Hiking Curaçao - Flora and Fauna

Hatovlakte - water hole

2012-01-24T22:08:00.000-08:00

Warawara - Curaçao Eagle - Arend

2012-01-24T21:47:00.000-08:00

Warawara on cactus, San Pedro, Curaçao

Why do birds sing?

2012-01-23T05:01:00.001-08:00

This morning, like all mornings, the mockingbird that lives in our garden, was singing. Yes, is is music. Or rather, language that sounds like music. Language of emotion, competition and power.

Our mockingbird sings, waits a moment for an answer from another bird in the bushes next door, and sings again. If the answer doesn't come immediately, our bird will sing its song a bit louder or with a few extra notes.

When it sings the same notes over and over again, there is no response. Our bird comes up, with emphasis, with a new song. Yes, the other bird answers with the new song. This goes on and on.
The message: change your song and you will get the attention.The singing often sounds like a contest and inventing new songs to appeal to followers. Maybe it is "what you can do, I can do too".
The new songs and the many variations, will help the males to impress the females.

listen here: youtube link
I recorded some mockingbird songs. When I play them loudly, a bird comes to my window and starts repeating the song. But after a while, the bird looses interest.

Watch why birds sing:

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/why-birds-sing/

Yes, most bird songs are beautiful. Doesn't beauty count in nature? Yes, it does.
Watch Birds of Paradise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB8UodV_DJg

Green Flash

2012-01-23T04:59:00.000-08:00

The green flash - sun sinks in the sea between Curaçao and Venezuela.
Jan. 22, 2012

Two Anis in Wabi tree

2012-01-19T11:21:00.000-08:00

Smooth-billed Ani

Chiefly tropical American bird of the genus Crotophaga, related to the cuckoo and having black plumage and a long tail.
Cuculidae - includes cuckoo; ani; roadrunner.

Dove - Duif

2012-01-18T07:21:00.001-08:00

Ala Blanca (= white winged) Dove

Autumn (October rain)

2012-01-17T06:33:00.000-08:00

Spider web with raindrops

Elfenbankje

2012-01-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

Trametes versicolor - Coriolus versicolor - Polyporus versicolor

This tiny lizard loves the mirror

2011-12-23T14:53:00.000-08:00

Every day she comes into the bathroom to admire herself.

Crab - Krab

2011-12-20T22:50:00.000-08:00

Rikesa di yobida - Curaçaose natuur na regen

2011-12-09T16:41:00.000-08:00

Vandaag is het boekje Rikesa di yobida aan de leerlingen van het Laura Hart College aangeboden: was een leuke sessie en hopelijk komen er ook foto’s in de krant.
Het is een boekje over de Curaçaose natuur na regen. Korte tekstjes en veel foto’s van vogels, bloemen, vlinders, libellen, enz. enz.

Foto’s en teksten van Gerard van Buurt, Leon Pors en Carel de Haseth.
Het boekje is te koop bij Samsom, Mensing Caminada, Bruna, Antililaans Dagblad en De Duizendpoot.

Kost f. 12,50 per exemplaar.

De opbrengst gaat in een fonds van de Fundashon Bon Intenshon (sponsor van de uitgave) voor een volgende uitgave.

Sitting on the cactustree

2011-12-08T18:08:00.000-08:00

singing in the cactustree: Prekichi, Troepiaal en Chuchubi

(Parakeet, Oriole and Mockingbird)

Vlieg - Fly

2011-12-07T22:06:00.000-08:00

Small patato

2011-12-07T21:03:00.000-08:00

A tick
photos: J. Huisman

Saffraan Vink - Saffron Finch

2011-12-04T09:39:00.000-08:00

photos: Femia Cools

Moth or fly?

2011-12-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

How small it is!

Caribbean Blackbirds

2011-11-28T05:41:00.000-08:00

Blackbirds. On the island, they are found (and heard!) on parking places or at gas stations. I often wondered why. Finally found out that they like the palms that are planted there. The birds don't show themselves and mimic all kind of sounds while hiding behind the palm leaves. The Caribbean Blackbird (Dives atroviolaceus) is not related to the European Blackbird (Turdus merula).

