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    Cowles Dam (26132828)

    Gauteng
    Card 511874
    Compiler 613
    Location code 26132828Cowles Dam (Gauteng)
    Start date 2026-02-05
    Season SSummer
    Start time 09:45
    End time 10:43
    Shoreline covered 50
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 22
    Total Count 1137
    Wetland Condition 2Partially full (mid tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats 3Overgrown by alien vegetation
    Count Condition 3Moderate
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes Main dam surrounded by tall reeds. Water covered by Water Hyacinth. Both affected visibility. Normal access point on northern shore overgrown so inner southern shore could not be fully assessed. Inflow area visible from raised road network. Northern shore and main dam surveyed from railway ladder. New or expanded dump on northern side of dam attracting White Stork, Sacred Ibis and Grey-headed Gull.
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Andries Mphuti
     
    0Eunice Shirinda
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    6Grebe, Little
    (Tachybaptus ruficollis)    		20
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		20
    57Heron, Purple
    (Ardea purpurea)    		10
    61Egret, Western Cattle
    (Bubulcus ibis)    		20
    80Stork, White
    (Ciconia ciconia)    		4550
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		950
    83Ibis, Glossy
    (Plegadis falcinellus)    		300
    85Spoonbill, African
    (Platalea alba)    		30
    88Goose, Spur-winged
    (Plectropterus gambensis)    		10
    94Shoveler, Cape
    (Anas smithii)    		120
    97Teal, Red-billed
    (Anas erythrorhyncha)    		70
    101Duck, Fulvous Whistling
    (Dendrocygna bicolor)    		20
    208Swamphen, African
    (Porphyrio madagascariensis)    		20
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		60
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		840
    238Plover, Three-banded
    (Charadrius tricollaris)    		10
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		280
    253Stint, Little
    (Calidris minuta)    		1700
    270Stilt, Black-winged
    (Himantopus himantopus)    		190
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		2130
    305Tern, Whiskered
    (Chlidonias hybrida)    		10
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		10


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

    Tuesday 10 February 2026 10:10
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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