This will be a shorter monthly report because I came back from annual leave on the 16th and I handed in my resignation, Tuesday will be my last day.

I would like to thank the home owners of Soralia and Sunrise Villas for giving me the opportunity to work for the private nature reserves.

The Zandvlei student will be doing alien clearing at Soralia for his project and Cassy will still do the bird ringing on the sites. If there are any problems in the meanwhile, you can contact Cassy via email: cassandra.sheasby@capetown.gov.za 

1. Fauna

Sighting totals:

Soralia Village.

•  1 x Prinia maculosa (Karoo Prinia)
• 1 x Hystrix africaeaustralis (Porcupine quill)
• 1 x Trachylepis capensis (Cape Skink)
• 1 x Lanius collaris (Fiscal Shrike)

Muizenberg East Private Nature Reserve.

•  1 x Raphicerus melanotis (Cape Grysbok)
• 1 x Bradypodion pumilum (Cape Dwarf Chameleon)
• 1 x Meroles knoxii (Knox’s Desert Lizard)

2. Site Inspections and Safety Checks

2.1 Soralia Village.

I have put down chipping on the pathway. Zandvlei is busy doing alien clearing so once there is more chipping, they will carry on putting it down the pathway.

The landscaped area does need to be de-weeded again by the landscaping team.

2.2 Muizenberg East Nature Reserve.

Bird ringing was done at Muizenberg East on the 6th of January.
The following birds were ringed:

• 1 x Zosterops virens (Cape white eye)
• 1 x Prinia maculosa (Karoo Prinia)
• 1 x Passer melanurus (Cape Sparrow).