More about the Blackbird

Bermbegroeiing - Roadside Vegetation

2011-11-26T18:40:00.000-08:00

Young Mockingbird - Jonge Spotvogel

2011-11-26T18:24:00.000-08:00

He doesn't look that much, but he can sing!
Hij is niet moeders mooiste, maar zingen kan hij!

Dancing Mockingbird

2011-11-25T05:44:00.000-08:00

Dansende Spotvogel - dancing Chuchubi

Kokolishi

2011-11-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

Slakje

Chuchubi calling

2011-11-12T23:04:00.000-08:00

Chuchubi Song

Black Bumble bee - Hommel

2011-11-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

A bumble bee (also written as bumblebee) is any member of the bee genus Bombus, in the family Apidae.

More Mushrooms

2011-11-07T02:27:00.000-08:00

photos: Femia Cools. Mushrooms on Santa Cruz trail at Santu Pretu.

Mushrooms - Paddenstoelen

2011-11-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

photo: Carel de Haseth

photos: Mary van Soest

photos: Femia Cools

Paddestoelen van Curaçao / Mushrooms of Curaçao.

___________________________________________

Pega pega - Salamander

2011-11-03T17:22:00.000-07:00

Photos: Femia Cools

More Water birds

2011-10-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

photos by Carel de Haseth

Divi divi tree and Mata Galiña tree

2011-10-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

Mata Galiña tree

Divi divi or Watapana tree

Tiny Moths - kleine motten

2011-10-25T20:34:00.000-07:00

size: about 1 cm.
wing span: less than 2 cm.

Along the trails

2011-10-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

Trail along the South Coast of Curaçao.
See: Hiking Trails

South Coast.

Kigelia pinnata - African sausage tree

Karpata - Ricinus communis

Marie Pompoen

For ever parked

Palu di Leche

Mangrove trees

Mutant Cactus

Photos by G. Kroeger
Info sausage tree: G.van Buurt
See: Hiking Trails

Drinks for everybody!

2011-10-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

Sacred Datura

Tiny butterfly

Fly

Beatle?

Bee

Fly

Dragonfly

Fly

Tiny brown butterfly

Fly

Tiny blue butterfly

Small brown butterfly

Femia on Line: Wat vliegt daar?

2011-10-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

Femia on Line: Wat vliegt daar?: Vliegenvanger Spotvogel Saffraanvink Prekichi - Parakeet Wat vliegt daar? Hiking Curaçao

After the Rain - Na de Regen (2)

2011-10-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

Chuchubi - Mockingbrid - Spotvogel

Troepiaal - Trupial

Troepiaal - Trupial

Photos by Femia Cools

After the Rain - Na de Regen (1)

2011-10-22T01:03:00.000-07:00

Tuturutu

Oleander

Divi Divi
Photos by Femia Cools

Chuchubi in Wayaca and Wabi

2011-10-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

Chuchubi feeding in Wayaca tree

Wayaca tree

Young Chuchubi in a Wabi tree.

Photos by Femia Cools

Jonge Leguanen - Young Iguana

2011-10-20T22:07:00.000-07:00

Three little ones.

Yes, here I am!

Young Iguanas feeding in our garden.

An older iguana is feeding in a Palu di Lele
Randis aculeata, of the Rubiaceae family. Locally this tree is called Lele, Palu di lele, Rabu di Kabai or Wakura.
See Online Flora for more info on the Curaçao Flora.

Photos: Femia Cools

Pelican - Pelikaan / Stern

2011-10-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

PELICAN - Pelecanidae

STERN - Sterna Antillarum

Photos: C.de Haseth

Groove-billed Ani - Chuchubi Pretu

2011-10-18T16:10:00.000-07:00

Young birds.

The Groove-billed Ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris, is an odd-looking tropical bird in the cuckoo family with a long tail and a large, curved beak.

Photos: Femia Cools

Info: C.de Haseth and G.van Buurt

Bee Swarm in our garden.

2011-10-16T19:58:00.001-07:00

ON YOU TUBE

About 45000 bees.

Another queen with her own swarm of bees.

