Hello once again to you all! My apologies for the break since my last blog post, I trust you all had wonderful Christmas holidays, New Years and January?
As mentioned previously at the end of the last post, this time I will be looking at some of the experiences I have had with wildlife overseas, focusing on the two field expeditions I had the good fortune to undertake whilst at University. Although somewhat short, this is where my love of nature photography really started to kick in, and so over the ridiculous amount of photos I took, will hopefully be able to paint you the best picture possible of the wildlife.
Aimed specifically at observing the behavioural patterns of Floridian wildlife whilst at University, the expedition was based in a field station in Bonita Springs in Fort Myers on the Florida Gulf Coast, easy travel distance to many different biomes in the area.
Barefoot beach
The first day involved a visit to an area of Barefoot beach home to keystone species such as sea oats and ranging sand dunes with mangrove lined rivers stretching away, where dragonflies and butterflies flitted about. The sections of boardwalk separating the areas of the beach were also themselves home to many yellow and black striped cuban anoles (Anolis sagrei) as well as racer snakes (Coluber). For those willing to look for a little longer, you would also hear the knocking of woodpeckers between the trees, see skittish armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) scuttling away and observe the odd raccoon (Procyon lotor) foraging in the undergrowth.
Time spent more towards the sea in this area also yields a myriad of new species, with fragile sand dollars (Clypeasteroida), jagged edged sea snails exposed by the receding tide, pikegarr (Lepisosteidae) hopping and wriggling through the water, pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying dipping their beaks hoping to catch an unfortunate fish, cormarunts (Phalacrocorax carbo) flying low over the water line, osprey (Pandion haliaetus) circling and flying to and from the sea, possibly bringing fish to their young, and long thin beaked willets (Tringa semipalmata) pecking at the surface of the sediment in groups running to and fro with the tide.
That's not to say that more familiar species aren't also present with birds like the black headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and mammals like the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) still making an appearance. On a perfect day, with exceptional luck, you may even get a chance to see dolphins bobbing curiously through the shallows looking for the meals of the day.
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| Bumblebee collecting pollen |
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| Cuban anole on board walk |
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| Orb weaver spider on web |
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| Gopher tortoise being held |
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| Back pattern of the orb weaver spider |
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| Racer snake climbing tree |
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| Sea snail peering out from it's shell |
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| Seed pods of the grey nicker |
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| Willet foraging along the tide line |
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| Yellow dragonfly on stem |
Florida Gulf Coast University and swamps
Swamps bordering areas such as the Florida Gulf Coast University can also provide some excellent chances to observe wildlife, with red skippers (Hesperiidae), green house (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) and tree (Hyla cinerea) frogs hopping from stem to stem, large brown wasps, millipedes, killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), raccoons (Procyon lotor), mating dragonflies, and wolf spiders (Lycosidae) also present. Vegetation wise, cabbage (Sabal palmetto) and royal palms (Roystonea) are generally abundant in the area, with sandspurs (Cenchrus), cypress trees (Taxodium) with their knees above the water line, epiphytic air plants and ferns with patterns of epiphytic spore pods (sporothea).
If you venture a little further, the nearby lakes show themselves as home to a variety of wildlife, including American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), wood stork (Mycteria americana), tri-coloured heron (Egretta tricolor), American white ibis (Eudocimus albus), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), terrapins, anhinga or 'snakebirds' (Anhinga anhinga) fishing and cooters (Pseudemys) sunbathing and black sunfish (Enneacanthus chaetodon) feeding in the ponds within the university.
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| Curious family of Raccoons look on from their bundle |
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| Moth perched briefly in pair of hands |
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| Green tree frog on stump |
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| Small toad caught briefly in hand |
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| American alligator waiting at the lake's surface |
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| Anhinga above lake standing on a broken stem |
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| Cooter swimming in a murky pond |
Field station and Lover's Key state park
Time was also spent at the field station itself where you could frequently observe local great egrets (Ardea alba), grey herons (Ardea herodias) and snake birds along with a range of the fish in the nearby mangrove lakes that they are trying to feed on, and once on our way, black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and again egrets can be seen from the roads. Once arrived at Lover's Key it was clear we were in for a treat from this sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) and mangrove covered state park. A myriad of osprey, turkey vultures, red bellied woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus), cormarunts, great egret, and the occasional belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) make up the excellent avian representation. A curious glance into the vegetation may also yield climbing mangrove tree crabs (Aratus pisonii), periwinkle snails (Littorina littorea), banana spiders (Nephila) and grey squirrels.
