HURRICANE IRENE: ABACO NEWS UPDATE AUG 29… WILDLIFE EFFECTS?

August 29, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

HURRICANE IRENE: LATEST ABACO NEWS UPDATE

AUGUST 29

TO SEE YESTERDAY’S POST CLICK===>>> IRENE 28 AUG

22.00 GMT Here’s the link to 4 very short video clips from ‘Capt-Chris’ in Marsh Harbour CLICK===>>> MH CLIPS

For those wondering what Rolling Harbour is all about, here is a view of it – a Google Maps image taken just before building started, over which I have superimposed a picture of the Delphi Club. Last Thursday, the sea covered all the visible sand and beyond into the scub, with waves smashing up against the cliff-face. The wooden steps to the beach (on the right of the photo), although robust, were expected to be smashed completely, but amazingly they have survived intact. Double-click to enlarge.

19.00 GMT I notice I have been getting a great many hits from searches with the format ‘Abaco…damage…[place]’. Local10.com has been excellent in its reporting of Abaco and Irene, with first-class live open-air reports from Janine Stanwood while the storm raged around her, and informative, balanced studio coverage. Here is the link to the recent 39-images slideshow. Some are captioned with location CLICK==>> LOCAL10

Meanwhile, according to travel sites, Hotels & Resorts on Abaco have been confirming minimal damage to buildings – nothing structural so far, anyway – and problems confined in various degrees to the “landscaping”. The overall picture is “open for business”

16.00 GMT a message (thanks, Susan) reads “…thanks for the info. We live if Fl and have dealt with more than a few hurricanes. I love Rolling Harbour and the Delphi [Club] is beautiful – the beach is stunning. Good luck with the clean up and thank you again for your site. I hope the parrots did well – they were finally coming back after the beating they took from Hurricanes Floyd and Frances“.

I am hoping to be able to post about the parrots once Caroline Stahala has had a chance to make an assessment of the situation. Having just finished the chick banding project (see ABACO PARROT CHICK BANDING with unique photos) they must be at the forefront of her mind: she has been engaged in their research and conservation for several years. As for other wildlife, wearing my more natural-fitting blog hat I am hoping to have some news from Ricky Johnson once he too has a chance to get out there and see the effects of the Irene on the birds.

At least we know the W I woodpecker family at Delphi are (probably) ok… here’s a picture (the subject of a caption competition) from a while back to add some cheer with their comic behaviour (photo credit David Rainford)

14.00 GMT: Back home in London. I have at last had some news from Long Beach, about which there have been queries. Phone calls are now getting through and the damage news from there is “except for some downed trees everything is ok”. Thanks, Elizabeth. Perhaps that is optimistic for comms for most if not all of South Abaco today – and hopefully elsewhere.

Online, there hasn’t been much new activity – still very few storm images (apart from weather maps / satellite images from last week). The ones from this blog are all there now. And very few videos beyond those I have already given the links to. Press reports are, as you might expect, concentrate on what did – or didn’t – happen in NYC yesterday. I’ll check later for updates, but I have a feeling that as links are gradually restored, my storm-related usefulness is coming to an end. Soon I’ll be back to reporting on parrots, reef fish and cone shells…

09.30 GMT: Post haste: I am travelling this morning. and will post anything of note later on. I’ll be interested to know how things are going, and whether communications are getting back to normal. Please feel free to leave any useful info in the comment box at the bottom, which others can then see. Here a a few items from yesterday’s post to be going on with

CLICK LOGO ===>>>

CLICK LOGO===>>

09.00 GMT: NEWS FROM THE DELPHI CLUB, ROLLING HARBOUR SOUTH ABACO

Caroline Stahala reports: “Now the clean up begins. We were very lucky but it will still be quite an extensive recovery process. Even though the house seemed to have withstood the high winds and rain, many of the trees and other vegetation were not as fortunate. And as with most hurricanes, we are bound to see more loss of vegetation and defoliation over the next few weeks. But since you are running a natural history blog, I thought I would add a bird note to the story. So, I have mentioned the woodpeckers that have chicks in the house Sandy built. Well, these birds deserve to be recognized as parents of the year. During a Cat 3 hurricane, the parents were out looking for food for the chicks. I am attaching a picture of the woodpecker dad waiting for an opportune time to fly out during the eye of the storm. I am also attaching some hurricane pictures taken from a safe spot during the storm. I appreciate all of your thoughts and well wishes. Crazy experience to say the least.”

Here are her excellent photos (© Caroline Stahala – please credit her if you use them), followed by 3 of my own of them same views taken in March 2011

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Looking south from the balcony

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Looking south across the pool area

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Looking north to the end of the bay

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Looking south to the end of the bay

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Father woodpecker stands guard over the chicks

The Palm Tree in photo 3 above, in less adverse weather

Delphi Club: the beach looking north (storm photo 3)

Delphi Club: looking south over the pool area (see storm photos 1,2 & 4)

HEADLINEGRABBER Marsh Harbour feature 27 Aug CLICK===>>> HERE

(CLICK LOGO LINK) a useful resource for updates. I have put the link the Sidebar Twitter section for those that may want to Retweet the link.

HURRICANE IRENE: ABACO NEWS UPDATE and 5* IMAGES AUG 28 from Delphi Club, Rolling Harbour

August 28, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

HURRICANE IRENE: ABACO NEWS UPDATE AUGUST 28 [for news update Aug 29 CLICK==>HERE]

22.30 GMT: No additional Abaco news. Time to sign off unless I get any further info by email… until tomorrow. Meanwhile, good luck with the clear-up…

20.00 GMT: There’s a new short report on the DELPHI CLUB website, for those keeping an eye on Rolling Harbour rolling news… It basically cross-refers to this Post (which can be reached direct from the Delphi website) and the vivid images, adding: “In essence, all is well. But there will be lots of clearing up to do”.

