25-Jun-2009 Rietvlei, Cape - Bird Activity

25 Jun 2009

• The pan is full of water

Bird Activity:

• About 60 Egyptian geese in the area halfway to the bird-hide.

• Two Cape Longclaws (Orange-throated Longclaws)

• One juvenile Black Sparrowhawk

• A pair of Black-shouldered Kites

• One Rock Kestrel

• And pair of Great Crested Grebe in the mating dance. Necks twisting and head-crests fanning.

See photos

Rietvlei Nature Reserve -- 25 March 2009

• The Cape Clawless Otter had a feast on a Egyptian Goose.

• I found the remains in the South-vlei near the club.

• Spotted the Water Mongoose tracts.

19-01-2009 (Milnerton Lagoon)

19-01-2009 (Milnerton Lagoon)

I drove down to Milnerton Lagoon to spot the reported crocodile. I saw no crocodile, but there were:

• Egyptian Geese and 10 goslings about three days old.

• 3 Grey Heron

• 4 Little Egret

To view photographs and information of the birds mentioned, click on the bird link in the side panel or search through the encyclopaedia link.

Intaka Island, 24-11-2008

We went on a very enjoyable walk around the island. We took lots of photographs of birds.

The bird islands are great.

Many nests of mostly Ibis.

Other birds seen were:

• Herons

• Egrets

• Darter

• White-breasted Cormorants

• Reed Cormorants

• Egyptian Geese

Bird Activity 1 October 2008

1 October 08

Bird Activity:

I spotted a Grey-backed Cisticola,

Two Hartlaub's Gulls have been squabbling all day long.

Mother Goose (Our resident Egyptian Goose) is on the nest again. She chose a better spot for her nest this time.

She has about five eggs at the last count and has been sitting since 27 October

Working away from the vlei 23 Sep 2008

23 September 2008

At the Diep River corridor, (on the Tableview side) most of the invasive alien vegetation has been removed, leaving a wonderful carpet of wild flowers and fynbos.

Our job today was to burn the dry branches of the invasive Port Jackson trees previously chopped down.

Among the birds spotted there were:

Golden Bishop

Cape Robin

Weavers

Fiscal Shrike

I also saw a mole snake.

At Atlantis dune fields we burned some more Port Jackson branches.

This area has a few dams and the fynbos flowers are in abundance but there is so much to work here to do still.

Birds spotted:

Jackal Buzzard

Egyptian Geese,

White-breasted Cormorant

The “Cape of Storms”

01-09-2008

The “Cape of Storms” really lived up to its name this time.

Mother Goose’s second batch of five eggs was washed away.

At home our Masked Weaver “Boytjie” lost his nest containing two chicks.

I tied Boytjie’s second nest down, using nylon cord.

During the storm the poor nest did a somersault but remains hanging (a bit tighter around the branch)

We are not sure if the young birds survived.

Among the birds spotted at the vlei were 2 Caspian Terns.

Egyptian Geese are very territorial

28-08-2008

The Egyptian Geese are very territorial and aggressive during breeding season.

A pair of juvenile geese were brought to the vlei and released near “Father Goose’s” territory. He immediately went into attack mode. Luckily for them they were old enough to fly and get out of the way.

Spotted: One Caspian Tern.