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    Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (34071828)

    Western Cape
    Card 512461
    Compiler 10691
    Location code 34071828Zandvlei: Lower Estuary (Western Cape)
    Start date 2026-07-18
    Season WWinter
    Start time 09:55
    End time 12:15
    Shoreline covered 90
    Openwater covered 95
    Total Species 25
    Total Count 594
    Wetland Condition 3Very little standing water (low tide for estuaries
    Wetland Threats 0
    Count Condition 3Moderate
    Count Type 5Mixed
    Nil Count (No birds present) 0There were CWAC species present
    Notes "Something interesting we saw a seldom seen sight today - an individual Great crested Grebe flying up (south to north) and over the open main waterbody. It flies with its long neck extended in front of it not unlike an African Darter. There are a few areas where both Masked and Cape Weavers are nest building (see photos). There was a small island with a large tree branch for birds to perch on it, at the west end of ""the cookie cutter"" pond, which has disappeared. It served as a bird spit surrounded by water, so that dogs could not get to the birds which used it. This island was dug away from ""the cookie cutter"" bank by Nature Reserve staff and local volunteers about 10 years ago. I am not sure if it was washed away or purposely removed. The low water level has exposed the sand banks from the Royal Road bridge to the 2nd bend from the estuary mouth which is open today (see the photos). The water speed measured at Thesens bridge was 1 metre per 6 seconds at midday. An interesting observation near the Royal Road bridge was a Cape Turtle Dove calling loudly. This species has declined markedly in the southern suburbs in recent years. The sun made a brief appearance just after 12h00 by then the level of cloud cover had risen to about 250 metres. "
    Survey notes


    Add additional observers
    Observer NumberNameOptions
    0Darren November
     
    0Felicity Elmore
     
    0Gigi Laidler
     
    0Kyran Wright
     
    0Linda Hibbin
     
    0Safiyyah Hattas
     

    Current data
    Ref #SpeciesCountBreeding
    Pairs    		Breeding
    indicator
    4Grebe, Great Crested
    (Podiceps cristatus)    		80
    47Cormorant, White-breasted
    (Phalacrocorax lucidus)    		170
    48Cormorant, Cape
    (Phalacrocorax capensis)    		600
    50Cormorant, Reed
    (Microcarbo africanus)    		520
    52Darter, African
    (Anhinga rufa)    		160
    54Heron, Grey
    (Ardea cinerea)    		30
    55Heron, Black-headed
    (Ardea melanocephala)    		90
    59Egret, Little
    (Egretta garzetta)    		60
    81Ibis, African Sacred
    (Threskiornis aethiopicus)    		570
    84Ibis, Hadada
    (Bostrychia hagedash)    		140
    89Goose, Egyptian
    (Alopochen aegyptiaca)    		1640
    96Duck, Yellow-billed
    (Anas undulata)    		130
    210Moorhen, Common
    (Gallinula chloropus)    		10
    212Coot, Red-knobbed
    (Fulica cristata)    		820
    245Lapwing, Blacksmith
    (Vanellus armatus)    		20
    274Thick-knee, Water
    (Burhinus vermiculatus)    		20
    287Gull, Kelp
    (Larus dominicanus)    		400
    288Gull, Grey-headed
    (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)    		10
    289Gull, Hartlaub's
    (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)    		270
    394Kingfisher, Pied
    (Ceryle rudis)    		40
    397Kingfisher, Malachite
    (Corythornis cristatus)    		20
    686Wagtail, Cape
    (Motacilla capensis)    		30
    1016, Mallard
    (Anas platyrhynchos)    		40
    10006Duck, Domestic
    (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)    		30
    10034Duck, Hyrbid Mallard/Yellow-billed
    (Anas platyrhynchos x undulata)    		40


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

    Monday 27 July 2026 08:11
    FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Cape Town

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