In the hot weather, butterflies can be seen flitting on the breeze, with pipevine swallowtails (Battus philenor) and blue butterflies seen feeding on the nectar of nearby flowers. Jumping mullet (Mugilidae), yellow bellied sap suckers (Sphyrapicus varius) and brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) towards the beach are also an interesting sight as are the holes made in dead palms by red bellied woodpeckers. The black island area itself is home to grey nicker (Caesalpinia bonduc) with their bright green summer seed pods and grey seeds, jellyfish, American white ibis, comb jellies (Ctenophora), sea gooseberries (Pleurobrachia bachei), bees nests partially covered by strangler figs, black vultures, and for the very very lucky maybe even the chance to see a west Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) breaching a river's surface for a second or two.
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| Hole in palm tree made by a red-bellied woodpecker |
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| Brown anole standing on hand |
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| Pipevine swallotail butterfly perched |
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| Periwinkle snail climbing an Aloe vera plant |
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| West Indian manatee under the river's surface |
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| Two west Indian manatees mating |
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| Mangrove tree crab climbing |
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Another amazing site to be visited in the area if one has the time is the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a National Audubon Society sanctuary. With boardwalks spanning 2.25 miles through the swamp, an abundance of wildlife can be seen, including Eastern lubber grasshoppers (Romalea guttata), with their impressive size, zebra longwings (Heliconius charithonia), green treefrogs and anoles (Anolis carolinensis), yellow rat snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), preying mantises (Mantis religiosa), rambur's forktail (Ischnura ramburii), black and yellow argiope (Argiope) with their large spanning webs and cuban tree frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis).
From the rails of the walk, vegetation that can be observed includes old man's beard or spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) and wax myrtle (Myrica) at eye level. Black vultures, white ibis and anhinga are again present either watching from treetops or hunting in the swamp water, as are strangler figs (Ficus aurea), with carolina wolf spiders (Hogna carolinensis) occasionally dotted about. Less common bird such as red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) can also be seen hunting prey as well as the great-crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) calling. The watchful eye can also occasionally see an American alligator camouflaged in the sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) barely surfacing waiting for prey.
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| View out over Corkscrew swamp sanctuary |
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| Eastern lubber grasshopper climbing a stem |
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| Eastern lubber grasshopper perched on a hand |
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| Preying mantis walking across a hand |
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| Green dragonfly ready to launch |
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| Green tree frog resting on a stem |
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| Green anole standing it's ground |
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| Green anole waiting at the edge of a boardwalk |
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| American alligator biding it's time |
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| Yellow rat snake slithering along a leaf |
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| Anhinga shaking water from it's wings |
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| Green tree frog clinging to stem |
Bonita beaches and the Florida Keys
Although not known specifically for their wildlife, time spent at beaches on the gulf coast during the trip generally tended to yield some excellent observation opportunities for feeding birds, particularly groups of brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), egrets, cormarunts, magnificent frigate birds (Fregata magnificens), and the odd bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), wood stork (Mycteria americana), tri-coloured heron, great blue heron (Ardea herodias), osprey, anhinga and the odd American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) near water bodies more inland.
A symbolic part of Florida itself, any trip would be falling short without a visit to the Keys, and as an added bonus, we were lucky enough to have time for some snorkling from a boat out of Pennekamp state parkin Key Largo. I unfortunately do not have an underwater camera, though some of the breathtaking fish around the Grecian rocks included barracudas (Sphyraena), spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari), trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus), harlequin bass (Serranus tigrinus), rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) and various species of parrotfish (Scarinae), as well as egrets, cormarunts, flying fish (Exocoetidae) and magnificent frigatebirds seen from the boat on the way.
Canary Islands: Tenerife Excursion
So now we travel across the Atlantic ocean, off the north-western coast of Africa to some of the less well known areas of the Canary Island of Tenerife that I visited on another wildlife excursion with the university.
Malpais de Guimar and El Medano
From the volcanic Barranco valley at Playa Paraiso to the lava flows of Malpais de Guimar, with its xerophytic euphorbia species, there is always wildlife to be seen in these areas of the island. Fauna that can regularly be seen include Berthelot's pipit (Anthus berthelotii), green dragonflies, longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), canary island kestrels (Falco tinnunculus canariensis), yellow legged gulls (Larus michahellis atlantis), feral pigeons (Columba livia) and plain swifts (Apus unicolor) further out. At night, the various barrancos of the area can also yield examples of the stripeless tree frog (Hyla meridionalis), Iberian marsh frog (Rana perezi) and even the flapping overhead of the Madeira pipistrelle (Pipistrellus maderensis), along with common sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos) feeding at nearby pools.
