Aruba Day 3 - Eagle Beach (3/6)

The next morning we got up and headed into Oranjestad to do some shopping. It really was an experience to drive down Main St and see not one but two humongous cruise ships anchored at the dock. The street was lined with dozens of high end boutiques all looking to cash in on the cruise ship tourists but the smaller novelty shops off Main St. We looked around a bit and picked up some small mementos before heading back home for lunch. Before we left town, I spotted a Magnificent Frigatebird (a lifer for me) as it soared over the water.

After lunch we headed over to Eagle Beach which is just to the south of Palm Beach. There are still hotels near the beach but since the were built a bit further back from the water its a bit less congested. This ended up being Shannon and my favorite beach on the island. We found a divi divi tree that offered some shade and laid out our blanket. The water was clear blue and the beach was beautiful. We both took a dip to cool off before heading back to relax in the shade. Shannon met a woman who was also from Connecticut. She explained that she came to the island every winter and the weather had been particularly strange the past few days. As they chatted I left to explore the area.

The first thing that I found was a small flock of Ruddy Turnstones. They seemed at ease with all the people around and didn't immediately spook when I approached. This allowed me to take a few nice shots. I watched them for quite a while before headed along the beach toward Palm Beach.

Surprisingly the area between the two beaches was really rocky. And this wasn't the granite rocks that make up the New England shoreline. It was sharp coral. The waves were really strong on this day and every time one hit the rocks, spray was thrown everywhere. I spotted dozens of crabs that held on for their life as the waves hit. Their camoflauge perfectly matched the color and texture of the rocks. There were also some snails and a lizard or two. I brought Shannon to the area and then mugged for some photos.

Aruba Day 2 - Arikok National Park (3/6)

It was such a nice day our first full day in Aruba that we decided to get in the car and head to Arikok National Park. It was early afternoon when we left and we got a bit lost on the way but we eventually found what I'll call the west entrance to the park. A park ranger met us at the gate and offered to take us around the park but, a bit wary due to the area, we declined. After telling us we'd hike at our own risk, he told us to follow another group of hikers since they knew the trails.

We parked our car in a small lot and made our way into the park. As we entered the park, I noticed a half dozen or so Gray Kingbirds perched along the power lines. We didn't have time to stop and get a good look though since our "guides" were hitting the trails.

Once we were out of view, Shannon and I went on our own way and never saw another person in the park. It was still a bit overcast from the off and on rain which made for the perfect temperature for hiking. The trails were absolutely beautiful, carefully maintained, and well marked. The desert was much greener than I expected. The landscape was covered with woody bushes and short grasses but the star of the show were the cacti. They were prevalent in every shape and size... small ones poking thru the rock wall, round ones with tiny pink blossoms, and tall ones you just wanted to hug.

And there was lots of wildlife. All around us were these small black moths. We saw lots of butterflies too. In addition to the Monarchs, we spotted more of the little blue ones, a large orange one, and one which looked a bit like a Queen or Soldier.

The lizards were there too. There were some larger ones but the most prevalent species was this small brown lizard. These guys love to climb... especially on the aloe plants.

But the animal of the trip were the feral goats. They grouped together in large herds and spent most of the time grazing. But we did spy a few of them relaxing on an immense boulder. The picture doesn't do it justice. I just don't know how they managed to get to the top. As we watched the goats a large bird swooped down close to the ground headed right to left. As it circled back, I caught it in my binauculars and was able to identify it as a Crested Caracara. We watched as it flew up the ridge and then proceeded to perch near another bird. Unfortunately it was too far away for me to tell if it was another Caracara or some other bird of prey.

We continued on our hike until we came to a small house in the middle of the park. It looked to have been made of some earthen material like clay and was whitewashed inside and out. It made of a photo op that I couldn't pass up.

By this time it was getting to be late afternoon and neither of us wanted to get lost in the dark in an unfamiliar area so we headed back. But, the great sightings kept coming. First we saw a Troupial perched on a large cactus. These birds remind me of our Orioles back in the US but they may be even more beautiful. The light blue eye patch is particularly stunning. I was able to get a few shots of this bird, but the low light made quality photos very difficult. We also happened upon a Tropical Mockingbird perched in a similar fashion. We saw these guys everywhere we went but they were always fun to watch.

We found our way completely out of the park and headed back to the car. Watching the roadside flowers as we walked, I found this spiny caterpillar. It was a great way to end a fantastic day in Aruba.

Aruba Day 2 - California Lighthouse (3/6)

After lunch Shannon and I headed to the northern tip of the island to see California Lighthouse. This lighthouse was apparently named after a vessel which shipwrecked just offshore. The view from this vantage point was outstanding and we spent some time admiring the ocean and the golf course. We walked behind the restaurant at the point and looked down on the golf course below. There were lots of feral goats grazing on the vegetation. We also saw more parakeets and a solitary butterfly nectaring in the restaurant's flower garden.

But the best sighting was an American Kestrel which buzzed by us in a wind aided dive. When I first saw him, I thought that he was a captive bird because I saw what appeared to be a strap attached to his talons. Only after thinking about it for a minute or two did I realize it wasn't a strap.... but rather the tail of his lunch, a small lizard.