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    Zandvlei: Upper Estuary (34061828)

    Western Cape
    Card 511798
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34061828Zandvlei: Upper Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2026-01-17
    Season SSummer
    Start time 08:10
    End time 09:45
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 31
    Total Count 713
    Wetland Condition 1Full (High tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes On a clear warm sunny blue sky morning with no wind at the start the main water body surface was like a mirror. The water level was high. On the west shore we went to see an area which has a small depression with water now exposed, part of a stormwater system into the main waterbody and was covered in reeds for more than 40 years. It is a small area and the fire looks like it was controlled. Weaver birds used to use the reeds for nest building although their numbers have decreased dramatically in the last decade. There were a number of insect species visible along the pathways, butterflies, flies, wasps, bees, dragonflies. No ants were visible - did the drop in barometric pressure send them underground? We saw a fisherman trying for leervis and he did not seem to be having any luck with a spoon. There were another group of youngsters near the scout base using bait also trying their luck with not much action. By this time a breeze from the south had picked up and was ruffling the surface of the water. 2 small yachts were also using the breeze.
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Gigi Laidler
     
    0J Herman
     
    0K Knight
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     
    0N Hermann
     
    0S Hattas
     
    0Sanjo Rose
     
    1899Felicity Ellmore
     
    16177Dave Walker
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		70
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		40
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		20
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		820
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		130
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		120
    55Heron, Black-headed
    (Ardea melanocephala)    		10
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		140
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		100
    83Ibis, Glossy
    (Plegadis falcinellus)    		10
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		60
    86Flamingo, Greater
    (Phoenicopterus roseus)    		10
    88Goose, Spur-winged
    (Plectropterus gambensis)    		10
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		1580
    94Shoveler, Cape
    (Anas smithii)    		30
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		300
    98Teal, Cape
    (Anas capensis)    		190
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		60
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		2250
    237Plover, Kittlitz's
    (Charadrius pecuarius)    		40Confirmed Breeding
    238Plover, Three-banded
    (Charadrius tricollaris)    		20
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		150
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		60
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		1512Confirmed Breeding
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		100
    296Tern, Sandwich
    (Thalasseus sandvicensis)    		40
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		170
    397Kingfisher, Malachite
    (Corythornis cristatus)    		20
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		30
    10008Wader, Unidentified
    (N/A N/A)    		20
    10034Duck, Hyrbid Mallard/Yellow-billed
    (Anas platyrhynchos x undulata)    		381Confirmed Breeding


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

    Sunday 01 February 2026 08:24
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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