Aruba, "The Happy Island"- We Agree!

Click here to see my Birds of Aruba photographs!

Click here to see my underwater snorkeling video!

Also, check out my fun Aruba slideshow in Kizoa!

With visions of white sands, turquoise waters and Caribbean adventures on our minds, my family and I boarded our flight from Charleston to Atlanta early one Sunday morning in May 2013.

Our flight from Atlanta left at 10. It's about three-and-a-half hours to Aruba, which is one of the southernmost Caribbean island, less than 20 miles from Venezuela.

The Birds of Aruba

(Click here to see my non-bird Aruba photos!)

(Click here to see my underwater snorkeling video!)

I read that Aruba is home to 195 species of birds. No way did I come close to seeing that many birds during my family's week on the island earlier this May (2013). I saw a couple dozen types, though, and really enjoyed seeing a number of first-time "lifer" feathered friends. Here are my photos with specific and general locations where the encounters occurred.
My wife and I returned to Aruba the following summer for a second wonderful vacation on this Happy Island. I had a really neat bird encounter along those waters across the street (and behind the trees) from the Riu Palace on Palm Beach.

Troupial, Aruba's national bird
(Sand dunes near California Lighthouse; Caribbean Sea in back)\

Troupial (Malmok Beach)

Spring 2013 Birding!

 

I'm bullish on birding this spring! From my own backyard to other area outdoor locales it has been a really good season for seeing and photographing many old favorites plus some new "lifers" here and there. Here are some of my best Spring 2013 birds and where I found them.

American Goldfinch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Chipping Sparrow (my backyard feeders)





Northern Cardinal (my backyard feeders)