Saint Lucia, May 2016: 2016

Monday, 13 June 2016

SAINT LUCIA is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north of the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, northwest of Barbados and South of Martinique.

Saint Lucia is very accessible being only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide and is probably one of the most important of the Lesser Antilles as it holds five single island endemics.

This Caribbean island is home to the magical Piton mountains, lush landscapes, unspoilt rainforests and palm-fringed beaches.

Of the 167 species normally present we saw 61 but our maim targets during our two weeks trip was to see and photograph the five endemics.

These were:- St Lucia Warbler
St Lucia Black Finch
St Lucia Parrot
St Lucia Pewee
St Lucia Oriole

St Lucia Oriole

The SAINT LUCIA ORIOLE is about 22cm in length and found in woodlands and also in dry & moist forests. They build nests which are sewn under a leaf or palm well above ground level.

St Lucia Pewee

The SAINT LUCIA PEWEE grows to about 15cm. It is fairly common and resides mostly in moist forest. It perches low and sallies for insects.

St Lucia Parrot

The SAINT LUCIA PARROT in the mid 1970's faced extinction due to a combination of hunting, habitat destruction and the illegal bird trade. Now due to various wildlife legislations their population stands at about 1500. They are birds of the forest canopy and despite their vivid colours are difficult to see, let alone photograph. They mate for life and nest in the cavities of trees. Two days were spent at about 600m attempting to photograph them!

St Lucia Black Finch

The SAINT LUCIA BLACK FINCH is part of a group that includes the Darwin's Finches. It resides in moist montane forests particularly near forest openings. The male is essentially black but with noticeable pink legs.

female

female on coconut

male

St Lucia Warbler

The SAINT LUCIA WARBLER is about 12.5cm in length. It is found in all forest types and at all altitudes. It forages for insects and spiders from leaves and twigs. It lays in a woven, cup-shaped nest built in a tree about 1 to 5m above the ground.