Anguilla Honeymoon Planner Ideas for a romantic getaway on this Caribbean island

Anguilla's Birds & Native Species

The national bird of Anguilla is the Turtle Dove (Zenaida Aurita). Protected by law, the brownish dove can often be seen walking on the ground in search of food.

Anguilla is home, both permanently and temporarily, to many other species. Over 120 species are seen on the island; the National Trust reports that 30% of these are globally or regionally threatened or endangered. Birds often spotted on Anguilla include the green Antillean Crested Hummingbird, the sugar-loving Bananaquit, the Frigatebird and the Brown Pelican. The mangroves and salt ponds found throughout the island are some of the best habitat for bird watching. Great Blue Heron are seen during its winter migration while permanent residents include the Snowy Egret, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Lesser Yellowlegs or Pond Dipper, White-Cheeked Pintail, and Black-Necked Stilt.

The Anguilla National Trust has issued a Field Guide to Anguilla's Wetlands that includes many of the species commonly seen on the island; the Anguilla Beautification Club has printed the Birds of Anguilla and their Mangrove Habitat brochure with additional information on good birding sites.

Those mangrove found along the ponds scattered across the island as well as along the shoreline protect the soil and also provide a nesting place for many bird species. Four species of mangroves are found on Anguilla (Red, White, Black, and Buttonwood); many were planted in a 1994 project led by the Anguilla Beautification Club.

Residents of these mangrove ponds include the Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, White-Cheeked Pintail, and Black-Necked Stilt.

Cove Bay Pond and Gull Pond near Cap Juluca are two top birding sites on the island. These ponds provide a year around habitat because, unlike some ponds on the island, they do not dry out between rainy seasons. Across the island, there are 13 year around saltwater and brackish water ponds.

Cove Bay Pond is a nesting site for the Wilson's Plover, Snowy Plover, Black-necked Stilts, Willet, Least Terns, Royal Terns, and Wilson's Phalarope. A recent survey reported 53 bird species at this pond. Other species sighted included Green-backed Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-Billed Dowitcher Willet, Barn Swallow, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-throated Blue Warbler, and Ring-billed Gull.

The Cap Juluca ponds can be enjoyed by any island visitors. Bird guides are available at the hotel.

Iguanas

Iguanas are not native to Anguilla, but following Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn in September 1995, these lizards began to be sighted on the island. They've been identified as a species found only in Guadeloupe and Montserrat; speculation has been made that the iguanas floated over on debris during the storm. To protect and identify the iguana, the National Trust has established a project to learn more about the Iguana iguana.

Sea Turtles

Several species of sea turtles are found in the waters off Anguilla. All are globally threatened or endangered. Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherback and Green sea turtles are found in these waters but their numbers are not great. Currently the National Trust is conducting a monitoring program to try to save these turtles from extinction on the island.

Related Pages about Anguilla:

> Honeymoons, Destination Weddings, and Romantic Getaways in Anguilla
> Anguilla chapter of "Romantic Escapes in the Caribbean"