Zandvlei Trust

Zandvlei Inventory and Monitoring Programme   (ZIMP)

Biotic – Bird observations at Zandvlei

14 August 2008 – Robin Burnett reports that the Whitebacked Ducks have left Zandvlei. They arrived in April 2008, from where? 
He remembers they arrived and left the same time in 2007. This duck specie had been absent from Zandvlei for about 15 years.

photograph by Greg Morgan

Whitebacked Dicks leaving Zandvlei 

Spotted Eagle Owl, juvenile.

Karoo Scrub Robin research project

photograph by Doug Harebottle

Karoo Scrub Robin

On the 13th of July, the first of six Karoo Scrub-Robins (Cercotrichas coryphaeus) was successfully moved from the Sewage Works in Strandfontein to the GZENR. These birds are being brought to Zandvlei as a student research project by Fay Howa to see if the Karoo Scrub robin population would be able to colonise Zandvlei.

Read more about this project

Spoonbills at Zandvlei Nature Reserve – Centre Pan

Great Crested Grebes in the Marina da Gama – winter months 2006

photographs by Lucia Rodrigues

See the egg on the nest                                         The striped head of the chick is visible at the right.

Lucia Rodrigues reports "this is the grebe nest that was in front of my house at the beginning of June. It had 3 eggs in it, but sank beneath the heavy rains on the 13th June 2006. They rebuilt the nest, laid another 3 eggs, of which only one hatched on the 20th July. The picture I took today 3rd August, the chick is now 2 weeks old.

This little chick is having a grand life. Normally there are two or even 3 chicks all vying for a ride on mom's back and at the age of 2 weeks she can only comfortably carry one, so often one or two have to swim along and wait their turn for an easy ride. This little pampered creature rides on mom's back all day. I have only seen it swimming along on two occasions".

Peninsula Canoe Club members participating in the data collection programme.

photograph by Ann Koeslag                                                                     photograph by Heather Howell

Pied Kingfisher                                                                White Pelican

Bird ringing at the Zandvlei Nature Reserve.

photograph by Doug Harebottle

A juvenile Malachite Kingfisher, after having its detail taken in December 2004.

If you are interested in bird ringing and helping Doug Harebottle on the first Saturday morning of each month. Contact him;

Phone:   (021) 650-2330
Fax:       (021) 650-3434
Cell:       082 408 5004
E-mail:   doug@adu.uct.ac.za  

Bird nest identification.

Can anyone identify this nest? It was built in a Milkwood tree alondside the Central Pan in the Nature Reserve during September – November 2004. It was found empty on 07/01/2005.

Zandvlei has environmentally aware birds...updated 12/05/2007

Are they trying to show us the way with Recycling the plastic we discard??

photographs by Cassy Sheasby

These photos show either a Cape Robin or Prinia nest, also at Zandvlei madeup with cellophane, plastic straping, plastic shopping bags, wool and grasses. Cassy Sheasby the Manager of GZENR found the nest in May 2007.

This disused nest was found by Una Hartley in the Zandvlei Nature Reserve in about 1998. It was fastened to reeds in the water at the edge of one of the canals, which suggests it is a Weaver . Look at the innovative use of plastic shopping bags also cellophane, all made into strips for weaving. The plastic is very fragile now, the nest is at the Environmental Education Centre if you wish to inspect it.