19.00 GMT: Not much to report, except that my impression is that communications are gradually being re-established on Abaco. I notice the Rocky Bay webcam on Elbow Cay is still down, but I doubt it’s a priority right now…I have sent out a few inquiries, and am waiting responses which I will post as and when. Meanwhile there is a new post from Conch Salad TV – a site many Abaconians will be familiar with – that includes video clips of Irene from last week CLICK LOGO ===>>>

14.00 GMT: The media focus has pretty much left the Bahamas in its wake, much like Irene itself. Very little online material that adds anything. However, Firefly Sunset Resort in Hope Town is posting regular updates on its Facebook page, including images of the aftermath of Irene.The message boards below may also help those seeking Elbow Cay information CLICK LOGO===>>

09.00 GMT: STOP PRESS NEWS FROM THE DELPHI CLUB, ROLLING HARBOUR SOUTH ABACO I have just heard from Caroline Stahala at Delphi, where some comms have now been restored. She has been on guard throughout. Those familiar with the day-job of this blog – Abaco wildlife – will know that she is a research scientist heading the project dedicated to the conservation of the Abaco Parrot. Put her name in the search box – or ‘Abaco Parrots’ – and the relevant POSTS will come up.

Caroline reports: “Now the clean up begins. We were very lucky but it will still be quite an extensive recovery process. Even though the house seemed to have withstood the high winds and rain, many of the trees and other vegetation were not as fortunate. And as with most hurricanes, we are bound to see more loss of vegetation and defoliation over the next few weeks. But since you are running a natural history blog, I thought I would add a bird note to the story. So, I have mentioned the woodpeckers that have chicks in the house Sandy built. Well, these birds deserve to be recognized as parents of the year. During a Cat 3 hurricane, the parents were out looking for food for the chicks. I am attaching a picture of the woodpecker dad waiting for an opportune time to fly out during the eye of the storm. I am also attaching some hurricane pictures taken from a safe spot during the storm. I appreciate all of your thoughts and well wishes. Crazy experience to say the least.”

And here are the graphic pictures. There are very few images from Abaco online yet – no doubt because comms are down – so it’s worth pointing out that these are from a place over which the eye of the storm passed directly. I should add that these images are © Caroline Stahala – please credit her if you use them

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Looking south from the balcony

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Looking south across the pool area

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Looking north to the end of the bay

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Looking south to the end of the bay

Delphi Club Abaco 25 Aug 2011 / Hurricane Irene: Father woodpecker stands guard over the chicks

The Palm Tree in photo 3 above, in less adverse weather

Delphi Club: the beach looking north (storm photo 3)

Delphi Club: looking south over the pool area (see storm photos 1,2 & 4)

08.00 GMT: Hi on Sunday 25 Aug. I have had a quick look online to see what new information there may be… here are a couple of items to be going on with.

HEADLINEGRABBER has a Marsh Harbour-based feature posted yesterday 27 Aug at 12.18 pm LT CLICK===>>> HERE

(CLICK LOGO LINK) looks a useful resource for updates from contributors, e.g. “At Marsh Harbour airport they had minimal structural damage.” I have also put the link in a Tweet in the Sidebar Twitter section for those that may want to Retweet the link.

Finally for now, here is an image from the Australian Telegraph that vividly shows Irene’s track over the Bahamas

HURRICANE IRENE: ABACO NEWS UPDATE AUG 28

August 28, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

HURRICANE IRENE: ABACO NEWS UPDATE AUG 28

PLEASE NOTE: HAVING JUST RECEIVED A REPORT AND PHOTOGRAPHS THIS MORNING FROM CAROLINE STAHALA AT THE DELPHI CLUB, I HAVE REVISED AND REPOSTED THIS WHOLE POST AS A NEW POST CLICK===>>> ABACO NEWS UPDATE AUG 28

09.00 GMT: STOP PRESS NEWS FROM THE DELPHI CLUB, ROLLING HARBOUR SA

HURRICANE IRENE & ABACO: THE AFTERMATH (UPDATE 27 AUGUST 2011)

August 27, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

27 AUGUST: HURRICANE IRENE & ABACO THE AFTERMATH & CLEAR-UP

22.30 GMT NO NEWS – GOOD NEWS? It’s some hours since I last posted because there has been little more emerging that I can usefully add in the way of information or helpful links. I suspect that significant communications problems are continuing today. Having just completed a further trawl for today’s news and online sites, I think I can fairly summarise the overall situation by saying that the extent of the damage caused by Irene has mercifully been rather less than expected; that no serious injuries have been reported; and that the snippets coming out of the various communities of Abaco indicate that most are as ok as one could hope in the circumstances.

I’m stopping for now, and I will provide any available updates tomorrow morning UK time, ready for when Abaco starts the day. I have now had a vast number of hits – more than 10,000 – over the last 3 days, and I hope a few people at least have found the blog helpful. Thanks for looking. I suspect that once communications are back to normal, I will be returning to the main idea of the blog – the wildlife of Abaco – and my normal 20 hits a day! All the best for the rest of today. rh

16.00 GMT FURTHER NEWS: MARSH HARBOUR; TREASURE, GREEN TURTLE, MAN-o-WAR, ELBOW & GREAT GUANA CAYS; CHEROKEE & SANDY POINT Further to the Post below at 14.00, The Tribune has published further details of the situation on Abaco and the Cays. You will find additional information about specific areas in the forum posts below the main article, which also includes confirmation that “in South Abaco the communities of Cherokee and Sandy Point have reported minimal damage”. There is also the first news I have seen regarding members of the Haitian communities, who “were among the 300-plus residents who made use of public shelters during the storm, and were relieved to find the damage to their homes was minimal”. CLICK===>>> THE TRIBUNE page 3

