Turks and Caicos Bird Watching - British West Indies

Turks & Caicos Bird Watching

Salt Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands has the distinction of hosting a hugh number of native bird species. For Turks and Caicos birdwatchers and nature lovers, the island is a true mecca, a place where they observe birds in a totally natural environment in the British West Indies. On Salt Cay in there are under 15 cars, low population, vast areas of mangrove and salt flats. Thousands of species migrate annually through the Turks and Caicos Islands on their way down the Bahama chain toward South America. The salt salinas on Salt Cay are host to many native species and, in season, many migrants. Turks and Caicos Islands mangrove swamps and low tidal areas, accessible by wading or kayak, and the beaches are where native and migrating wading and water birds gather.

.....birds spotted on Salt Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies

.... mourning dove
... common ground dove
.... mangrove cuckoo
... smooth billed ani
... bahama woodstar

... black/white warbler
..... yellow warbler
... palm warbler
... yellow throated warbler
... blue grey gnatcatcher
... northern mockingbird

Banana quit - photo by Allen Ray Smith, National Trust

... bahama mockingbird
... bahama mockingbird
... bananaquit
... royal tern
.... grey catbird
... belted kingfisher

... short billed dowitcher
... green heron
.... red tailed hawk
... sanderlings
... white tailed tropic bird
... brown pelican
... great blue heron

ospry on nest in the Salina on Salt Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands

... great egret
... snowy egret
.... little blue heron
.... tri colored heron
... reddish egret
... cattle egret
.. black crowned night heron
.... blue winged teal

.... white cheeked pintail
.... northern pintail.
... osprey
.... american kestral
.... american coot
... killdeer
... american oystercatcher
..... black necked stilt

Osprey - photo by Allen Ray Smith, National Trust

flamingo by Marta Morton, mangroves early morning

..... greater yellowlegs
... lesser yellowlegs
.. ruddy turnstone
.... western sandpiper
..... pink flamingo

BIRDING IN THE TURKS & CAICOS MANGROVES

Hundreds of birds spotted throughout the mangroves in the creek on Salt Cay

frigate birds at the man o war bush off o f Middle Caicos

LET US BOOK YOUR BIRD WATCHING VACATION ON SALT CAY!

Pirates Hideaway Guesthouse has all inclusive Salt Cay Vacation Packages for Turks & Caicos bird watchers. Call for pricing, discounts, and all inclusive holidays

Call (649) 946-6909 or E.Mail: mailto:piratequeen3@hotmail.com

Turks and Caicos Islands

BEAUTIFUL BY NATURE is the National slogan of the Turks and Caicos Islands which is rumored were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and now some 500 years later is being “rediscovered” as one of the fasted growing travel destinations in the Caribbean.

Famous for her secluded beaches, crystal clear turquoise blue waters, un spoilt reefs and dramatic walls this archipelago has some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world.

These days however visitors should pack beside their bronzing creams a good pair of binoculars! The Turks and Caicos has tweaked the interest of serious birders especially since 1992 when the government set aside 33 protected areas of National Parks, Nature Reserves and Sanctuaries .Now over 190 bird species can be found at varying times of the year throughout the islands mainly due to the fact that the Bahamas chain is an important route for migratory birds between North and South America. Of these 190 species there are 52 known to breed locally. In 1990 the Southern coasts of North, Middle and East Caicos were designated a RAMSAR site, an organization that protects endangered wetlands. Here in the lagoons ,salt ponds and mangrove swamps can be found over 61 waterfowl species including the rare West Indian Whistling duck and the Greater Flamingo featured on many stamps and the National emblem of the Turks and Caicos.

map of turke and caicos islands

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

The Turks and Caicos Islands are one of the last remaining British Colonies and located some 575 miles southeast of Miami Florida with the Bahamas about 30 miles to the Northwest and the Dominican Republic some 100 miles to the Southeast.

The country. consist of two groups of islands, the Turks Islands and the Caicos Islands which are separated by a 22-mile passage called the Columbus Passage. To the west are the Caicos group: West Caicos , Providenciales , North Caicos, East Caicos and South Caicos. To the east are the Turks group: Grand Turk and Salt Cay.

Bird Stamps of Turks & Caicos

Osprey and Greater Flamingo

Turks and Caicos Islands postage stamps of birds

West Indian Whistling Duck

American Oyster Catcher

Please address questions regarding the Turks and Caicos Islands bird stamps to :
Email tciphilatelicbureau@tciway.tc

THE BIRDS OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS

The Turks & Caicos National Trust comprehensive book about the Birds of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The book has a hardcover, with 96 pages of 236 coloured pictures, of birds found in the islands. The birds were photographed and information written by Richard Ground.

One copy of the book is available for $20.00
10 copies or more are available for $16.00 per copy.

New Product - Full colour bird cards available $3.00 each

Turks & Caicos National Trust
P.O. Box 540 ~ Providenciales
Turks & Caicos Islands ~ BWI
Phone:649 941 5710
Fax:649 941 4258
Email:tc.nattrust@tciway.tc

Turks and Caicos Islands
Bird Watching Links

The Fat Birder - Turks & Caicos Islands
Bringing up Baby - Hummingbirds
Flamingos - Heraldic Birds of Turks and Caicos

Bird Watching in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Birding Report on Turks and Caicos Islands

Herons of the Turks & Caicos Islands

Fabulous Falcons in Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands Bird Book

Trip Report - Birding in Turks and Caicos

Turks and Caicos Islands postage stamps of birds

Turks & Caicos Bird Watching

.....birds spotted on Salt Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies

.... mourning dove ... common ground dove .... mangrove cuckoo ... smooth billed ani ... bahama woodstar

... black/white warbler ..... yellow warbler ... palm warbler ... yellow throated warbler ... blue grey gnatcatcher ... northern mockingbird

... bahama mockingbird ... bahama mockingbird ... bananaquit ... royal tern .... grey catbird ... belted kingfisher

... short billed dowitcher ... green heron .... red tailed hawk ... sanderlings ... white tailed tropic bird ... brown pelican ... great blue heron

... great egret ... snowy egret .... little blue heron .... tri colored heron ... reddish egret ... cattle egret .. black crowned night heron .... blue winged teal

.... white cheeked pintail .... northern pintail. ... osprey .... american kestral .... american coot ... killdeer ... american oystercatcher ..... black necked stilt

..... greater yellowlegs ... lesser yellowlegs .. ruddy turnstone .... western sandpiper ..... pink flamingo