Wednesday 2 January 2013

Curacao - Netherlands Antilles

 A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS ACROSS THE GLOBE
 While the Caribbean Island of Curacao is still geographically part of the Netherlands Antilles Group, she is now totally autonomous and regarded as a separate country or state.

CURACAO
With a larger number of photos today than the average, the narrative will be reduced to redress the balance.
We were escorted into the beautiful port of Willemstad early this morning
by a LAUGHING GULL
 and BROWN PELICAN.
Typical Dutch influence shows in this well kept and clean city the moment you step ashore.

 The 'SWING BRIDGE' that opens the port up to the sea, allowing the largest of ships to berth here. Unfortunately, with the small camera broken this is not the best of images. I'll see if I can borrow some others.
 'Prima Almerante' LUIS BRION - I know his brother Haut very well!
 GREY KINGBIRD
 BARE-EYED PIGEON
TROUPIAL (they should be common here!)
 EARED DOVE
 juvenile EARED DOVE
COMMON GROUND DOVE
Don't quite know what these figures are all about but remind me of the Mayan
PACHA PAPA 
PACHA MAMA
TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD
 BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET
 YELLOW ORIOLE
 Local Churck

 WHITE-TIPPED DOVE and all this before reaching the Bus Stop.
A 30Km ride to the north west point of the Island and

WEST POINT

RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW
more BROWN-THROATED PARAKEETs

 and how did that get in here? - HOUSE SPARROW
 SAFFRON FINCH
 BUTTERFLY Sp
 Common Ground Dove in what looks like a natural woven cage,
and this looking to be in a man mad cage?
 No, just some old discarded wire and GREEN IGUANA
LIZARD Sp
 BLACK-FACED SEEDEATER
What I would have happily call a male Yellow Warbler
but these Island variations, the female to follow,


 are 'GOLDEN' WARBLER. A lot of photos agreed, but what a stunning bird?
Another TROUPIAL, I was sure there would be more, in fact a dozen in total. 
GREEN IGUANA on a 'Hot Tin Roof'
 YELLOW ORIOLE at a feeder,

 Yes, and more!
 Small MONITOR (type) LIZARD
LIZARD SP

and to end, the Filipino DECK CREW replacing the anchor we lost in Little Bay, Margarita.