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Birding Report Agulhas National Park 2010 – Dr Wim de Klerk
Birding Report Agulhas National Park 2010 – Dr Wim de Klerk
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
At the end of 2009, the management of Agulhas National Park (ANP) gave me permission to begin a process of recording the birds of the park. Together with my birding buddy Chris van Gass (Honorary Ranger) we started the project. This is by no means a scientific paper but it will hopefully add some value to the development of the ANP.
METHOD:
I decided to use the SABAP2 recording system in order to give the research a more scientific approach. Wherever the current ANP borders touched on a pentad, this pentad was included in the research area. I also included most of the pentads south of the 3435 (clarify this line) line if they had not yet been included, since this represented the same ecosystem similar to the Nuwejaars SMA and De Mond Nature Reserve. This amounts to 20 pentads to be covered.
A minimum of two hours’ observation is required per pentad and all habitats in the pentad have to be covered. Initially I covered most pentads in 2-3 hours in order to try and cover all the pentads twice in one year. This proved difficult as I could not be there often enough. Pentads such as Waterford, Quoin Point and Nuwedam are far from Struisbaai from where I operate, which makes them difficult to reach.
We would go out armed with binoculars and scope as well as the necessary birding books. The best birding occurs early morning, so most of the outings commenced between 06h00 and 07h00.
PENTAD COVERAGE:
So far only 15 of the 20 pentads have been covered, most of them only once. Struisbaai pentad, for obvious reasons, was covered the highest number of times (x5).
OVERALL NUMBERS:
In the first year of this project we counted 134 species. Of these, 87 were in the Struisbaai pentad, and 77 in the Soetendalsvlei pentad. The number of pentads is too small to be statistically significant at this stage.
STRUISBAAI PENTAD:
Struisbaai pentad includes coastline, urban areas, fynbos areas above L’Agulhas - including the look-out road and golf course development, sewerage works near Molshoop, dunes north of Struisbaai, and agricultural land (Zoetendals Vallei).
In 2010, 87 species were identified in the Struisbaai pentad. Rarities in this pentad included the Northern Giant-Petrel. This was the first observation ever of this species in this pentad.
SOETENDALSVLEI PENTAD:
The Soetendalsvlei pentad includes the Saltpan, Soutbos and the pan to the west, the Soetendalsvlei perimeter, Nuwejaars River up to Wiesdrif, cultivated land near Wiesdrif, and the first kilometre of the Heuningnes River. This is certainly the most exciting birding destination in the park.
We identified 68 species on only two cards. The highlight in this area is the raptors i.e. Steppe Buzzard, Black Harrier, Black-shouldered Kite, Yellow-billed Kite, African Marsh-harrier and African Fish-eagle. For the avid birder, this will always be an excellent wader area. The last six months were unfortunately dry with the result that waders were scarce. For the birding tourist, the Great White Pelican and Greater (and Lesser) Flamingo are an attraction when the salt pans have water.
A special occasion was to witness a Caspian Tern flying over me from Soetendalsvlei towards the breeding area at the salt pans, with a fish in its beak, showing that they feed in the vlei.
The removal of alien trees in this pentad might have had an influence on the raptor population, but the wide open fields are certainly an improvement and reminiscent of the Botswana wetlands. The Saltpan needs careful attention as the alien deforestation has left the pan open to passers-by and the Caspian Terns’ breeding colony might be at risk as the gravel road is now in plain view of their breeding ground. In April 2011, I for the first time, noticed that they were non resident. This I have not witnessed before.
The clearing of the reeds on the Soetendalsvlei would be a big step in the right direction as currently very little birding on the vlei is possible.
VOëLVLEI PENTAD:
The Voëlvlei pentad includes the southern two-thirds of Voëlvlei, agricultural land, a small portion of the Saltpan, Springfield Farm, Bergplaas and the Soetanysberg. 32 species were recorded in one outing, most of them around the vlei.
Specials in the Voëlvlei pentad must be the Larks. Agulhas Long-billed, Large-billed and Cape Clapper Lark can all be found here. The vlei is an excellent wader and warbler area. Lesser Swamp-warbler, Little Stint, Great White Pelican, Wattled Starling, Greater Flamingo, Common Waxbill and Cape Grassbird were some of the sightings.
Voëlvlei should certainly become part of the ANP in the future if at all possible.
Soetanysberg and the Bergplaas area had been badly burnt and produced very little in terms of birding. This should change soon as the veld rapidly returns to its former glory.
