Seabird Islands of South Africa

Bird List for Seal Island, False Bay

Bruce Dyer, Marine and Coastal Management

Photo B.M. Dyer Bank cormorants breeding at Seal Island

Photo B.M. Dyer Artificial nest of African penguin

This bird list is based on historic records and on irregular official visits to Seal Island made during the period 1987-2000. It includes species seen on the island and in the immediate vicinity.

• African Penguin - breeds
• Cory's Shearwater - seen close by
• European Storm Petrel - seen close by
• Wilson's Storm Petrel - seen close by
• Blackbellied Storm Petrel - seen close by
• Great White Pelican - bred from about 1930 to 1954. Last seen 1956
• Cape Gannet - used to breed, seen close by
• Whitebreasted Cormorant - breeds
• Cape Cormorant - bred in 2000 for the first time
• Bank Cormorant - breeds
• Crowned Cormorant - visits, and would breed if there were suitable habitat
• Turnstone - a few in summer
• American Sheathbill - vagrant
• Arctic Skua - seen close by
• Pomerine Skua - seen close by
• Subantarctic Skua - seen close by
• Kelp Gull - used to breed, common scavanger on island
• Hartlaub's Gull - visits
• Sabine's Gull - seen close by
• Swift Tern - visits
• Sandwich Tern - visits
• Common Tern - visits
• Feral Pigeon - vagrant
• Cape Wagtail - probably breeds