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    Zandvlei: Upper Estuary (34061828)

    Western Cape
    Card 510334
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34061828Zandvlei: Upper Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2023-10-21
    Season OOther
    Start time 08:15
    End time 09:45
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 19
    Total Count 235
    Wetland Condition 1Full (High tide for estuaries)
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 1Bad
    Count Type 1On foot
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes A near gale force wind greeted us, blowing (13 -15 m/s) from the South East. Yesterday was ideal weather for birding at Zandvlei (cool and overcast) and tomorrow is forecast to be good weather too, sunny with little wind. Most birds were hiding already by the time we arrived as the wind started during the night. The water level was high in the main waterbody indicating the estuary mouth was closed. A quick scan showed no birds on the open water or in the air. The small waves were building up in height. The north west shore is being seriously eroded by the waves we had to walk into the vegetation to get past a wash out due to the high water level. The pathway is washed away. There were a few butterflies and dragonflies flitting about, and plenty of flies on the damp sand pathways (water table is still high) when we made our way along our normal route. A Cape Rain Spider (Sparassidae: Palystes castaneus) female was guarding her new bright white nest next to the pathway when we past rearing up in defensive mode as we peered and inspected it.
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Gigi Laidler
     
    0K Childs
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     
    0Salvia Starling
     
    0Simon Fogarty
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		80
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		80
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		40
    55Heron, Black-headed
    (Ardea melanocephala)    		10
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		40
    87Flamingo, Lesser
    (Phoeniconaias minor)    		20
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		90
    94Shoveler, Cape
    (Anas smithii)    		90
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		210
    98Teal, Cape
    (Anas capensis)    		40
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		40
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		1060
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		70
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		270
    291Tern, Common
    (Sterna hirundo)    		60
    296Tern, Sandwich
    (Thalasseus sandvicensis)    		10
    298Tern, Greater Crested
    (Thalasseus bergii)    		20
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		30
    10015Mallard, Hybrid
    (Anas hybrid)    		90Confirmed Breeding


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

    Friday 30 January 2026 10:55
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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