The dunes of El Medano also make for an interesting trip, with arid shrubs covering dunes and interestingly almost no marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) so characterisitic of the coastal dunes of Europe. In terms of animal life, though more sparse here, visiting migrant avian species and more hardy species such as rock doves, again Berthelot's pipits, yellow-legged gulls and the odd southern grey shrike (Lanius meridionalis meridionalis) can all be present in the area.
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| Arid sand dunes at El Medano |
Pine forest belt and Caldera of Mount Teide
For those looking for a less arid area to visit, a trip to the other end of the spectrum, to the humid pine forests found at higher elevations is definitely worthwhile. The bottom end of the forest belt is entered once you reach 800m, with avian species such as blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) making their home amongst the Canary pines(Pinus canariensis) and lava flows/tubes found higher up at roughly 1700m.
At roughly 2000m you will reach Las Lajas, which is unique in that although dry is saturated by cloud throughout (known as cloud forest) and forms the upper section of the 800-2000m forest ring around the island. Interestingly, this area is also contained within the caldera of the island designated a national park, roughly 17km in diameter. Due to the dryness, forest fires here are common and common burn marks on trunks lend evidence to this. Interestingly, the trees here are distinctively adapted to recovering from and even flourishing in fire, with the bark-embedded buds' growth triggered by it. When looking at the wildlife here, again avian species are quite sparse, with endemic sub-species of gold crest (Regulus regulus teneriffae), canary island chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis) and common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), island canaries (Serinus canaria) and the odd great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) present, foraging in the pines and low-lying Adenocarpus.
Although less for the wildlife and more for the view, a trip must also be made further into the caldera to the shadow of Mount Teide at roughly 2300m, to the Rocques de Garcia with it's volcanic plugs and occasional great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor), Berthelot's pipits as well as the odd feral cat to be seen. An inevitable trip up via cable car or walking for those more adventurous to the summit of Teidi itself is also a fantastic idea, though looking for wildlife here is in itself a bit of a mission, with the odd rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) seen foraging on hardy vegetation near the base of the ascent, but little to no fauna or flora bar the odd Berthelot's pipit that we saw near the peak.
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| Forest amongst the lava flows and tubes |
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| Fog of the cloud forest |
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| Berthelot's pipit perched on a volcanic rock |
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| Volcanic plugs of Rocques de Garcia |
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| Cable car up the slopes of Mount Teide |
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| Canary pines at the bottom of the forest belt |
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| Arid shrubs in the Caldera of Mount Teide |
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| Above the clouds at the peak of Teide |
Parque Drago and Brittania botanic gardens
If you are travelling through towns and cities along the north coast of Tenerife, it really is worth a visit to these beautiful gardens, if only to see some of the rare endemic species they cultivate. There is also a clear change in ecotone as you move further northward here, from arid to humid habitats, with a change in vegetation from dry hardy xeerophytic species to much more green forests.
The first of the gardens, Parque Drago, in the town of Icod de los vinos, is comprised of purely native species and is famous for what is likely the largest Dragon tree and possibly even monocot in the world. Throughout these gardens, a variety of confiding native birds visit, with a community of chickens and Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) also kept. Species that can commonly be found here include monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), sardinian warblers (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra), Canary endemic robins (Erithacus rubecula superbus), Canary endemic grey wagtails (Motacilla cinerea canariensis), Canary lizards (Gallotia galloti), chiffchaff, Canarian black bird (Turdus merula cabrerae), black cap (Sylvia atricapilla) and Buzzards (Buteo buteo insularum) displaying courtship behaviour overhead in nearby areas. Canary endemic bees, small white butterflies, Canary speckled wood butterfly (Pararge xiphioides).
For those looking for something a little more aquatic, the nearby town of Garachico has lovely pools built into incomplete lava tubes filled in by the tide that are open at seasonal times of year. In these, many fish freely swim in and out including damselfish (Pomacentridae), ornate wrasse (Thalassoma pavo), rock goby (Gobius paganellus) and of course the expected yellow-legged gulls that often come with coastal marine fish species.