14.00 GMT NEWS OF MARSH HARBOUR, TREASURE CAY, GREEN TURTLE CAY, CHEROKEE & SANDY POINT There are detailed Irene reports in The Tribune covering the last 3 or 4 days in the Bahamas generally. The latest post, from 19.30 LT last night, is most helpful for Abaco, so I reproduce it in full:

THE TRIBUNE Friday, August 26, 2011

7:31pm – Phone lines are still down in Abaco, and there is no telephone communication with the cays, but The Tribune has learned damage to the islands is not as catastrophic as some may have feared. There has been some flooding in Green Turtle Cay, reportedly two feet of water at some buildings in New Plymouth, and wind damage to buildings on the north coast.

Flooding has also affected settlements on the north coast of Great Abaco Island, and Little Abaco Island in the north, with water flooding in the road at Coopers Town, as well as parts of Crown Haven, and there is up to four feet of water in parts of Blackwood.

Although trees are down, utility poles are down, and water has prevented road access, in the north end of Abaco, there has been no major damage, loss of life or injuries reported.

Marsh Harbour was spared flooding, as the storm attacked from the south, bringing down trees and utility poles, and tearing boats from their moorings, but today the community was out clearing the roads and putting things back in order.

Electricity is slowly being restored in Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay, although landlines are down, some cell phones are working.

Marsh Harbour airport will open Saturday morning.

In South Abaco communities in Sandy Point and Cherokee have given similar reports of damage, of fallen trees and utilities, and minimal damage to buildings, as well as some flooding. CLICK FOR MORE===>>> THE TRIBUNE

12.00 Noon GMT I have just got hold of the latest update, with today’s date, from the DELPHI CLUB Rolling Harbour (south of MH, Cherokee and Bahama Palm Shores,and north of Schooner Bay and Crossing Rocks) The news is good, (but it is worth repeating that the club is on a cliff above the beach, so has been spared any problems from the sea – other places will not have been so fortunate)

POST-HURRICANE UPDATE #2

27 August 2011

Contact at last and very good news – no major damage.

Caroline, who is currently caretaking the Club, is very badly shaken but she reports that, apart from some flooding and some minor breakages, there appears to be no serious damage to any of the buildings. Even the beach steps appear to have substantially survived.

The gardens, however, are blitzed and will require major reconstruction.

All in all, a very lucky escape.

11.00 GMT RUDDWIRE has put up a 5th storm update from Marsh Harbour. The Irene problems are light. His flight from MHI was rescheduled for today. Click the name above to link.

10.00 GMT Hope Town Inn& Marina Facebook page (and see below under Media / News Links) is active and has posts from people asking for info and providing some. Photos are promised. One to keep an eye on. Re LITTLE HARBOUR to enquirer Brooke Lee, the message I had from Pete’s Pub yesterday afternoon was “Things down this way seem good”.

Local10.com has a 39-image slideshow of Abaco damage: CLICK===>>> ABACO DAMAGE

Craig Roberts has posted a number of photos on Picasa from the BAHAMA BEACH CLUB Treasure Cay (hope you don’t mind me giving the link, Craig)

ABACOFORUM.COM (Irene pages): I have now had a chance to have a quick scan here – a few new posts. In summary, I get the impression that there is quite a lot of damage to trees and foliage etc, as expected, but thankfully rather less than expected to property – not structural, anyway.

PEOPLE So far I have not come across reports of any injuries (or worse, DV). STOP PRESS: this still holds true 7 hours later at 17.00

09.00 GMT Marsh Harbour & Airport News (courtesy of Abaco Beach Resort / eTurboNews): “There does not appear to be any serious damage to Abaco Beach Resort in Marsh Harbour, Abacos, Bahamas, post-Hurricane Irene. Guests and staff remained safe, secure, and dry during the massive hurricane that hovered over the resort yesterday. This weekend, engineers and surveyors will take a professional look at structures including the docks, which are described as “looking fine.” The hurricane caused minor damage to the resort’s exterior and landscape, with some tree and solar panel damage.

AIRPORT Although Hurricane Irene disrupted the outbound/inbound Marsh Harbor flight schedules, flight service to/from Marsh Harbor is scheduled to resume by Saturday, August 27.

08.00 GMT The “rollingharbour”wildlife blog has had more than 8000 hits in the last 48 hours (daily average 20!) so I guess a few people are finding the info I have been able to provide useful, especially with communication links with the island bad or (mainly) non-existent.

Today I will try to post as much as I can about the after-effects of Irene on Abaco from whatever I can get hold of (special thanks the Pete’s Pub, Little Harbour for the email yesterday). I hope to try to be as location-specific as possible – I had a lot of contact yesterday from people worried about relatives or friends around the Island and Cays. Scroll down this page or use the ‘Previous Posts’ section of the Sidebar for news of the last 2 days. Since Wednesday I have also learnt how to tweet, so check out that section near the top of the Sidebar.

