The "My Tiny Island Friends" Story

My newfound tiny friend in Orient Village.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting on a stone wall in Orient Village about 8:00 am, getting ready to walk across the street to "Macaroon" to buy French croissants for breakfast for Carol and myself.  Just as I was about to stand, this small cat jumped on my lap, laid down and began to purr.  OK, what to do.  Happened to have my camera in my hand so I took a photo of my tiny new-found friend.  Seems that every year Carol and I attract a variety of tiny friends, no matter where we venture on the island of St. Martin.  The island has been overrun with stray cats and dogs for years, but this year we noticed very few stray dogs due to a new shelter that had opened near the Butterfly Farm.  From our villa we could hear the barking everyday close to feeding time and also close to 4:00 pm when the doors of the shelter would open for those who cared to adopt.  

Our tiny Sugar Bird getting ready to enter the nest.

One of our favorite tiny visitors while on vacation is the Sugar Bird, or Bananaquit Bird, who finds the plates of sugar we place on the porch railing upon arrival each year.  This year we had a nest in the palm tree directly in front of our porch and had the pleasure of watching the mom and dad make frequent visits inside the nest to perhaps feed their young.  Feeding time, when I opened the security/hurricane shutter after returning from "Macaroon" with breakfast, was an exciting time.  The birds would call to each other telling of the new sugar supply.  Not unusual to have a dozen or more birds on each of two dishes for breakfast and then again for dinner.  

The iguana that visited with us at the beach for lunch.

The bowl of water placed between them was a washing station which created much fun for Carol and I as we watched them bath and wash the excess sugar from their beaks.  And, the last of our tiny island friends is the collection of various sizes of lizards that we find throughout the island.  This year we had a constant companion at the beach we frequented when a huge iguana arrived for lunch.  He would eat just about anything from lettuce to peanut butter crackers.  What would vacation be without the chance to visit not only the towns, beaches and eating establishments of the islands, but visits with the tiny island friends who also call St. Martin home.  PS - click on any photo to enlarge it.

This friend looked much like our cat, Creamsicle.  Any idea why we call him that?

"Blue Eyes" is a resident of Paradise View.

This kitty followed me one day while I was taking photographs.

Feeding Frenzy at our villa.  Notice one is preparing to land on the sugar dish.

A single bird with sugar covering it's beak.

Stark silhouette of the Sugar Bird.

Bath time.

A daily tiny friend who would visit our pool and swim.

This really tiny friend is keeping a close watch on me.