2011-10-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

About 9000, this time.

The bee-keeper.

Getting ready.

Spraying honey on the bees.

Catching the bees in a box.

Done!

ON YOU TUBE

The Queen and her bees, looking for a good place to nest.

2011-10-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

First, they came swarming in. Looking for a suitable place to build a nest.

The next day we saw them clustering together. Too close to our house for comfort.

45000 bees protecting the Queen.
A large group of bees flew away, this morning. We expect them to be back this afternoon. That is when the bee-keeper will be there too. The bees that stayed on the nest are busy as bees, doing a great job; whatever that is.

Dalakochi - "Alien"

2011-10-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Photo: Derk Cools

Tiny Blue Butterfly

2011-10-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

Kleine Blauwe Vlinders

Photo: Femia Cools

Prekichi - kleine papegaai

2011-10-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

Bees in my garden!

2011-10-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

photo: Femia Cools

on You Tube

Leguaan, Iguana

2011-10-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

Sloké - Kwartel - Quail

2011-09-30T04:20:00.000-07:00

Photo: Derk Cools

Kleine Krab - Small Crab

2011-09-22T03:16:00.000-07:00

Parende Hagedissen - Mating Lizards

2011-09-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Salamander of Hagedis. Het verschil is niet altijd duidelijk. Op Curaçao spreekt men van Lagadishi.
Salamanders of Hagedissen.

Salamander or Lizard. Hard to define the difference.

Reptile or Amphibian.

Water Birds

2011-09-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

photos: Carel de Haseth

Juffers en Glazenmakers - Dragonflies

2011-09-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

Photos: Carel de Haseth

Chonchorogai, Andesmus, Roodkraaggors, Rufus-collared Sparrow

2011-09-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

More about this bird

Iguana - eating

2011-09-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Photos: Femia Cools

Baby Iguana

2011-09-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Stripping off!

2011-09-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

Showing off!

2011-08-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

Elaenia Martinica - Little Flycatcher

2011-08-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

Photo: Femia Cools

Name: Elaenia Martinica - flycatcher - kleine vliegenvanger - pimpiri
Thanks to Nicole Oiseaux, Carel de Haseth, Eric Newton en Geert van Buurt
Bird call: one screech.

Sloké - Quail - Kwartel

2011-08-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Sloké passing, almost invisible.

Foto's Derk Cools

Hagedis - lagadishi - lizard

2011-08-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

Prekichi - kleine papegaai

2011-08-19T06:21:00.000-07:00

Prekichi

Foto: Femia Cools

Shoshoro of wilde passie vrucht

2011-08-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

Flower: Shoshoro - wilde passie vrucht.

Barika Hel - Suikerdiefje - Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola

2011-08-08T05:19:00.000-07:00

Going for the sugar. Bananaquit

Saffraan Vink - Saffron Finch

2011-08-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

Singing Wings

Foto's: Derk Cools

More Flycatchers - Pimpiri

2011-08-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

Foto's: Femia Cools

Grote Pega pega - Gekko - Hagedis

2011-08-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

Grote Pega Pega.
Lengte: 25 cm.
Zie ook hier.

Fly Catcher - Pimpiri

2011-07-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

Photo's a bit vague; taken through mosquito screen.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Great-Crested Flycatcher - Tyrant Flycatchers - Family Tyrannidae

Sloké - Quail - Kwartel

2011-07-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

A quail family sand bathing and searching for food.

Sloké; (Colinus cristatus) is een broedvogel van Aruba en Curaçao.

Red Crab

2011-07-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

Rode Krab - span: 10cm

Cicade - sound!

2011-07-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

Cicades: hidden in the trees, their sound almost deafening.

Why are cicades so loud?