We wish all other places in the path of Irene well, of course, but thankfully no more need for 3-hourly storm map updates here. I will put up or provide links to any amazing images, such as the space station fly-over posted yesterday. Meanwhile, here is a recap of useful links to media and news sources to check for updates now that the storm has passed

MEDIA & NEWS LINKS

Local10.com an excellent resource that has featured very good film reports from Janine Stanwood in Marsh Harbour, with sensible and measured studio commentary as the situation developed.Well worth keeping an eye on this site. rh rating ***** for information and good reporting

HOPE TOWN INN & MARINA Good Facebook videos of Irene in action have been posted during the last 2 days, and now worth checking out for Elbow Cay updates. [Not looked yet, while I get this post done]

ABACO FORUM.COM the well-known local Abaco resource. ~~NOTE the posts go backwards so click through to the end page~~. The posts about storms are in a confusingly random order from 2006 to date, so check the dates as you read through – the majority of posts related to previous years. As yet – presumably because comms are down, there are relatively few posts for Irene. These are bound to increase over the next few days

TRACKERS AND MAPS

WUNDERGOUND: To check out the wide variety of trackers, forecasts, radar maps and so forth, all on one convenient page CLICK===>>> IRENE

For more technical weather and tide stuff check out BAROMETER BOB

The photograph below was taken by Caroline Stahala on the afternoon of 24 August, at Rolling Harbour on the east coast of Abaco about 25 miles south of Marsh Harbour, down towards Crossing Rocks. Irene was about 300 miles south

HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES ROLLING HARBOUR, ABACO 24 AUG P.M.

WE ARE THINKING OF YOU…

HURRICANE IRENE, ABACO & A ‘DIRECT HIT’ ON THE DELPHI CLUB

August 26, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

HURRICANE IRENE ABACO: A DIRECT HIT ON THE DELPHI CLUB

NB FOR LATEST ABACO / IRENE INFORMATION SCROLL UP TO TOP POST OR SEE TOP OF THE ‘RECENT POSTS’ IN SIDEBAR

Peter Mantle has just sent me the latest news blog entry from the Delphi Club, Rolling Harbour (down the east coast between Cherokee and Crossing Rocks, or more specifically Bahama Palm Shores and Serenity Point). It includes an awesome image courtesy of McIDAS. The news there is, overall, quite encouraging.

Delphi Club News/Blog

DIRECT HIT BY HURRICANE IRENE

26 August 2011

The eye of Hurricane Irene passed over the Club at about 5pm GMTyesterday. Irene, a Category 3 hurricane, is one of the biggest storms to hit the Bahamas for many years. With constant wind speeds of 115mph, gusting to a reported 143mph, and with associated storm surges of up to 11 feet, Irene posed a very serious threat to property and life on low-lying Abaco.

We eagerly await news from the island. Initial reports from the Club (remarkably, there were still limited telephone links as the eye passed over) indicated that damage to the gardens and landscaping was extensive but the buildings appear to have largely held up – some external lights blown off, fences down etc but nothing too serious.

The beach steps were still standing at that point, but that would only have been half way through the ordeal and we doubt they will withstand the pummelling by what are still very angry seas. Waves were breaking on the cliff face fully 36 hours before the hurricane actually arrived.

Communications with the entire island have now been lost. We hope the “second half” was OK too and that the rest of the island has escaped so lightly. More news as it emerges….

See also the Rolling Harbour blog site https://rollingharbour.wordpress.com for fuller details [rh note – if you are reading this, you are here already…]

HURRICANE IRENE – ABACO STORM TRACKING (UPDATE 26/8 08.00 GMT)

August 26, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

26 AUGUST: HURRICANE IRENE ON ABACO THE AFTERMATH

NB FOR LATEST ABACO / IRENE INFORMATION SCROLL UP TO TOP POST OR SEE TOP OF THE ‘RECENT POSTS’ IN SIDEBAR

GOOD MORNING from the safety of London UK, where it is 08.00 GMT. To get an update page posted quickly, I have copied yesterday’s post (below) which I will adapt, keeping the links and adding to them during the day. I have a journey to make, so it may be a bit sporadic. You can get to the original by clicking HURRICANE IRENE AUG 25 but most of the useful info is now here.

First, some up-to-date storm maps (courtesy of Wundermap)

Hurricane Irene at Abaco - Satellite Image as storm clears the island Updated Aug 28 03.00 LT, 08.00 GMT Click Me!

Hurricane Irene Tracking Map 26 Aug 03.00 LT, 08.00 GMT: clearing north Click me!

NEW MEDIA & NEWS LINKS 26 AUG

Local10.com an excellent resource (see yesterday’s 2 reports below). Here is Janine Stanwood in Marsh Harbour. This is a composite report from yesterday afternoon / early evening showing the effects of Irene – trashed trees, wave surges, a rearguard action at a gas station and boats in the marina affected, including a sightseeing boat that has been partially sunk in shallow water. The overall summary is that things weren’t quite as bad as they might have been… Well worth keeping an eye on this site. rh rating ***** for immediacy

HOPE TOWN INN & MARINA Facebook video of the storm yesterday

I have to leave off now, but the general view and info seems to be that things could have been worse. There are reports of wash-throughs, but daybreak will show the extent of the hurricane’s force… First brief news from Rolling Harbour (Delphi Club) is of fairly limited damage. Comms were down, but may have improved this morning. More later

USEFUL LINKS

NOAA SATELLITE & INFO SERVICE Tropical Atlantic ‘Visible Loop’ Direct links to radar / tracking info under TRACKERS & MAPS below Check out the progress of Irene using STORMPULSE Check out WATTS UP WITH THAT for additional useful info / maps

SELECTED MEDIA & NEWS REPORTS from 25.08.11 (update later)

MIDDAY VIDEO NEWS REPORT from MARSH HARBOUR on Local10.com Graphic images and some streaming on 25 Aug

SHORT IRENE VIDEO posted by the Hope Town Inn & Marina at about 13.30 today – you can just see the lighthouse through the mayhem… This has been updated overnight. I will post a direct link later

VIDEO NEWS REPORT FROM MARSH HARBOUR on Local10.com “Abaco Island, Bahamas Awaiting Hurricane Irene: Local 10’s Janine Stanwood reports from Abaco Island as Irene moves northwest”, early morning 25 Aug

CBS MIAMI report (apologies for large & inappropriate Aquafresh ad) NASSAU GUARDIAN the eye of the storm nears Abaco [11.00 local time] TIME (TECHLAND) NASA SATELLITE VIEW of ABACO & REPORT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES (with tracking links) ASSOCIATED PRESS (article not current, check for updates)

ABACO FORUM.COM the well-known local Abaco resource. NOTE the posts go backwards so click through to the end page.

