First observation: Pied Avocet at Robben Island

Abstract

The Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta is a common breeding resident in southern Africa, typically found at coastal saltworks, sewage pans and coastal lagoons (Tree 1997). In South Africa, one of the critical sites for the species in the Western Cape is the Rietvlei Wetland Reserve (33?50'S, 18?29'E) on the mainland adjacent and about 10 km from Robben Island.