Island Adventures – Part 1

We had a great vacation to the island of Barbados last week. We rarely go on trips, let alone to the tropics, so this was a great privilege made possible by some close family on my husband’s side. We are truly thankful.

I wanted to share a few photos from our time. Of course, mostly just the animals we found in our travels, because sheesh, who wants to see two pale tourists standing on beaches!

I introduced everyone to Sophie the cat at our villa previously. It was nice to have a feline surrogate during our stay.

We had a nice open area to sit outside at our villas where we ate breakfast we made each morning. The small birds would join us, chirping and working it as best they could for tidbits.

These little sparrows were the most persistent, and seemed dominant over all other birds when it came to food, no matter the size. Some would even venture inside the door to chirp/order us to come out and feed them. Luckily their chirps were barely more then a peep, and there only seemed to be about 1 or 2 monitoring each condo.

I think these are called wood doves, but they were also everywhere. Notice the bulge in the neck there, I believe it was cooing when I took this.

While exploring we happened to stop at a small wildlife reserve on the island. Being that we were in a country outside of the United States (ie, the land of lawsuits and over protection), it was a 90% open facility, meaning you walked amongst the free roaming animals. So what it might have lacked in diversity and fancy living conditions, it made up for by being able to experience everything with no boundaries outside of common sense.

Yes, that is me, taking countless shots of monkeys (more of those to follow).

The first stop on our tour of the property was a nature walk through the trees (keep in mind I am from Colorado, its nice to see something other then a pine tree on occasion).

They gave information about the various plant species on the island, and there were some small caves. We even found a bat in one, which I was rude enough to bother with a flash and a zoom lens…..I think I heard him mumble “tourist” at one point.

I don’t recall the name of this aggressive looking tree….

After our wander in the woods, we headed over to the main attraction where the animals were housed.

Now I would say most, if not all, the animals were not native to the island. They had been deposited over the centuries by settlers and various boats that passed through the Caribbean. Take for example the Patagonian Mara below.

Interesting note on them, they live about 5-7 years and actually mate for life.

The red footed tortoises were everywhere, and they did not care about people one lick.

They had a cute little dwelling for them in one area, sort of a tortoise garage.

It was feeding time when we arrived, and the tortoises used the stone walkways as major highway systems to reach the food bins. Of course, it wasn’t like a mad rush, we are talking over several hours. If you stopped to take photos and were not paying attention, it was very possible you might have a tortoise aiming to take a nip at your shoe if you did not move soon.

There were a few birds wandering around, and also housed in cages on one end of the property.

There were ducks, peacocks, guineafowl, parrots, and even a lone turkey.

Chickens! Of course there were chickens, it wouldn’t be an island without chickens wandering around now would it!?! (yes, I took a photo of a chicken, what can I say, I like ‘em, and I will have some one day)

There were a few lizards and reptiles on the tour.

The funny thing was, even the giant python didn’t hold a candle to watching the mudskippers wiggle and crawl about on the sand in their tank. I did not get a photo of them in my carelessness (not my photo below). It was one of those things you have seen on TV, but to actually watch this little fish with its hand/elbow like fins wander about a foot in front of you is captivating. (Either that or I was still recovering from too much rum the day before……)

Here is a video on some mudskippers

This was an animal called a Red Brocket Deer, but I actually think it was more a mixed species that was bred on the island (based on a comment by a passing tour guide).

Their hair coat was almost non existent and I have to say they reminded me a bit of a Chinese crested dog.
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The rest of our tour was lots of monkeys monkeys monkeys. It was the closest I had ever been to them, and they were fun to sit on a bench and watch for awhile.

I will post those photos and such in a second installment over the weekend!