Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve
In
and around the Reserve – 2002
photographed by Erika
Elzette handling a Mole snake Pseudaspis
cana on 8th November 2002.
photographed by Erika
She is releasing the Mole snake on Park Island
to help balance the large mole population.
Look who is visiting Zandvlei in October 2002.
photographed by Clifford and Elzette
This
Cape fur Seal near the mouth of Zandvlei on 31/10/2002.
It has been in
the Estuary for a few weeks.
photographed by Clifford and Elzette
This is the second Cape fur Seal to visit
Zandvlei in recent years.
There is plenty for it to eat. We hope it will eat some of the exotic fish
during its stay.
Click
to see more about the Fish Eagle nesting platform.
The Bird Identification Guide Charts for Zandvlei have arrived.
These Charts are available from the
Zandvlei Nature Reserve during office
hours (021) 701 7542.
They are A4 size, printed double sided, full colour on high quality
paper, showing the most commonly seen birds around Zandvlei. They will be
used with the Education programme for school children.
Buy one and stick it
on your fridge for quick reference.
They would make a very affordable present.
Sponsor one for a child from a local school. Speak
to Erika.
The printing of these guides was made possible by the Rotary Club of
Claremont.
An update on the birds visiting Zandvlei Nature Reserve.
On 31/10/2003, Clifford was doing his rounds and almost drove over an adult Baillon's Crake in the Westlake Wetlands. He also saw a Cape Fox in the Reserve the previous evening while fishing for Barbel (Catfish).
On 12/11/2002, 54 Greater Flamingos arrived in the Salt Marsh Pan in the Reserve and stayed until 18/11/2002.
photographed by Clifford and Elzette
On 13/11/2002 this Threebanded Plover nest with 2 eggs was photographed in the Reserve.
These stones and shells were carried by the birds to the area to define the
nest.
On 02/11/2002 this pair of Spotted Dikkop chicks were seen on Wildwood Island.
Can you see the two eyes? They are a few days old.
Click to see more pictures of a Spotted Dikkop on a nest.
On 10/10/2002 this Helmetted Guineafowl nest was spotted when the hen took off. There are more than a dozen eggs in the nest.
On 22/07/2002 this immature Lesser Flamingo made its appearance in the 'Central pan' at the Nature Reserve.
On 23/06/2002 about mid day, our Fish Eagle pair were sighted mating on Africa Island, Zandvlei. We are keeping fingers crossed that they will use the new nesting platform to lay their eggs.
A Rare Visitor from southern – North America.
Picture by Clifford Dorse
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
More exciting news, a Snowy Egret is at Zandvlei !!! Clifford saw it on 23/04/2002 for the first time, in the canals at Langevlei and the Sand River confluence, at our new Langevlei Wetland. It has caused quite a stir, exciting people to travel from far and wide. It has been quoted by the experts, to be the first recorded in Africa!
A Kittlitz's Plover was seen for the first time in many years, in the 'Central Pan' after it was filled on the 14/03/2002.
An exciting new bird to Zandvlei was a Grey Plover. The first recorded sighting, an individual, it remained for a week 14/01/2002 – 19/01/2002 on the shores of the Reserve. The level of Zandvlei rose about 20cm at the monthly spring tide and it departed.
