This is a working relationship with the City of Cape Town and the Cape Bird Club.
Alan Morris started the co-ordinated bird counts in December 1974 and they still continue at Zandvlei.
Zandvlei Upper.
The weather forecast was uncertain at first and it cleared to be a sunny, breezy late morning, with the wind blowing SE. There was no wind until about 10h00, parts of the main waterbody were glassy smooth before the wind picked up.
On Thursday 16 October there was a very strong SE wind blowing and tomorrow 19 October forecast is to be very windy from the SE again. (Note – The Cape Town Marathon was cancelled on Sunday 19 October due to the very high winds blowing on Saturday night and early Sunday morning).
The reason I mention the wind conditions, is the usual bird numbers and species were not visible today at Zandvlei, as in the past. Experience shows the birds hide away in the reeds, Marina canals or leave the area when strong winds blow from the SE. Also the water level in the main waterbody was full after the full moon and the annual peak high tide and now with the estuary mouth closed. A small amount of water from the catchment had flowed in compared the the previous weekend levels. The saline conditions are very high currently.
A highlight we all saw, were 6 Glossy Ibis in flight over the main waterbody. This species was regularly seen at Zandvlei 20 years ago. They are still present in the nearby Rondevlei and Strandfontein water bodies. David and Lucia noted Greater Flamingo in the ponds in the Main Reserve area.
As an alternative to the lack of birds we started observing the new Rain Spider nests along the pathways and even found a female spider on her nest. A number of butterflies were seen including the Burnished Opal (Chrysoritis chrysar) a copper coloured butterfly which is not that common here. A couple of unidentified moths were also seen. We saw a pair of Heady Maiden moths (Syntomis cerbera) mating, which has 4 red bands on its body, they have been present for over a month. There were no birds seen at the pond surrounded by reeds near Promenade Road, the water level has dropped since last weekend. We saw a Yellow billed Kite being chased by a Pied Crow and it found a thermal and climbed quickly out of sight.
Zandvlei Lower.
There were 2 Egyptian Goose families seen, one with 8 teenagers the other with 10 fluff balls entow. The pair of Water Thick knees were at their preferred location at the Scout Base even with tents pitched in the area. While walking along we found a young Cape Dune Mole Rat wandering around on the grass near a hole and not far from the waters edge. We were concerned that a dog off a leash could get hold of it before being able to dig itself in underground. Out last sight of it was scampering quite quickly across the grass to who knows where. At Thesen’s bridge there were a number of large mullet swimming around in the very clear water. Near the Royal Road bridge there were a pair of Grey Herons hunkered down low with just their heads sticking above the bank. This is a give away that the wind was likely to blow hard from the SE. No Terns were present at today’s count.
Thank you to Darren and his staff for counting the Marina channels by boat today, also including the wetlands.
Zandvlei Westlake Wetlands and Rutter Road Pond.
The flow under the railway bridge was 1 metre per 10 seconds indicating a slight inflow from the catchment. There were few birds to be seen today from our vantage point. We did see the Brown throated Martins and White throated Swallows flying up and down under the railway bridge, including the Malachite Kingfisher. We spent more time than usual here, trying to see any birds. The water surfaces seen from the bridge were all clear of invasive waterweed. Is the raised salinity helping to keep these areas clear? The January 2026 count will give us an answer.
Thank you to all the participants today.
Photographs by Gavin Lawson.
Gavin Lawson.
Below are the count datas for 18 October 2025.
Zandvlei Westlake Wetlands and Rutter Road Pond.
