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    Vermont Salt Pan (34251910)

    Western Cape
    Card 512088
    Compiler 430
    Location code 34251910Vermont Salt Pan (Western Cape)
    Start date 2020-11-22
    Season OOther
    Start time 06:15
    End time 07:45
    Shoreline covered 100
    Openwater covered 100
    Total Species 22
    Total Count 254
    Wetland Condition 1Full (High tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 1On foot
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes Dramatic changes compared to previous counts – the pan was bone dry earlier in the year. It is now filled to the brim, but there had been dramatic changes as far as the vegetation is concerned. The reeds have grown considerably, but most importantly there is now knee-deep plant growth right around the pan and directly onto the edge of the water. Thus no mud(flats) for waders whatsoever. There had always been a little inlet (miniature bay) at the eastern viewing spot where we often observed various duck species on the open water, waders along the muddy areas and crakes, swamphens, etc darting in and out of the reeds. This is now totally overgrown – it takes practice to figure out where the little inlet had been.
    Survey notes


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    Observer NumberNameOptions

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    6Grebe, Little
    (Tachybaptus ruficollis)    		50
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		390
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		40
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		240
    55Heron, Black-headed
    (Ardea melanocephala)    		20
    61Egret, Western Cattle
    (Bubulcus ibis)    		40
    69Night Heron, Black-crowned
    (Nycticorax nycticorax)    		170
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		10
    87Flamingo, Lesser
    (Phoeniconaias minor)    		50
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		80
    94Shoveler, Cape
    (Anas smithii)    		90
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		70
    98Teal, Cape
    (Anas capensis)    		110
    102Pochard, Southern
    (Netta erythrophthalma)    		20
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		20
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		190
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		20
    269Avocet, Pied
    (Recurvirostra avosetta)    		290
    270Stilt, Black-winged
    (Himantopus himantopus)    		10
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		420
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		170
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		40


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    Tuesday 26 May 2026 07:53
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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