The second garden along the north coast is the Brittania gardens found in the city of Puerto de la Cruz, which has cultivated native and more exotic vegetation species from around the world such as old man's beard, bromeliads (Bromeliaceae), kapok trees (Ceiba pentandra), typical palms (Arecaceae), giant fig trees (Urostigma), African sausage tree (Kigelia africana), traveller's pine, fan aloe (Aloe plicatilis) and the bird of paradise flower (Strelitzia). This has resulted in the gardens becoming home to a plethora of frugivorous exotic birds such as green and Senegal parrots (Poicephalus senegalus). Avian species that can commonly be found in the gardens also include island canaries, canary island chiffchaff, tenerife blue tit (Cyanistes teneriffae), canarian black birds, rock doves, collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto) and black caps (Sylvia atricapilla heineken). Species of other taxa that can be found here include the odd Indian red admiral (Vanessa indica) and yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta).
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| Dragon tree of Parque Drago |
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| Grey wagtail in Icod de los Vinos |
Valle de Guerra and Anaga Reserve natural integral de El Pijaral
Towards the north-east of the island is the Valle de guerra, home to the Museo de Antropologia. Here is home to many basking Tenerife Lizards (Gallotia galloti) when the weather is good and is home to many distinct species of plants for example Seritonia carot. Avian species observed whilst there included island canaries, canary island chiffchaff, canarian blackbirds, collared doves and black caps. Other taxa observed include the monarch butterfly, Indian red admiral, american painted lady (Vanessa virginiensis) and long-horned beetles.
As you move into the more humid higher elevations, you enter the laural forest of the island in the Anaga area, with the Reserve Natural integral de El Pijaral being a major landmark. This is another area with high humidity, and the laurel forest is characteristic in that it has an equiable, intermediate climate so a range of species across the altitude zones can be found. For those with a keen eye, laurel pigeons (Paloma rabiche) can be spied through the trees, with gold crest, chaffinch and blue tits also present with a strong link between the avifauna and the reproductive cycle of the trees. Other taxa here observed include snail species Insulivitrina lamarcki with its reduced shell.
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| Indian red admiral perched on flower |
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| Tenerife lizard caught whilst surveying |
Teno beyond Buenavista and Punta de temo
For those more inclined to visit the western side of the island, a very different habitat of xerophytic lowland scrubland can be found along the north-western coast, much of which has been replaced with agriculture, most notably banana plantations. Now and again canary island kestrels and usual yellow legged gulls can be seen gliding along above and the usual feral pigeons also seen above the buildings. At Teno beyond Buenavista the spreading of agriculture is particularly apparent and as such it now forms a national park and is home to many rare protected plant species, many of which are halophytic due to proximity to the coast.
The area itself is seen to be naturally comprised of two parts, xerophytic lowland and 'El Fralie' where chasmophytes (those plants which grow on cliff-faces) such as Haywoodiella are dominant, and is globally recognised as an area of interest for research. A convergence of phenotypes in the area is also visible, with succulent stemmed, spiny leaved Canary Island spurge (Euphorbia Canariensis) and Prickly pear (Opuntia), two species from different parts of the world, both being adapted for a similar climate in a similar way. Other wildlife that can be found here often includes the canary gecko (Tarentola angustimentalis) hiding under rocks and over towards the coast at Punta de Temo, with its many fallen volcanic rocks, more seaside bird species such as the Cory's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) and herring gulls flying out to sea to feed.
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| Coast at Punta de Temo |
Marine mammal watching
Would any wildlife trip to these islands be complete without a spot of marine mammal watching? From Los Cristianos, you can take a Catamaran out from the coast where if you're lucky you may have the chance to see bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), Portuguese man o wars (Physalia physalis) and the odd hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata) swimming and feeding around the boat. Wildlife on top of this will inevitably also include the coastal gull species again such as the herring gull (Larus argentatus) and yellow-legged gulls but in these lovely surroundings even these regular visitors are a welcome sight.
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| Bottlenose dolphin swimming beside the Catamaran |
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| View of La Gomera from Tenerife |
Finishing up
Well then, that about wraps thing up for this admittedly a little lengthy post. Hopefully I've inspired some of you to get out there and walk, hike, climb or drive somewhere you've never been before and see what makes it's home there!
Next time the blog will be returning back home to Kent, and looking at Leeds Castle, somewhere those of you in the area have probably visited for the buildings but maybe not for the fantastic wildlife across the grounds and the lake.
Hope to see you then!
