Birds and Wildlife

	Termite Nest Sat 05:06 PM Jan 5, 2002

Due to these pests, most of the buildings on Middle Caicos are constructed of concrete or block. In earlier days, stone was used. This termite nest is in a tree just outside Indian Cave.

	Flamingos in Flight Sat 11:46 AM May 26, 2001 21°51’21”N 71°50’31”W

Flamingos are very common around the large inland pond of neighboring North Caicos. On Middle Caicos, they occasionally visit ponds such as Village Pond near Conch Bar or Montpelier Pond near Bambarra. More often, you may find flocks in the shallow waters between the islands. We saw this flock twice in the area around Crossing Place.

	Wading Flamingos Sat 11:47 AM May 26, 2001 21°51’21”N 71°50’31”W

These flamingos are wading just off the beach at Crossing Place with the island's barrier reef and the Altantic in the background. The shallow water here is barely knee deep and covers nearly a square mile.

	Cuban Crow

The Cuban Crow is common on Middle Caicos and has become a kind of mascot for our trips there. Beside the familiar crow call, they have a turkey-like gobble. We always feel we're being welcomed back to the island when we hear it.

The thumbnail photo of the crow links to a video clip of a Cuban Crow that objected to me being too close to the tree where he and his mate were nesting.

	Cuban Crow

The Cuban Crow is often a comical competitor for the fruit ripening in the trees near your villa. At Seascape Villa, several papaya trees grow just outside the porch. Every day, the local crow would land in the tree to check the fruits' ripeness. The only sure way to keep him from eating the ripe papaya was to pick them early and let them ripen in the kitchen.

This crow was nesting near the beach and didn't like me coming close to take his picture. The thumbnail links to a video clip of him chasing me away.

	Jellyfish Fri 09:45 AM Jul 21, 2000

This is an Upsidedown Jellyfish, here temporarily right side up. They are common around the Ferry Landing but are easy to mistake for plants as they lay on their backs with tentacles up.

	Stingray Tue 10:18 AM May 22, 2001 21°49’52”N 71°44’29”W

We didn't see stingrays until our sixth visit to Middle Caicos, then we saw one on two different swims. Cathy discovered this large one at McKitrick's Reef, just a few feet from the beach.

	Ricky's Crab Sat 12:15 PM May 26, 2001 21°51’09”N 71°51’04”W

Everyone was spread out on the beach at Crossing Place when little Ricky screamed. A monster was chasing him. Truth is, this little crab was hiding in the shade under a Conch shell until Ricky picked it up. Suddenly exposed, it held up its claws to protect itself and ran for the nearest dark spot, Ricky's shadow.

	Night Heron Tue 06:15 PM May 29, 2001 21°49’41”N 71°44’08”W

True to it's name. the Night Heron makes it's appearance when the sun goes down. This one showed up every day after dinner and walked around the porch railing at Seascape. The bird is called the Gullen by the belongers.

	Ospreys at Half Crek Mon 10:58 AM Jul 17, 2000

The Osprey, or Sea Eagle, nests all along the shores of Middle Caicos. This pair is perched on the ruins of the fish plant at Half Creek.

	Osprey on the Beach Tue 07:35 PM May 29, 2001 21°50’00”N 71°44’54”W

For several days, we had been hearing the screach of Ospreys when we drove past the beach west of the Bambarra Beach villas. Then one evening on our regular walks along the beach we saw a pair in the trees directly overhead.

	Turks&Caicos Rock Iguana Fri 12:32 PM Jul 21, 2000

The Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana lives only in these islands. East Bay Cay is Middle Caicos's "Iguana Cay". The Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana is smaller than the giant lizards of Central America (or the local pet store). And, at least on this island, they're not tame. They hide below the scrubby brush and run away quickly when approached.

	Frigate Birds Pose Thu 09:46 AM Dec 23, 1999

The adult male Frigate Birds inflate their bright red throat sacks for show or threat. While you'll normally see Frigate Birds only as they soar far overhead, you can get up close at Man O' War Bush, a nesting site south of Middle Caicos.

	Green Heron Sat 09:54 AM Jun 2, 2001 21°48’43”N 71°41’59”W

This Green Heron was perched on a limb just above where Bryan and I stopped to look over Nanny Pond after our hike.

	At the Conch Farm Wed 10:51 AM Aug 11, 1999

The Conch is a large edible mollusk found throughout the Caribbean. You may find them slowly pulling themselves across the sandy bottom inside the reef at Middle Caicos. You can also see them at the Conch Farm on Provo where they raise them for export as well as to replenish the native population. They even have a tame mascot Conch that, unlike the shy ones in the wild, comes out of his shell to meet you.

	Tree Boa Sat 08:12 AM Jun 2, 2001 21°49’10”N 71°43’25”W

Middle Caicos has three species of snakes but you'll probably never see one. All three are harmless Tree Boas that feed on small lizards. Bryan Manco, the resident naturalist, hasn't even found one himself. This one was captured by a belonger that knew Bryan wanted to study the local snakes.

	A Meal for a Bat Thu 10:34 AM May 31, 2001 21°47’22”N 71°41’28”W

Bats are the only indigenous mammals on the island. Most are fruit eating bats. Several made a meal of this mango we found on the ground at Mango Tree Hole. By day, the bats sleep in the islands many caves.