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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 512259
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2026-04-18
    Season OOther
    Start time 10:01
    End time 11:30
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 24
    Total Count 376
    Wetland Condition 1Full (High tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 2Poor
    Count Type 1On foot
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes The Kontiki rafts were spread out along the west shore between the scout base and into the Yacht club basin too, with plenty of activity and announcement over the loud speakers directing the participants. The sand exposed banks between bends one and two were submerged today. We saw the new educational signboard up at Thesens bridge about the importance of sand prawns as a primary food source for fish and how they benefit the estuary filtration with the recycling of nutrients. As we arrived at the Royal Road bridge looking up above us, we saw 4 Hartlaubs Gulls mobbing a Jackal Buzzard which eventually went off in the direction of St James. The estuary mouth was ready and partially opened in preparation of the forecast rain this weekend. It coincides with New Moon on 17 April 2026. There were good waves for surfing with the NW wind blowing.
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Damian Gibbs
     
    0Darren November
     
    0J Herman
     
    0K Jacobs
     
    0K Knight
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     
    1899Felicity Ellmore
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		20
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		60
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		130
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		640
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		180
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		170
    57Heron, Purple
    (Ardea purpurea)    		50
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		170
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		100
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		140
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		880
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		20
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		280
    238Plover, Three-banded
    (Charadrius tricollaris)    		10
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		120
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		40
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		190
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		350
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		90
    397Kingfisher, Malachite
    (Corythornis cristatus)    		30
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		20
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		20
    10005Duck, Hybrid
    (Anas hybrid)    		20
    10006Duck, Domestic
    (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)    		30


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

    Monday 25 May 2026 09:33
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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