TRACKERS AND MAPS

To check out a wide variety of trackers, forecasts, radar maps and so forth, all on one convenient page (thanks, Wunderground) CLICK===>>> IRENE

To view the dedicated tracking map CLICK===>>> Hurricane Irene : Tracking Map : Weather Underground and scroll down to the large map

To view the storm-centered satellite image CLICK===>>> Hurricane Irene : Storm-Centered Satellite Image : Weather Underground

Finally, for more technical stuff and other tracking maps, check out the ever-reliable and all-knowing Abaco weather information phenomenon that is BAROMETER BOB

=============================================

26 AUG: HURRICANE IRENE CONTINUES ON ITS WAY Posted during the night UK time

Hurricane Irene 25 Aug 20.00 LT, 01.00GMT Good progress Click me!

Hurricane Irene gradually clears Abaco 20.00 LT, 01.00 GMT Click Me!

25 Aug midnight GMT – final post of the day: a Wundermap showing Irene at last starting to move northwards from Abaco. Until tomorrow (rollingharbour GMT), best of luck to all on Abaco for the rest of today…

Hurricane Irene 25 Aug 19.00 LT, midnight GMT: the move northwards Click me!

The photograph below was taken this afternoon, 24 August, at Rolling Harbour on the east coast of Abaco about 25 miles south of Marsh Harbour, down towards Crossing Rocks. Irene is about 300 miles away. Caroline Stahala, who took the photo, reports “serious wind and sea surges”. Thanks, Caroline, for giving us an idea of what is on its way…

HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES ROLLING HARBOUR, ABACO 24 AUG P.M.

WE ARE THINKING OF YOU…

HURRICANE IRENE – ABACO STORM TRACKING (UPDATE 25/8 Midnight GMT)

August 25, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

26 AUG: HURRICANE IRENE CONTINUES ON ITS (HER?) WAY

NB FOR LATEST ABACO / IRENE INFORMATION SCROLL UP TO TOP POST OR SEE TOP OF THE ‘RECENT POSTS’ IN SIDEBAR

Hurricane Irene 25 Aug 20.00 LT, 01.00GMT Good progress Click me!

Hurricane Irene gradually clears Abaco 20.00 LT, 01.00 GMT Click Me!

Hurricane Irene 25 Aug 19.00 LT, midnight GMT: the move northwards Click me!

Hurricane Irene at Abaco - Satellite Image as the eye of the storm moves north Updated Aug 25 17.00 LT, 22.00 GMT Click Me!

HURRICANE IRENE ABACO 25 AUG UPDATED 17.00 LT, 22.00 GMT

NOAA SATELLITE & INFO SERVICE Tropical Atlantic Visible Loop of Irene

Check out direct links to radar / tracking info under the main picture below Check out the progress of Irene using STORMPULSE (check for updates) Check out WATTS UP WITH THAT for additional useful info / maps

SELECTED MEDIA & NEWS REPORTS 25.08.11

NEW MIDDAY VIDEO NEWS REPORT from MARSH HARBOUR on Local10.com with graphic images and some streaming

SHORT IRENE VIDEO posted by the Hope Town Inn & Marina at about 13.30 today – you can just see the lighthouse through the mayhem… [you may need to be on Facebook and logged in for this to work]

ABACO FORUM.COM the well-known local Abaco resource. The link should take you to page 9, currently the last page (the posts go backwards). I expect this will have increasing numbers of personal accounts of Irene as the hours pass.

STOP PRESS 24 AUG CURRENT WEATHER AT ROLLING HARBOUR, ABACO, AUG 24 p.m. AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES

This photograph was taken this afternoon, 24 August, at Rolling Harbour on the east coast of Abaco about 25 miles south of Marsh Harbour, down towards Crossing Rocks. Irene is about 300 miles away. Caroline Stahala, who took the photo, reports “serious wind and sea surges”. Thanks, Caroline, for giving us an idea of what is on its way…

HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES ROLLING HARBOUR, ABACO 24 AUG P.M.

To check out a wide variety of trackers, forecasts, radar maps and so forth, all on one convenient page (thanks, Wunderground) CLICK===>>> IRENE

To view the dedicated tracking map CLICK===>>> Hurricane Irene : Tracking Map : Weather Underground and scroll down to the large map

To view the storm-centered satellite image CLICK===>>> Hurricane Irene : Storm-Centered Satellite Image : Weather Underground

Finally, for more technical stuff and other tracking maps, check out the ever-reliable and all-knowing Abaco weather information phenomenon that is BAROMETER BOB

Credit: 'Watts Up With That" - Click image for Hurricane Irene page of this excellent weather & climate site

Hurricane Irene at Abaco - projected path Updated Aug 25 17.00 LT, 22.00 GMT Click Me!

WEATHER NEWS FLASH 23 AUG

HURRICANE IRENE is en route to Abaco, expected on Thursday 25 August, (based on Marsh Harbour Hurricane Irene tracking predictions). It looks as though the storm may work its way north along the eastern coast from Hole-in-the-Wall up past Crossing Rocks, Schooner Bay, Rolling Harbour (Delphi Club) and up towards Marsh Harbour via Cherokee & Little Harbour… but the tracking predictions are variable as the storm approaches

WE ARE THINKING OF YOU…

HURRICANE IRENE – ABACO STORM TRACKING

August 23, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

Updated 25 Aug 09.30 GMT Hurricane Irene at Abaco Click me!

