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21 April 2009 - Rietvlei

21 April 2009
Birds spotted:

37 Spur-winged Geese
Flying from the North-vlei to the South-vlei

Birdlife at the Vlei 12 March 2009

12 March 009

• 1 Malachite Kingfisher, sitting on the front landing site, flew towards the reeds on the North-Shore erosion site. This reed area is called the erosion site because the reeds were planted there to stop the erosion.

• 2 Spotted (Dikkop) Thick-knee Chicks were spotted at the parking area opposite the clubhouse.

• 70 Great White Pelicans on the north shore and on the vlei.

• 800 Gulls.

• A Juvenile Sandwich Tern and 50 Swift Terns on the jetty

Also spotted 1 African Purple Swamphen (Purple Gallinule)


Photographs: Malachite Kingfisher, Swift Terns and other birds on jetty.

Nature Corner 4-Sep-2008

Walked to the bird-hide, but the path is still waterlogged.

The Hadedas are breeding in the area for the second time.

The first time we noticed them breeding at the vlei was five years ago, on the island, when there were trees on it.

Rietvlei 3-Sept 2008

3-Sept 2008

• The daisies are blooming. The sun is shining and there is no wind for a change.

• Five Egrets just flew by.

• A Caspian Tern is diving into the lake.

• About seventy Pelicans arrived.

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.