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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 512707
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2026-10-17
    Season OOther
    Start time 09:45
    End time 12:10
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 24
    Total Count 264
    Wetland Condition 4Mud only
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 3Moderate
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes Last weekend was New Moon with the annual spring +2.0M high tide and the trapped sea water was very clear in the main waterbody. The estuary mouth was closed off with a high sand mound. The water level was about medium depth with large spits of sand visible between the 1st and 2nd bends from the mouth. We saw Darren and his helper counting from the boat when we were half way down the lower section. They had done the Marina canals already. We saw a few medium size mullet swimming about under Thesens bridge in almost crystal clear water. It was good to see the Sandwich and Common Terns. We saw a African Harrier Hawk being chased near the bridge and we also spotted a Rock Kestrel in a nearby tree top. The tree near Royal Road which had roosting and breeding Grey Herons and Sacred Ibis noted 2 years ago was deserted. The top of the tree has no leaves and is exposed to the prevailing wind from the sea, so not ideal for roosting and nesting any longer. The most prolifically active bird species today were the Common and Red wing Starlings in small flocks, seen all over the areas we counted today.
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Darren November
     
    0Gigi Laidler
     
    0Katherine Child
     
    0Safiyyah Hattas
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		30
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		130
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		560
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		70
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		10
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		30
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		140
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		20
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		510
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		30
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		30
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		10
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		310
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		10
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		400
    290Tern, Caspian
    (Hydroprogne caspia)    		70
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		20
    296Tern, Sandwich
    (Thalasseus sandvicensis)    		60
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		60
    397Kingfisher, Malachite
    (Corythornis cristatus)    		20
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		30
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		20
    10006Duck, Domestic
    (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)    		30
    10034Duck, Hyrbid Mallard/Yellow-billed
    (Anas platyrhynchos x undulata)    		40


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

    Friday 23 October 2026 09:57
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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