years or so. More and more bush birds and water bird species have left the Zandvlei Nature Reserve areas. The waders are almost non existent and many of the remaining species we encounter, their numbers are decreasing. It is probably due to the weather pattern change or climate change as the popular term used. Some of the species have moved to the Strandfontein Birding Area when cross checking the count list. Thank you to Kyran who counted the Marina canals by boat. He saw an African Black Duck which was a good record. He also noted a Muscovy Duck. It seems many of the bird specie numbers were sheltering in the Marina canals. "
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Katherine Child
     
    0Kyran Wright
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		70
    6Grebe, Little
    (Tachybaptus ruficollis)    		10
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		50
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		1260
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		60
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		80
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		130
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		40
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		150
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		1620
    95Duck, African Black
    (Anas sparsa)    		10
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		510
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		4520
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		340
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		20
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		100
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		50
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		480
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		10
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		60
    296Tern, Sandwich
    (Thalasseus sandvicensis)    		10
    298Tern, Greater Crested
    (Thalasseus bergii)    		10
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		200
    397Kingfisher, Malachite
    (Corythornis cristatus)    		10
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		60
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		50
    10006Duck, Domestic
    (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)    		40
    10034Duck, Hyrbid Mallard/Yellow-billed
    (Anas platyrhynchos x undulata)    		350


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

    Thursday 18 December 2025 05:12
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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