NB FOR LATEST ABACO / IRENE INFORMATION SCROLL UP TO TOP POST OR SEE TOP OF THE ‘RECENT POSTS’ IN SIDEBAR Continue reading →

ABACO PARROT PROJECT: CHICK & FLEDGLING BANDING – AMAZING PHOTOS

August 20, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

CAROLINE STAHALA has provided some truly outstanding photos derived from her scientific research work during the summer into the breeding of Abaco Parrots in the National Park. By their very nature, these pictures of direct human contact with these lovely birds must be exceptionally rare, and I am really grateful to Caroline for allowing me to showcase them in this blog.

1. Adult Abaco parrots in the National Park pine forest. One is wearing a band on its leg from last year’s ringing programme (CLICK images to enlarge)

2. A bag of 3 parrot chicks, at different stages of maturity, in the process of banding. You can see the band on the leg of the little ~~bald~~ unfeathered one

3. Two timed shots of adult Abaco parrots, one of which is going down the inside of their burrow into the nest while the other keeps a lookout

4. Caroline is assisted with writing up her data records by one of her protégés

5. A unique photograph (I haven’t been able to locate another similar image) of a newly-banded Abaco parrot fledgling contentedly perched on a human hand

6. This photograph of Sandy Walker (Delphi Club) is captioned ‘Sandy and Chick’, and I really don’t think I can improve on that!Thanks Caroline for these amazing images – it’s a privilege to be able to post them

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SUBSCRIBING OR DONATING TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION PROJECT TO SAVE THE ABACO POPULATION OF THE BAHAMA PARROT, THE DIRECT LINK TO THE SUBSCRIPTION / DONATION PAGE IS HTTP://WWW.PARROTSINTERNATIONAL.ORG/MAIN-JOIN.HTML

ABACO PARROT POST – FLEDGING UPDATE

August 19, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

Click me!

CAROLINE STAHALA has sent a quick update on the progress of the Abaco Parrots and chicks as the breeding season (and the associated project) nears its end. The chicks are growing up fast, and will very soon be fledging. CLICK==>>> HERE to admire their cute appearance in their earlier stages. Caroline says “they are currently, literally, climbing the walls to make their first flight with their parents”. She hopes to provide some photos – perhaps there may be video – in due course. She hasn’t mentioned problems with feral cats, racoons or other predators, so with luck nest raids and chick losses through predation have been low. And if you want to know how to build an Abaco Parrot out of Lego™ (CLICK ‘Lego™ Logo’ above) you’ll have to buy my book “A Spare Week and a Bucket of Lego™” (rh Press $15 / £10)

ROLLINGHARBOURLIFE – THE SPIN-OFF BLOG

August 15, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

rollingharbour’s IMAGE GALLERY

The lightly-trailed spin-off blog is now and can be reached via MY LINKS on the sidebar, or direct via this link rollingharbourlife.wordpress.com

Reader alert: it has nothing to do with Abaco, Delphi or bonefishing. It mainly contains images, but not of the kind that will frighten the horses or otherwise upset and offend. You may even like some. Wildlife. Scenery. Sunsets. That kind of thing.

Very likely I’ll change the name in due course to something more punchy and less easily confused with this enterprise…

A FEW SAND DOLLARS MORE (images and videos)

August 15, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

LIVING SAND DOLLAR ON ITS BACK – VIDEO

This video shows how the sand dollar is able to get around and to bury itself in the sand by using the hairs on its underside:

SAND DOLLAR IN A SPIN – TIME-LAPSE VIDEO

Another short time-lapse video of Sand Dollar manoeuvres lasting 15 – 25 minutes in real time, this time moving in circles before suddenly ‘zooming off’ into the distance…

SAND DOLLARS FROM THE RH COLLECTION

A small Sand Dollar test from Rocky Point beach near Sandy Point (top side, underside and see-through)

Large Sand Dollar tests from a sand bar in Cherokee Sound

BEACHCOMBING AT THE DELPHI CLUB, ABACO – CORAL & NERITES

August 15, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

CONTRASTING CORAL SKELETONS

These two different types of coral skeleton are from the northern end (and just beyond) of the Delphi beach. The red marking on the second coral is some kind of natural accretion, I think – I have temporarily lost the exact details somewhere on my hard drive, but doubtless they will turn up sooner or later… You will find these red patches on shells as well as coral

COMMON ROSE CORAL

ANY IDEAS – OR IS THIS WORM-RELATED?

Another dramatic coral you may come across – not least because there are usually one or two in the beach-harvested collection on the steps down to the beach – is Brain Coral (Diploria). Here is an example (Photo credit J. Stuby)

NERITES (Nerita)

Nerites are small sea-snails (gastropod molluscs) found in tropical waters around the world. Precise ID of the many types is confused by the different names used for many of them, both taxonomic and local. The majority of the black and white nerites in the pile below, all collected from the Delphi beach, are Checkered Nerites (Nerita Tessellata). In the heap there are a few larger whiter shells with red markings, which are the Four-Toothed Nerite (Nerita Versicolor).

Here are some of the above shells showing their varying patterns and sizes, seen with a few grains of sand for comparison. The 3 larger whiter ones with the flecks of red on them are the Four-Toothed Nerites.

Here are 3 example shells in close-up, together with a tiny, perfect Dwarf Atlantic Planaxis (Hinea lineata) at the end (previously misidentified as a Littorine). I didn’t notice it until I was sorting through the shells – in fact you can just see it towards the bottom right of the previous photo, above the small nerite that’s on its back. It may even have fallen out of a nerite, as did many of the sand grains.

