This post was written a few years back, when life was simpler and more relaxed. We were at Sandy Point having lunch at the renowned ‘Nancy’s’. Soon, the potcakes came to check us out. After approving of us, they romped off for some fun in the sea… hence this piece. WATER DOGS: THE POTCAKES OF […]
ABACO’S THREE CUCKOO SPECIES There are 3 cuckoo species recorded for Abaco, all permanent residents. Two are relatively scarce. The third is the much-loved gregarious and raucous Ani. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (and header image) MANGROVE CUCKOO SMOOTH-BILLED ANI Photo Credits: Tom Sheley, Tony Hepburn, Alex Hughes, Gerlinde Taurer, Nina Henry
WTF? (WHAT’S THAT FISH?) 12: THE TRUMPETFISH Quite a while back, I wrote a series of posts dedicated to the unusual or downright weird marine creatures that, when you see them ‘IRL’, you exclaim “WTF”. Behold the Trumpetfish! These long piscine pipes are related to seahorses and sea-dragons. It’s time to spotlight them again. Trumpetfishes Aulostomus maculatus are […]
BUTTERFLIES ON ABACO, BAHAMAS: ZEBRA HELICONIANS The Zebra Heliconian butterfly Heliconius charithonia is commonly known as the Zebra Longwing. These striking butterflies roost nightly in large colonies, a species behaviour that is a protective measure against predation. The colony provides safety in numbers (or at least reduces the probabilities that you will be the […]
AMERICAN KESTRELS ON ABACO: ‘LET US PREY…’ To be honest, I haven’t done these fine birds justice. Barely a mention of them for ages. Too much else on the land and in the water to choose from. A long time ago I posted some of my photos from an outing to Sandy Point HERE. And […]
BRAIN WAVES: UNDERSEA CORAL MAZES & LABYRINTHS The most apposite description of brain coral Diploria labyrinthiformisis is essentially a no-brainer: how could you not call the creatures on this page anything else**. These magnificent corals come in wide varieties of size, shape and colour and they date from the Jurassic period (201–145 million years ago). […]
“CLEANING UP”: HOW TINY REEF FISH HELP LARGE FISH A while ago now, I wrote a detailed post about so-called fish ‘cleaning stations’ – the special spots on the reef where large fish can go to have small fish buff up their scales and floss their teeth. You can read all about it HERE. I have […]
“CLINGING TO THE WRECKAGE”: BAHAMAS CLINGING CRABS The Clinging Crab Mithrax spinosissimus answers to a number of names: West Indian spider crab; channel clinging crab; reef or spiny spider crab; or coral crab. It is found throughout the waters of South Florida and the Caribbean. These are crabs of the reefs, or indeed of the wrecks that may be […]
CUBAN PEWEE: ‘NATURE’S LEAST SCARY TYRANT’ The small bird featured here is a CUBAN PEWEE Contopus caribaeus bahamensis (sometimes called the Crescent-eyed Pewee – see image for why this is so). It is without a doubt a tyrant. At barely 6″ long, it is the smallest tyrant you are likely to encounter in the Bahamas or indeed anywhere […]
WRY ‘CUDA There’s no doubt about it, barracudas have a particularly unwelcoming look to them. They exude menace. There’s something about the torpedo shape, the primitive head, and the uncomfortably snaggle-toothed grin-with-underbite that suggests a creature not to be underestimated. And that smiley mouth – rather scornful and derisive, is it not? A powerful creature […]
