A Visit to The Bahamas - Part 5

17 February, 2026

Leon Levy Native Plants Preserve, Governor's Harbour

     We took our usual stroll around outside before breakfast and were greeted by a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura).

     A couple of Little Blue Herons (Egretta caerulea) were perched in the mangroves.

     This attractive insect is a species of Sand Wasp (subfamily Bombicinae).

     Representatives of Orchard Spiders and Allies (genus Leucage) were seen in a variety of locations, often close to water.

     Their distinctive webs were easy to spot.

     The Willets (Tringa semipalmata) were resting in their usual spot.

     Will and Holly came over and we left to go to Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve, a visit I was looking forward to very much.

     On the way Will dropped off his car at a mechanic known to be trustworthy and honest. The parts required for automotive service are not always available in The Bahamas, and Caroline and Andrew had actually brought them from Canada. 

     Our visit to Leon Levy awaited us.

     From the moment we entered we noticed that the entire place seemed well maintained and the signs were clear and prominently displayed.

    A laminated map was provided, which was really useful. As was the case elsewhere in The Bahamas, everywhere we went without exception, the people were friendly and helpful.

     A lovely pond was located close to the Welcome Centre.

     Many turtles were spotted. As far as I can tell they were all Cat Island Sliders (Trachemys terrapin), a species new to us.

     Another example of well done signage -

     We were not surprised to see Orchard Spiders quite frequently, waiting patiently for some unfortunate insect to be ensnared in their web.

     Anoles (genus Anolis) scurried everywhere.

      Specific identification of brown anoles is notoriously difficult; even though we didn't know their name we enjoyed them immensely.

      This bright and cheerful flower is Yellow Alder (Turnera ulmifolia), sometimes know as Bahama Buttercup.

     Another anole -

     Leon Levy was the only place we saw termite mounds; always impressive. This one was constructed by Higher Termites (family Termitidae).

     New World Tarantula-hawk Wasps (genus Pepsis) are fearsome-looking insects.

     They are solitary wasps, specializing in arachnid prey which are paralyzed by using their sting. It is best to avoid being stung; it is extremely painful, measuring 4 on the Schmidt sting pain index, exceeded only by the Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata).

     Airplants (genus Tillandsia) obtain their nutrients and water from the air, not needing soil. They readily attach to tree branches and trunks.

     More examples of useful signage.

     We were very excited to see a Great Antillean Bullfinch (Melopyrrha violacea), our first ever.

     It was very obliging and remained in position for an extended period.

     A bench invited us to rest for a few minutes.

     A happy gang, don't you think?

     For those who may have forgotten, or are reading about this vacation for the first time, from left to right - Miriam standing at the back, Holly, Will's fiancée, Will, my grandson, Caroline, my daughter and Andrew, my son-in-law.

      Here Miriam has been switched out and I joined the group.

     I think these are Tube-dwelling Bristleworms (genus Dodecaceria) - but I am not sure!

     Bristleworms are marine polychaete worms. While we were not right at the shore, nowhere on Eleuthera is far from the sea.

     It has been fun trying to find out as much as I can about them, but precious little seems to have been written.
     This Orbweaver (family Araneidae), with a distinctly reddish hue is a non-aggressive, beneficial spider.

     We saw a tower and climbed it.

     The view from the top was impressive.

     It included another tower in the forest which we didn't get to.

     This is a member of the Moonseed family (Menispermaceae).

     It superficially resembles holly.

     In total contrast to the various brown anoles is the endemic Bahamian Green Anole (Anolis smaragdinus), a very attractive little lizard.

     Plantain (Musa x paradisiaca) is a cultivar, cultivated and domesticated by humans very early.

     This is a poignant exhibit commemorating the presence of the Lucayan people and their way of life.

     The sign tells the story. Within one generation a thriving nation of 40,000 people was extinct due to slavery and introduced diseases. This travesty was repeated wherever white explorers and native people came in contact with each other. The legacy of injustice lives on to this day.

    The trail was a loop and a couple of hours after we set out we were back at the pond.

     Nymphoides are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating leaves that hold the small flowers above the water surface. Flowers are sympetalous, most often divided into five lobes (petals). The petals are either yellow or white and may covered in small hairs, as seen here.

     Several Cat Island Sliders basked in the warm Bahamian sun.

     A Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) stayed mostly hidden.

     If you look very closely, you will notice a hummingbird feeder on the left in the picture below. A Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) visited briefly, but not the Bahama Woodstar (Nesophlox evelynae) we had hoped for. On checking the feeder we noted that is was almost dry with a thick syrupy mess at the bottom.