RIETFONTEIN PENTAD:
Die Rietfontein pentad includes some farmyards (including Rietfontein), Melkbospan, a smaller pan to the south, the lower reaches of the Soetanysberg, agricultural land and some alien forest near Vlooikraal.
Specials included the Open-bill Stork that we all saw at Rietfontein. A very special observation was a Denham’s Bustard chick accidentally found next to the road.
The Melkbospan and its smaller cousin to the south should be carefully managed as a birding destination. The track on the west of the Melkbospan was a revelation with absolutely fantastic flora.
This pentad is littered with fence wire from the ‘big’ fire. I narrowly escaped seriously damage to my vehicle. Be careful!
WATERFORD PENTAD:
The Waterford pentad consists of mountainous fynbos, agricultural land, coastline and a hidden spring(?)/dam. We only covered the mountainous fynbos during our two hours in the pentad – 30 minutes of which found us stuck on the mountain with four wheels off the ground!
Only nine species were identified, but the Orange-breasted Sunbirds were everywhere. This is their haven! This is certainly one of the most pristine fynbos areas in the Western Cape.
The spring(?)/dam on the left on your way to Quoin Point should be developed for birding. Currently it is impossible to see the water. This is a very special site.
SUIDERSTRAND PENTAD:
The Suiderstrand pentad includes urban area, coastline (including the fresh water inlet east of Suiderstrand), Sandberg, Rhenosterkop section, duineveld and fynbos on the gravel road between Rhenosterkop and Soetendalsvlei.
Thirty-one species were identified. This area is Black Harrier country although we have not seen any on our outings. They are known to breed on the higher ground. Sightings included African Black Oystercatcher, African Fish-eagle and Common Whimbrel.
The Rhenosterkop vlei could be a lucrative bird watching site in a wet season. The clearing of the alien vegetation has already opened up most of the pan. The Milkwood trees in the area are also very productive for birding.
NUWEDAM PENTAD:
The Nuwedam Pentad which includes a gravel road through the Waterford section (ANP), burnt fynbos, agricultural land and the dam around Nuwedam Farm delivered some special sightings. Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, African Marsh-harrier and African Harrier-hawk were identified. The African Harrier-hawk was the first ever for this pentad.
DIE DAM PENTAD:
This pentad includes the spectacular Ratelrivier section which was another great birding spot. It also includes Die Dam resort, some of the most beautiful coastline in SA, and a scenic piece of fynbos to the east of the Ratelrivier section.
Sightings included the beautiful African Paradise-flycatcher, Barn Owl, Ruddy Turnstone and Hartlaub’s Gull. This is the furthest east I have seen the Hartlaub’s Gull in the past two years. Previously they could be seen in Struisbaai Harbour.
WOLVENGAT PENTAD:
This pentad is mostly cultivated land and only its southern section includes part of the park i.e. the Ratelrivier section. It also includes the exciting vlei/spring(?) to the right of the road to Ratelrivier. Currently overgrown with aliens, this could become a prime birding spot for the ANP.
Interesting birds were African Pipit, Red-chested Cuckoo, Southern Boubou and Yellow Bishop.
BRANDFONTEIN PENTAD:
This very small pentad includes the southern side of Soetanysberg, Brandfontein and historic Aasfontein.
Birds spotted included Cape Longclaw, White-fronted Plover, Spotted Thick-knee and Chestnut-banded Plover.
It was in this pentad that we sadly found a Black Harrier killed in a trap. This was reported to management although it later appeared to be on private land.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Since November 2010 I have begun collecting pictures of birds taken in the Agulhas National Park. So far I have taken pictures of about 60 bird species. Anybody who would like to add to this collection is more than welcome.
THE FUTURE:
The aim for 2011 is to first cover all the pentads once and thereafter try to push it to x 3 cards per pentad. I have contacted the Nuwejaars SMA and their permission to enter their farms will open up some very interesting areas adjacent to the Agulhas National Park.
If you look back at the SABAP birding history of the park, you find that there are quite large variations from year to year which probably is weather dependant. Wet seasons were the better birding years because of the feeding in the pans and vleis. The more cards we collect over the next few years the more accurate the information will become (and the more interesting).
CONCLUSION:
I would like to thank the management of the ANP for giving me the opportunity to be involved in this way and hope this will, in a small way, help to protect this beautiful National Park. | 
