Sunday 4-13 –Sandy Cay
In search of nature on perhaps the last journey to this island off Jost Van Dyke. The journey begins with hot rocks on my feet and no nature in sight, but upon reaching the summit -approximate height 20 meters – things improved. Spotting what I believe to be a yellow warbler, I continued on to find this wonderful hermit crab and enjoyed many chirping birds surrounding the magical tree pictured here. A short hike and a strong connection with nature, I love this place.

A gull from Sandy Cay, followed by a lot of gulls at Virgin Gorda. Species - Laughing, Bonaparte’s or Black Headed???

Unidentified Bird as of today:

Wednesday 4-9
The full entry got deleted ((no attachment :)) alas but a brief overview and on with the photos. A nature walk by Peter Joel Peters on Peter Island led us by many many many many species of plants. The wonderful smells, the flowers, the enormous amount of variety in palms one never knew existed.
Travlers Palm

Sea Grapes

Savory Bell - oooh la la on the aroma of the leaves

Date Palm

Crinum Lily

Christmas Palm

Cats Tail

Cape Jasmine

Cardboard Palm

Bird of Paradise|

Ginger Thomas

Flambua (spelling????)

Wednesday - A casual stroll through the streets of Tortola - armed with identification books , guide books and a bologna/salami sandwich and red apple. First stop: The local baseball field for photo of this unknown but pretty cool white bird that despite its looks of non-avian ability, can really fly high. After rechecking species in the books I have pretty much narrowed down these two doves to either the Zenaida or Mourning variety.

Trekking further down the road I noticed a large number of what I believe to be Pearly Eyed Thrashers. You be the judge

Floral budding abounds today as 2 new plant species that were just kicking it on the side of the road.
Thunbergia (Acanthaceae; Thunbergia; grandiflora) also known as Bengal Trumpet or Sky Flower and originally from India, vine like in nature, beautiful pastel like color.

Oleander (Apocynnaceae; Nerium oleander) – poisonous and known to cause death if cooked and ingested, sure is pretty though. Originating from the Mediterranean a shrub that can grow to heights of 25 feet.

A little freaking bird that took me a long time to capture a photo the other day off by Village Cay. Believed to be a variety of Warbler or perhaps a Bananaquit.

Monday 3-31
Sometimes one not need look far as today I found and identified 4 plant species all within a 100 yard radius of our dingy dock at the Village Cay marina in Road Town. Beauty really is everywhere. “Stop and Smell the roses” has taken on a new meaning. Note: Birds are small and can be extremely difficult to identify! Happy my father shall be down soon to hopefully share his expert skills with me!!

Buagainvillea, (Nyctaginaceae; Bouganvilla; unknown) originally from Brazil, extremely common and in many varieties know as the Paper Flower with thorny branches and vine like growth.

Firecracker (Scrophulariaaae; Russelia; juncea) also called the Fountain Plant with a growth of 3-4 feet tall is used as a border plant by many gardeners. Originally from tropical America.

Ixora (Rubiaceae; Ixora; macrothyrsa or coccinea) flowers most of the year, characterized by 4 petal flowers bunched together to form large spherical heads. Originating from the East Indies cut specimens will last for a long time making great floral decorations.

The first tree!!
Dwarf Poinciana (Leguminosae; Caesalpinia; pulcherrima) knows also as the Peacock Flower or Pride of Barbados, it can reach heights of 12 feet with yellow rimmed flowers and easily identifiable fern like leaves and reproductive stamens and pistils that extend well beyond the corolla

3-29 It begins.The toolkit:1 pair binoculars,sketch book, composition book, bird book – “Birds of the West Indies”, flower book aptly named “Flowers of the Caribbean”, 2 aquatic books – “Reef Life” and “Snorkeling guide to Marine Life”, 1 pen and 1 pencil.
Today I trekked up the hill just off the beach we always anchor off of at Peter Island. Spending multiple minutes working to identify a few flowers; an easy success was had with Hibiscus (Family:Malvaceae; Genus: Hibiscus; Species: Unknown) and the eventually identification of Allamanda (Apocynaceae; Allamanda; cathartica) characterized by yellow petals with orange/brownish “honey lines” that run towards the center of the trumpet. Common names to include Golden Trumpet or Buttercup. Trekking further I stumbled upon a promising mud flat.Stepping gingerly I waited; snapped this photo of what I believe to be a warbler of some sort and then found multiple hummingbirds variety unknown. A good first day! Note: 2 days before marked the unofficial start as I found these royal terns as well as a Brown Bobby on Anegada!