2016 Dominican Republic Scenes & Wildlife

A common species seen close to the coasts. Although they can often be seen dive-fishing, these three were flying back and forth just off the headland and across the bay. At the time, there was an approaching storm in the distance, so perhaps they could sense it and were uneasy as to where to go safely. They certainly made an effortless formation display whilst they decided.

A fairly level stretch of walk-way in front of the small bay accommodation was also a busy shuttle track. This view also shows the steepness of the slope that the accommodation was built on.

Plenty going on when we sat at the rotunda on the point. The water in the small bay seemed to be quite shallow, so was ideal for. Snorkelling, and the sea was usually quite tranquil so canoeing was also quite safe.

Not particularly big beaches here, but the small sandy areas in amongst the Almond trees was quite popular as a relaxing area out of the hot sun. For anyone wanting to "bake", there was a small pool near the Beach Cafe, and a sun deck for reclining in the full glare.

Under the wet weather during our stay, this track was very muddy, and not as easy to explore. Although potentially an interesting area to search at night, we also found another handicap as a small pack of dogs from the inland village behind the hotel roamed this area day and night. They appeared quite friendly, but would suddenly ferociously fight for no apparent reason, so we felt that it could be dangerous to sortie out in the dark. I did, however, try on one night, but although the dogs stayed nearer the village, the general wildlife population where I looked was not in evidence much.

Nymphalidae - Wingspan: ~100mm. There were butterflies present around the area of the track, but often they were very active, not settling anywhere. This is one exception resting high in bushes at the side of the track. The underside of this pretty, large, butterfly reflects the top patterns, although they are deeper shaded and more contrasted than those seen here.

Nymphalidae - Wingspan: ~ 80mm. A common species in the Neotropical areas, which has developed a number of sub-species. This particular sub-species is particular to the Dominican Republic.

Although not very impressive, this shrub at the track side provided a bit of alternative colour in the green swathes of leaves.

Walking up the track away from the coast, we entered a Banana plantation. This was where we came across the dogs to begin with, and they adopted us readily, deciding to hang around as we walked along, often getting underfoot if we were not careful. It was the sudden unexpected bursts of aggression between them that made us a bit uneasy, although it was never at us, only between themselves.

Every afternoon you could see large black clouds developing across the gulf over the land in the central part of the island. These then came north almost in line with Samana, and by the time they had got half-way across, heavy curtains of rain had formed blackening, then obscuring the horizon. This was the sign that decided our returning to our room in preparation for the weather.

A fairly regular occurrence resulting from the fast moving rain deluges, lightning was very difficult to capture as sporadic strikes appeared randomly. In the end, after many missed discharges, I switched our new little camera to "movie mode", recording a fixed area of the sky. Even this was foiled for a while, as obtuse strikes seem to avoid the area in view, or were obscured by the deluge of rain falling. Finally, a strike occurred and a re-play allowed me to find this frame in the video. Not super impressive, but a capture, at last!

This storm was a "rattler"! A wall of heavy rain was visible offshore, and as it got nearer, the first symptoms of the wind were strong gusts hitting the trees in our area as the falling water pushed aside the lower air. We have experienced this before where torrential rain sounds like a roar getting nearer as the heavy rain drums on the leaves of all the plants. Here the wind from it pushed many of the Palm tree fronds hard over.

Then came the deluge as the rain front finally gets to us. The force of the wind pushed rain high up our balcony walls under a 4 metre overhang.

At the peak, the winds were blowing the deluging rain trying to drain off the adjacent roofs upwards over the edges. Also tiles on the roofs began to be lifted and strewn onto the ground below.

A fairly small "Longhorn" beetle around 20mm body length. We found it everywhere, and it occasionally came to the Moth Trap as well.

Body length about 40mm (excluding the horn). There might be a number of these species in the Neotropics, but so far nothing definitive has come to light, although this insect did! It was found in the area of our Moth Trap one night..

A world-wide pest which can bore into stored grain and other crops, like Peanuts. A single specimen came to the Moth Trap. The strangely shaped thorax obviously facilitates their boring activities. Approximately 13mm in length.

Body length ~30mm. This individual came to the area around our light trap one night, and looked quite aggressive and formidably armed with those prominent mandibles, so I treated it with respect, photographed it and used one of my collecting pots to evict it over the balcony edge. Thankfully, it didn't return after departure as if it had got in the light trap, it could have created destruction on the captive moths resting there. We have had many predators come to our trap, and can often find that the trap becomes a free "lunch-box" for them if they get inside. We have, in the past deported Gekkos, Praying Mantis's, and other beetles, all of which can cause loss of records, if not removed quickly.