These four upturned nerites show the dentate entrance, common (to a greater or lesser extent) to most nerites – maybe all. The top row are Four-toothed Nerites; the bottom row are Checkered Nerites. Another Nerite type found in the Bahamas is the Bleeding-tooth nerite (Nerita Peloronta). These are similar to the top ones, but have vivid orangey-red markings on the ‘teeth’ – hence their name.

Nerites, sand grains and the Planaxis: size comparison

A close up of the Planaxis, showing how amazingly detailed the pattern of such a tiny shell can be

All this may sound a bit learned and somewhat solemn. Dull even. In fact I had absolutely no idea about any of the above details until I got these shells out of their glass jar last week to photograph (apologies for using a chopping board) and did some digging… So if any shellologists or neritophiles read this and have corrections to suggest, be my guest… Use the comment box or the email address on the CONTACT page. ADDENDUM: many thanks to Colin Redfern for confirming the small nerites as Checkered, as opposed to Zebra; and the ‘littorine’ as a Dwarf Atlantic Planaxis Hinea lineata

YELLOW ELDER – THE BAHAMAS NATIONAL FLOWER

August 6, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

YELLOW ELDER – THE BAHAMAS NATIONAL FLOWER

Thanks, Wiki!

YELLOW ELDER (Tecoma stans) is a flowering perennial shrub of the trumpet vine family. Common names include Yellow Trumpetbush, Yellow Bells, Yellow Elder, Ginger-Thomas, and Esperanza. Tecoma stans is the National Flower of The Bahamas.

The plant is cultivated as an ornamental and blooms throughout the year. It has characteristic sharply-toothed, lance-shaped green leaves and large bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. It is drought-tolerant and grows well in warm climates. The flowers attract bees (nb see below), butterflies and hummingbirds. Yellow Elder produces pods containing yellow seeds with papery wings. The plant is apparently desirable fodder in fields grazed by livestock. It also readily colonises rocky, sandy and cleared land, occasionally becoming invasive.

The leaves and roots of the plant contain “bioactive compounds which may have medicinal uses” (unspecified – more research needed?). Honey bees are attracted to the flowers but “unlike most flowering plants, the honey produced from Yellow Elder’s nectar / pollen is poisonous”.

[rh note – so many questions arise here: Poisonous to the bees? Can the bees tell? What if they mix it up with non-toxic honey back at the ranch? Can the beekeepers tell if their product is toxic? How? Do they bother? Why not? What are the effects? What’s the antidote? What “medicinal use” can there be? Is there a PhD for someone in this: “An impact survey into the effects of pollinic toxicity in honey derived from Tecoma Stans“?]

Selection of the yellow elder as National Flower over many other flowers was made by the vote of members of New Providence’s garden clubs of the 1970s: the Nassau Garden Club; Carver Garden Club; International Garden Club; and YWCA Garden Club. Other flowers – such as the bougainvillea, hibiscus, and poinciana – had already been chosen as the national flowers of other countries. The yellow elder was then unclaimed (although it is now also the national flower of the United States Virgin Islands).

(Floral tribute to TopTropicals)

Photo credits as shown + RH

BAHAMA (WHITE-CHEEKED) PINTAIL

August 3, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

THE BAHAMA(S) PINTAIL aka WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL Anas Bahamensis

This very pretty duck species is getting a mention not because I have ever seen one on Abaco, but because I have seen them at WWT Barnes in London. [Later note: see end of post – turns out it was at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve Norfolk]. We went there last weekend to photograph one for your (plural, not single reader I hope) exclusive pleasure, but sadly they haven’t got any at the moment – they have been moved to WWT Slimbridge. I’ve decided to post about them anyway. As ever, thanks to wiki for its handy conservation and classification label, plus basic species details which always get things off to a scientific-looking start before the nose-dive into amateurism…

BAHAMA PINTAILS

The White cheeked Pintail or Bahama Pintail (Anas bahamensis) is a dabbling duck first listed by LINNAEUS in his Systema naturae in 1758, under its current scientific name.

There are three subspecies: A. b. bahamensis in the Caribbean (and vagrant in south Florida); A. b. galapagensis on the Galapagos; and the slightly larger A. b. rubirostris in South America. The sexes are similar. It is mainly brown with white cheeks and a red-based grey bill (young birds lack the pink). Conveniently for amateurs, it “cannot be confused with any other duck in its range” – though I’ll believe that when I have first-hand experience of personal non-muddle.

These ducks are found on saline waters such as brackish lakes, estuaries and mangrove swamps. They feed on aquatic plants and small creatures rootled out by dabbling. The nest is on the ground under vegetation and near water.

Mike Bergin, a naturalist, has very kindly let me use 2 of his wonderful images for this post. There are others to be found at CLICK==>> http://10000birds.com/white-cheeked-pintails.htm Indeed the whole site is well worth a good rummage around

Photo Credits Mike Bergin 1000 Birds

Here’s what they sound like (credit Xeno-Canto / George Armistead)

Anas_bahamensis%20galapagensis

%20Santa%20Cruz%20080817_02.mp3

SPECIES LISTING (Jan 2012): This duck is on the threatened species list – not actually endangered but experiencing “moderate decline or facing imminent threats which warrant specific conservation measures”. Sadly, there are 3 separate causes of decline, each of which may be difficult to combat: habitat loss; hunting; and predation by introduced species.