Small invaders

2011-07-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

Moth (1.3 cm)

Big Ants

Small ants

Cicade

Hummingbird, Blenchi, Kolibri

2011-07-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Hard to catch, but here it is, the hummingbird (on Surinam Faya Lobi )

Foto's: Femia Cools ( Canon SX210 IS )

Wasp Nest - Potter wasp

2011-07-16T23:17:00.000-07:00

Chuchubi Nest - Nest of the Mockingbird

2011-07-16T23:13:00.000-07:00

Chuchubi on nest

Chuchubi nest, made of Wabi branches

Invaders

2011-07-16T23:08:00.000-07:00

Andesmus - Chonchorogai - Rufus-collared Sparrow - Roodkraaggors

Barika Hel - Suikerdiefje

Pegapega

Baby salamander

Grottenspin

2011-07-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

Foto's: Franco Bakker
Info F. Bakker en C. de Haseth
Ziet er vervaarlijk uit, maar is ongevaarlijk.

Early Birds - visiting the garden during my morning coffee

2011-07-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

Trupial

Prikichi- Caribbean parakeet (Aratinga pertinax, subspecies xanthogenius)

Dove

Chuchubi - Spotvogel - Mockingbird

Berika Hel en Chonchorogai (Andesmus - Zonotrichia capensis)

Para di misa - Yellow Warbler

Kibra Hacha tree blooming

2011-06-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

The Brasilia tree is often mistaken for the Kibra Hacha tree

Kibra hacha - Tabebuia billbergii

Curaçao Nature

2011-06-01T22:18:00.000-07:00

Hiking the trails of Curaçao sometimes gives you the feeling of Wilderness and Jungle.

"Bolcactus" Only on Curaçao!

A trail.

Colors of Hato.

Narrow trail, Plantage Portmarie.

Mangrove trees. Sint Joris

Big Leaves. What grows on the North Coast?

Geelkruinkwak - krab`chi korona hel - yellow crowned night heron

2011-05-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

Nyctanassa violacea at Sint Michiel saliña.

Foto's: Carel de Haseth

Golden Oriole - Troepiaal

2011-05-15T02:58:00.000-07:00

Troepiaal on a windy day.
Troepiaal

Piepkleine blauwe vlinder - Miniscule blue butterfly

2011-04-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

Foto: Derk Cools

Summer Azure Butterfly (Celestrina neglecta)?
We don't have the name of this very small butterfly. Span: about half an inch.

Kleine Zwarte vlinder - Tiny black butterfly

2011-04-08T20:12:00.000-07:00

wingspan 2 cm.
Pyrrhopygopsis Socrates?

foto's: Femia Cools

Foto's: J.Duinker

Pega pega - Gekko - Hagedis

2011-04-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

The pega pega - a cousin of the gecko - is named for the suction pads on its feet that allow it to grip virtually any surface (pega means “to stick” in Papiamento).

Tiny brown butterfly - Kleine bruine vlinder

2011-04-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Dreamy Duskywing?

If so:
Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)
Subfamily: Spread-wing Skipper (Pyrginae)
Average Wingspan: 1 1/8" - 1 1/2"

Libelle / Dragonfly

2011-04-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

Foto: Derk Cools

Padje - Couch's Spadefoot Toad - Scaphiopus couchii

2011-04-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

Couch's Spadefoot Toad

That is the name of this toad, we think.

Dalakochi

2011-03-28T05:10:00.000-07:00

foto's: Femia Cools

Dalakochi: Nature in picture

Sprinkhaan - Grasshopper - Locust

2011-03-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

Io or Yellow Moth - Nachtpauwoog

2011-03-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

Found this Io or Yellow Moth on my kitchen floor.
Trof ik deze mot op de keukenvloer. Ongeveer 5 tot 6 cm.

Link to a picture of the caterpillar

De Automeris io (Engels: Io moth) is een nachtvlinder uit de familie Saturniidae, de nachtpauwogen. De vlinder heeft een spanwijdte van 60 tot 80 millimeter. Het verspreidingsgebied beslaat Midden-Amerika en het oostelijk en centrale deel van Noord-Amerika. Verder lezen

Rups van een Pijlstaartvlinder - Hawk Moth

2011-03-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Deze rups is van een pijlstaartvlinder, wellicht de ficusmot.

Info: Carmabi

Also see: Pijlstaartvlinderrups

Foto: Franco Bakker

Hesperidae - Socrates Vlinder.