     As we left we congratulated ourselves on visiting a well organized and well-maintained facility. Given the chance I would return without hesitation.

     We went for lunch at Squires where we had eaten just a couple of days earlier. It was equally good and we got a bit of a redemption on the Bahama Woodstar. A male came to feed on nectar at a flowering plant in the garden at the back of the restaurant. It was there for but a moment, but at least we saw it!

     It was time for Will to pick up his car and we had to return the rental van. The logistics of all this were sorted out and while we relaxed back at home, Will, Andrew and Holly coordinated all of that.

     Holly eats breakfast and lunch every day with her students at the Island School and has the option of eating dinner there, too, if she wishes. It was Taco Tuesday so we all dined at the school. It was a master class in efficiency the way they fed everyone and handled the dishes.

      Another Eleuthera experience under our belt!

A Visit to The Bahamas - Part 4

 16 February, 2026

     As usual our day began with a visit to the mangroves right outside our door.

     Willets (Tringa semipalmata) occupied their familiar position and we were always happy to see them.

     

     Will knew of a remote beach where we would almost certainly have the place to ourselves, and soon was driving us there.

     It was a long way down to the spot where we would park; in fact, the rocky road looked iffy and we walked part of the way to take some of the weight off the van.

     I continued to be puzzled by the lack of birds. One might expect that an area of coastal scrub would be alive with them and the ocean seemed perfect for frigatebirds, gulls, cormorants etc but we saw none. We passed breakwaters, jetties and bridges where one might expect seabirds to be present in great numbers, but they were empty.

     Just before leaving on this vacation I had finished reading Douglas Brinkley's magnum opus, Silent Spring Revolution. In it, he details the huge success of the Lyndon B. Johnson presidency in the field of conservation and protection of the environment, often overshadowed by the environmental holocaust inflicted on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - to say nothing of the other atrocities committed there. In his To Renew a Nation speech Johnson said, "The debris of civilization litters the landscape and spoils the beaches."

     This is not an indictment of The Bahamas, for the fouling of nature exists around the world, and much of the debris on beaches everywhere is washed in on the tide.

    But trash is generated and discarded locally, too.

     One cannot imagine that the situation is going to improve and there is trouble in paradise.

     Miriam and Caroline stood at the ocean's edge.

     Fanflowers (genus Scaevola) are exquisite.

     Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera) was ubiquitous.

     Don't you think that Sea Rocket (genus Cakile) is a beautiful plant?

     This is a very striking insect, a species of Bee Fly found in the  tribe Exoprosopini.

     Soldierbushes (genus Tournefortia) are very attractive.

     It's hard to really see, but the image below is of a Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus perezi) swimming almost alongside Will, Caroline and Andrew.

     It rarely bites humans, but has done so on occasion, so it's perhaps better to err on the side of caution and maintain one's distance from it.

     Sea Oats (Uniola paniculata) are known not to bite and may be handled with impunity!

     At first blush one would be forgiven for thinking that this tree is a species of pine, but it is a Beach Sheoak (Casuarina equisetifolia).

     It is native to SE Asia but has been widely introduced in tropical regions around the world.

     Coastal Ragweed (Ambrosia hispida) is a perennial hairy-stemmed herb found on sandy shores throughout the Caribbean.

     Galaxaura is a genus of Thalloid Red Algae; this stranded segment has no doubt been bleached by the sun.

     Stone Plants in the family Aizoaceae -

     The entire chain of islands in The Bahamas is basically made up of limestone, with constant erosion taking place.

     Here is an interesting plant that I have been unable to identify.

     Is anything more emblematic of the tropics than a coconut (Cocos nucifera) washed up on the beach?

     It brings to mind Treasure Island or Robinson Crusoe.

     When we left the beach it was lunch time and we stopped at Esther's Sub Stop for a sandwich.

     If ever you find yourself in Rock Sound, this is the place to go.

     The food is absolutely delicious and is only prepared after you place your order.

     Esther is charming and makes the whole experience very special.

     I doubt that we would ever have found this gem if Will had not become familiar with the area, but we are very glad we did.

     I hope that Esther's business grows and prospers and that one day a whole fleet of pink sub stops are scattered throughout Eleuthera.

     While we were waiting for our food to be prepared we spotted an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) high in a tree across the road.

     A combination of Esther, good food and a great little falcon seems like as perfect a combination as one might get!

     Today was Will's 26th birthday and we went to a fine restaurant in the Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina.

     The sun went down on another happy day in The Bahamas.

     And we'll do it all again tomorrow!