Greater  Zandvlei  Estuary  Nature  Reserve

 In and around the Reserve – 2008

8. 24/10/2008 – The Karoo Robin project –  Fay Howa has continued with her student project from last year.

photograph by Doug Harebottle

Read the excellent project report she wrote.

7. 20/09/2008 – The fishing permit hand over at the Nature Reserve office in June 2008.

photograph by Cassy Sheasby

Sebastian handing Mr May his permit

Read the inspiring story about this fishing permit.

6. 08/08/2008 – The Langevlei Wetland has been cleared of the reeds which had become over grown absorbing the nutrient enriched waters flowing through the wetland. The contractors also clean the sump in the canalised section of the Langevlei River. This is in the flood plain north of the Nature reserve.

The reed beads cut down and the plants removed.      The vegetion has helped retain the silt and slow
The plants have removed vast amounts of nutrients     down the speed of the water.
from the river waters.

6. 23/07/2008 – Cassy reports "The new litter trap grid has been installed on 23/07/2008".
Well done to all involved and especially Talcott Persent and Martin Thompson from the City.

photograph by Cassy Sheasby

The old grid to the left on the ground and the new grid lowered into place.

5. 02/06/2008 –  "The Kingfishers" work done in the Westlake Wetlands and the "alien vegetation clearing team" have opened up the confluence of the Keysers and Westlake Rivers at the railway bridge.

Aerial view looking west over the Westlake wetlands  on 02/06/2008.

4. 24/04/2008 –  "The Kingfisher" water weed harvester was in the confluence of the Westlake and Keysers Rivers helping to removing the very invassive hyacinth water weed which has chocked the rivers in the hot summer months.

'The Kingfisher' at the railway bridge north end of Zandvlei

3. 23/04/2008 –  CWAC (Co-ordinated Waterbird Census) part of the National and International African waterbird count takes place at Zandvlei on a quarterly basis. Brian Herman is the leader and other volunteers help count species and the number of birds. This information is then processed at the ADU (Animal Demographic Unit) based at UCT.

Fay and Marisa came along in the canoe to help count in the canals. Foreign volunteer workers Franziska Mayr (Germany) and Ellen Marcussen (Denmark) came to learn and help.

African Fish Eagle                 Little Egret                                  White Pelicans were seen

2. 15/03/2008 –  Cassy reported that the Common slug eater snake (Duberria lutix) gave birth to 6 juveniles last week.

 
photographs by Cassy Sheasby

The adult female Common slug eater.                        One of the juvenile Common slug eaters

photograph by Ann Koeslag

1. 11/03/2008 –  The juvenile Black Sparrowhawk at Zandvlei.
Andrew (Conservation student) reported seeing it and contacted Ann Koeslag of the Western Cape Raptor Research Programme. She trapped and ringed it.
There is another juvenile about and an attempt will be made to trap and ring it as well.

Keep a watch out and report any sightings to the Reserve 021 701 7542 or Ann Koeslag 072 357 0909.

In and around the Reserve in 2007.

In and around the Reserve in 2006.

In and around the Reserve in 2005.

In and around the Reserve in 2004.

In and around the Reserve in 2003.

In and around the Reserve in  2002.