2011-03-24T12:32:00.001-07:00

Hesperidae

Info: Carmabi / D.Debrot

Socrates skipper

Info via C.de Haseth: Pyrrhopygogpis Socrates (Socrates skipper): this rare and strikingly colored butterfly has been documented at three locations in Curçao namely, the woodlands of the peninsula Caracasbaai, where it was perched in a flowering Bourreria succulenta (watakeli) tree, at Brievengat and at Cerrito. As with most other large skippers, it flies rapidly. (Adolphe O. Debrot: Butterflies and moths of Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire.)"

Foto: Franco Bakker

Wasps - wespen

2011-03-21T13:37:00.000-07:00

Een zwerm wespen op zoek naar ...
A swarm of wasps searching for a place to ...

Stekelspin - Gasteracantha cancriformis

2011-03-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Het is geen zeldzaamheid om deze spin aan te treffen op het eiland. Hij is vooral in de regenperiode actief. Vanwege de overdadige regenval van de afgelopen maanden ( vanaf september 2010 ) is het dier in grote aantallen te vinden in de mondi en in tuinen.

Er zijn verschillende soorten, gele, witte, licht blauwe, oranje en zelfs rode. De soort komt al heel lang voor op Curacao.

Info:

CARMABI Foundation
Piscaderabaai z/n
P.O. Box 2090
Willemstad
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles

Tel: +(5999) 462-4242
Fax: +(5999 462-7680
e-mail: info@carmabi.org

Gasteracantha cancriformis

Another link: Animal Diversity Web

Foto's M.Durlinger

The Many Colors of Bougainvillea - Trinitaria

2011-03-21T05:32:00.000-07:00

Boug

There are many more sizes, shapes and colors.

History of the Bougainvillea

Barika Hel - Suikerdiefje - Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola

2011-03-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

Suikerdiefje (Coereba flaveola) in de Jasmijn - Jasmine

Bananaquit

Allways on Top

2011-03-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

Chuchubi - Spotvogel - Mockingbird

March 19, supermoon at 7.30 pm. Supermaan

2011-03-19T16:51:00.000-07:00

Supermoon on Huffington Post
Supermoon-info

Supermoon - haiku

Supermoon this weekend! - supermaan 19 -20 maart

2011-03-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

Moon on March 17, Curaçao. Photo: F.Cools

Saturday's full moon will be a supermoon.
A supermoon is a new or full moon that happens to coincide with a close approach of the moon to the earth. Saturday's full moon will be the closest it has been to Earth in 18 years, according to Spaceweather.com.
The distance between the Earth and the moon during the event will be about 221,567 miles, as compared to the average distance of 238,000 miles, according to Space.com.
That may not seem like much of a difference (and compared to the distance it's not), but the diameter of the moon is only 2,159 miles. That means the moon will be over 7.5 diameters closer to Earth than average.
While many believe the 'supermoon' can be linked to natural disasters (namely the Japan earthquake), Space.com says that's not the case.

From Space.com

Curaçao - Bandabou: the moonlight this night, was so strong that the golden oriole was singing (softly) during the whole night!.

My early morning walk

2011-03-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

View from the window: blooming Brasilia trees.

Along the path: Brasilia trees with yellow flowers.

Brasilia tree

Blue flower ... The name?

A bunch of them are sitting on the path.

Iguana tracks.

Another blue flower that I have no name for.

Oops! This is not going to be an educational morning walk.
Cannot give you the names!

Calabash - Kalebas

Flower of the Watakeli tree

Watakeli tree

Beautiful! Even without a name!

A wild bunch. Name? Anyone ... ?

Wabi tree; thorns and beans.

Flowers of the Wabi tree.

Purple flowers. This plant is everywhere!

Morning Glory!

Garden with Faya Lobby, Kelki Hel and Bougainville (Trinitaria).

Kelki Hel.

Up early also: this Mocking bird singing his song.

Home.

Foto's / Photos: Femia Cools (I didn't take pictures of the swine droppings. Believe me, they are all over the place!

Hagedis - lagadishi - lizard on window pane

2011-03-07T20:37:00.000-08:00

De Amfibieën en Reptielen van Aruba, Curaçao en Bonaire