Finally, here are links to more material about and images of these pretty ducks:

OISEAUX-BIRDS (an excellent resource for many other birds – merci Nicole for link approval)

BAHAMAS NATIONAL TRUST 2-page article on Pintails / Endangered birds

STOP PRESS To my complete surprise, I now discover that I have got my very own quite respectable picture of a Bahama Pintail, taken in July 2010 at the Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, Norfolk. So here it is…

STOP PRESS Feb 2012 Ricky Johnson, Abaco’s renowned bird expedition leader, has posted a fine example of a Bahama Pintail on his Facebook page, taken near his home. And, with permission (thanks, Ricky) here it is

FISH SPECIES CAUGHT OFF THE DELPHI CLUB BEACH, ABACO 2010-11

July 31, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

POTCAKES – THE CANINE FACTS

July 28, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

POTCAKES – THE FACTS

- Potcakes are a mixed-breed dog of the Bahamas & TCI, named after the layer of dried rice and peas in the bottom of cooking pots, traditionally fed to stray dogs
- Appearance and colouring varies considerably from island to island. Mostly commonly they are (mainly) brown, have smooth coats, cocked ears, and long faces. Adults typically weigh from 45 to 50 pounds (20 to 23 kg)
- Potcakes have a wandering tendency. There are many strays on every island – often considered a nuisance. Volunteer organizations re-home strays, and offer free spaying and neutering
Potcakes are often used for hunting hogs. Some are even trained to locate fish through scent on the water and the cries of feeding sea birds
Potcakes may originate from 3 canine types: (1) dogs brought by the Arawak to the Bahamas; (2) terriers protecting supplies from rodents on ships to the Bahamas; (3) Dogs that arrived with Loyalists during the Revolutionary War
In the 1970s the potcake dog was officially recognized in The Bahamas as the “Royal Bahamian Potcake”. In February 2011, they were accepted by the Bahamas Kennel Club in the category ‘Group 9 Non-Registered’
A potcake dog named Amigo has been the mascot of the Humane Society of Grand Bahama. He ‘served as an Ambassador of Hope for homeless animals’ until his death in 2007, and appeared on TV
Potcakes have featured in a set of special-issue Bahamas stamps

Factoids above distilled from a variety of sources (mostly overlapping) – danke – in particular good old wiki. I’ve done the leg-work for you, but there is other material out there. In particular, put ‘Potcake’ into YouTube & there are plenty of videos of Potcakes. Below are 4 web-links that might interest or amuse

SOME POTCAKE-CENTRIC LINKS

POTCAKE PLACE functions to rescue, foster and assist adoption of potcakes of the Turks and Caicos Islands

ROYAL POTCAKE RESCUE site Video of spay/neuter clinic in Abaco, August 2010

POTCAKE FOUNDATION TCI-based site, with numberless souvenirs available – get your loved one a potcake apron or nightshirt…

AMIGO THE POTCAKE 5***** cartoon ‘book’ named for the most famous potcake of all. Engagingly barking

ARTICLE IN ABACO LIFE: COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS & FAMOUS DOGS CLICK LINK===>>> Abaco Life Potcake Article

POTCAKE VIDEO: CRAB-HUNTING ON THE BEACH

HUMMINGBIRD WATCH: ABACO, BAHAMAS

July 28, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

‘HUMMER WATCH’

This might be entertaining. Possibly. I’ve stumbled into a way to make and embed a customisable Abaco map. The bright idea is to record sightings of hummingbirds on the main island and the Cays – both Cuban Emeralds and especiallyBahama Woodstars. See SIDEBAR, right-hand side, down at the bottom for the map, which is enlargeable and moveable.

Data entry I am the only person who can do this, because I had to make the map using my own G**gle account. So if you’ve got sightings to add, that would be excellent. The most helpful thing would be to add a comment to this page or else to email me at rollingharbour.delphi@gmail.com and I’ll do the pin-sticking.

A useful format would be ‘BW (or CE) – Location (as precisely as possible, for sticking in the pin) – Date (MM/YY) – Initials – Comment (if any)’

WESTERN SPINDALIS (ZENA) ON ABACO

July 26, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

The western spindalis (or stripe-headed tanager) is my favourite bird on Abaco. These 3 birds were all at Bahama Palm Shores. Although this species has featured in at least one earlier post, it’s time for another showing, this time with added sound (credit Xeno-canto.org)

ABACO ISLAND BOA: THE ONLY ABACO SNAKE

July 26, 2011 by Rolling Harbour

THE ABACO ISLAND BOA (or NORTHERN BAHAMAS BOA)

[~~Epicrates exsul~~] RENAMED 2013 Chilabothrus exsul

Kingdom: Animalia * Phylum: Chordata * Subphylum: Vertebrata * Class: Reptilia * Order: Squamata * Suborder: Serpentes * Family: Boidae * Subfamily: Boinae * Genus: Epicrates * Species: Epicrates exsul

COMMON NAMES: Abaco Island boa, Northern Bahamas boa

~~EPICRATES~~ CHILABOTHRUS EXSUL is a non-venomous species of boa, the only one of its species and genus. These snakes are grey with a reddish sheen. They grow to a maximum of 80 cm / 2ft 6″ in length [now see end of post] and feed on small mammals, birds and lizards. They are found throughout the Abacos, including Elbow Cay; and on Grand Bahama; but not elsewhere in the Bahamas (wiki-aided inc. image)

And if you can’t get to Abaco, there’s one in Oklahoma City Zoo: OKCZ ABACO ISLAND BOA

LATEST NEWS DEC 2011 a surprising visitor to the Friends of the Environment offices on 7 Dec 2011, posted on their Facebook page

A visitor at the FRIENDS office this afternoon, a Bahama Boa! This snake flattened itself pretty thin to try sneak out under the door frame! The door is open now so it can leave easily

STOP PRESS: a convincing refutation of the general consensus that the maximum length of these snakes is around 2′ 6″, with thanks to Brigitte Bowyer Carey. This specimen was photographed on Tilloo Cay in 2008, held at arms length by Don Allen