Velorenvlei, Ramsar birding site, West Cape Coast
Verlorenvlei, is a RAMSAR site, consisting of one the largest marshlands along southern Africa’s West Coast, between Elands Bay and Redelinghuys. It supports flocks in excess of 5000 birds increasing to 20000 in the summer. The coastal lake is connected to the sea via a channel, and the estuary changes continuously depending on the rains.
Of the 200 bird species found here, about 75 are waders, prolific in summer. The Verlorenvlei is their final resting point before they move on to the northern hemisphere at the end of our summer.
Verlorenvlei’s importance as a bird habitat is not restricted to waders. The vlei provides feeding, nesting and roosting sites for many bird species, including the rare white pelican and is the moulting site for Egyptian geese and other waterfowl. Fish eagles, herons, egrets, ibises, little bittern, Caspian tern, spoonbills and flamingos also visit.
The area is possibly also an important moulting ground and summer refuge for ducks, including the Cape shoveller, yellow billed duck and white backed duck.
To preserve this area, motorised water sports are prohibited, and a community project to remove alien fish and reed overgrowth is being managed by Cape Nature.
Redelinghuys is conveniently close to the Rocherpan Nature Reserve, also renowned for its bird life.
| More info on The West Coast area |
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