CAYMOTH UNKNOWN

ANOTHER unidentified moth with striking square spot markings. Wingspan 30mm. Attracted to the external stairway lights, if it stays there too long it will soon be gecko poo !

More Caybirds

COMMON GROUND DOVE, Columbina passerina as its name suggests, a common bird on Grand Cayman and at 6.5 inches long it is easily overlooked creeping around the undergrowth, unlike these two sitting on a shed roof.

LOGGERHEAD KINGBIRD, Tyrannus caudifasciatus. Known as Tom Fighter locally, due to its aggressive behaviour during the breeding season. One of the tyrant flycatchers, 9.5 inches

SMOOTH-BILLED ANI, Crotophaga ani. Another common species, known to the locals as Old Arnold or Black Arnold for whatever reason. Often reported as a black parrot because of its horny beak and long tail. Found from South and Central America, through the Caribbean and into North America

A RIGHT ROYAL TERN

Not every day you get to feed Royal Terns, the picture quality is a bit iffy but you can clearly see the head and "beak" of a Ballyhoo in the birds beak. This was a piece i threw to the bird and 10 seconds later it had turned it in its beak and swallowed it. Then it joined another and began to follow us around in the boat. Higher overhead were Magnificent Frigatebirds gliding easily in the breeze never once flapping their wings. These Royals are resident non-breeding birds.

Royal Tern, Sterna maxima with a beakful of Ballyhoo from yours truly. Sprat Bird is its local name.

CAYMOTHS

Two more moths from BWI. Again, both unknown to me. There is no moth literature available anywhere on the Island and it would be no surprise to me if a lot of moths in the Caribbean were unrecorded species. TOP PICTURE. Wing length 35mm, and like most moths here, no bright colours which would be a disadvantage given the amount of predators present.

10mm from nose to tip. This little fella was attracted to the stairs lighting.

SHARK !

NOT the moth but a Nurse Shark caught from the boat canal last night. On a small rod and line it took half an hour to land and after a photo shoot, was returned to the water unharmed but a little wiser no doubt. Just a tad over 4ft long from tail to snout and weighing in at a little under 40lbs