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    Cowles Dam (26132828)

    Gauteng
    Card 512606
    Compiler 613
    Location code 26132828Cowles Dam (Gauteng)
    Start date 2026-07-27
    Season WWinter
    Start time 11:12
    End time 12:08
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 21
    Total Count 215
    Wetland Condition 2Partially full (mid tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats 3Overgrown by alien vegetation
    Count Condition 4Good
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes The dam was partly covered by water hyacinth. Other threats noted were the active landfill site to the northwest (potential pollution/disease risk - also attracts Sacred Ibises and Grey-headed Gulls but lies outside the count area), reworking of the tailings dams to the south (potential pollution risk - shallow ponds have developed in the dump footprints which attract waders but are also outside the count area) and local sewage leaks.
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    1764Sean West
     
    13111Natalie Horn
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		10
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		20
    80Stork, White
    (Ciconia ciconia)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		580
    83Ibis, Glossy
    (Plegadis falcinellus)    		30
    88Goose, Spur-winged
    (Plectropterus gambensis)    		30
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		60
    94Shoveler, Cape
    (Anas smithii)    		20
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		10
    97Teal, Red-billed
    (Anas erythrorhyncha)    		100
    99Teal, Blue-billed
    (Anas hottentota)    		20
    100Duck, White-faced Whistling
    (Dendrocygna viduata)    		20
    208Swamphen, African
    (Porphyrio madagascariensis)    		70
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		320
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		320
    238Plover, Three-banded
    (Charadrius tricollaris)    		10
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		80
    247Lapwing, African Wattled
    (Vanellus senegallus)    		30
    250Snipe, African
    (Gallinago nigripennis)    		20
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		360
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		30


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

    Friday 28 August 2026 06:45
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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