Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

 In and around the Reserve – 2003

Yesterday morning 31/10/2003, at about 8h30, Clifford Dorse "on his rounds" noticed a small bird running in the rough vehicle track just as it disappeared under the front of my vehicle! I came to an abrupt stop fearing the worst, but after a few seconds an adult Baillon's Crake walked out in front of the bakkie and stared at me! I was so stunned I did not even reach for my binos which were sitting beside me on the seat! The bird then ran up the track for about 10 meters before it disappeared into the thin strip of Phragmites reed which separate the track from the water surface. The bird had me grinning all day!

                           photograph by Stephan Wolfart 
Not only did I add a new bird to my Zandvlei bird list but the previous evening 30/10/2003, I added a new mammal! This was in the form of a Cape Fox! Maybe they (the only true fox in Southern Africa) are on the way to adapting to the urban environment like their close European relative? We can only hope!

                                              photographed  by Clifford Dorse
Another five Long-snout Pipe Fish (Syngnathus acus) have been recovered in Zandvlei. (See the article below for the initial finding and record). Last week 10/11/2003 – 16/11/2003, on 2 occasions while the "Kingfisher" was harvesting the pondweed, the observant operator found and reported 5 more pipe fish on the deck of the machine.

 This photo of a Cape Hare (Lepus capensis) which was caught on Wednesday 20th August 2003. This is part of a re-introduction programme and he was one of five hares to be released at Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Gavin Oliver (a staff member) spotted one of the hares whilst out and about early this morning (Friday 22nd August 2003). It is envisioned that a total of ten to twelve animals will be released in the reserve as well as possibly placing a few on Park Island.

Cape Hares prefer dry, open habitat also occasionally found where there is an open scattering of bush. Cape Hares browse or graze and their habitat should provide palatable bush and grass and at the same time cover in which they can lie up during day light hours. It is thought that they rely on their food and dew for their water requirements.

Students from Wynberg Girls High, Kim and Loren are studying the Sago Pondweed in Zandvlei for their Grade 12 geography project in January 2003.

Follow their progress

On 07/01/2003 the "Kingfisher" water weed harvester operators brought this 20 cm long pipe fish
to Clifford for identification.

                                                                                photographed  by Cherry Giljam
They brought it on board opposite the Yacht Club building while cutting the waterweed in Zandvlei. 
This is only the second record for Zandvlei and the first in 26 years!  It is also 
a good indicator and is evidence that the esturine components in the vlei are operating well.

                                                      photographed  by Clifford
Long-snout Pipe Fish (Syngnathus acus) recovered in Zandvlei.
It is related to a sea horse.