Caribbean Birding Trail

Know the Caribbean, Bird by Bird

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  • About the CBT
    • Interpretive Guide Training
  • Countries
    • Countries A-I
      • Anguilla
        • Cove Pond
        • Dog Island
        • East End Pond
        • Forest Bay Pond
        • Katouche Canyon
        • Long Pond
        • Meads Bay Pond
        • Merrywing Pond System
        • Prickly Pear Cays
        • Road Salt Pond
        • Scrub Island
        • Sombrero
        • West End By-the-Sea Ponds
        • West End Pond
      • Antigua and Barbuda
        • Bethesda Dam
        • Christian Valley
        • Codrington Lagoon
        • McKinnon’s Salt Pond
        • Two Foot Bay National Park
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You are here: Home / Anguilla / Sombrero

Sombrero

  • About Sombrero
  • The Birds
  • Tour Operators and Guides

Sombrero IBA located about 40 miles north of Anguilla is approximately 94 acres in size. Rising up from the water and lacking a single beachhead, access is via a ladder up the cliff line.

Rich in history, it was once the site of phosphate or “guano” mining and is the location of the lighthouse that marks the shipping lane between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea known as the Anegada Passage.

Guano Mining Ruins on Sombrero (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)

On January 1, 1868, the first light glowed from the Sombrero Lighthouse. The lighthouse was manned until 2002 when the structure was replaced by an automated tower. Today, remnants of the mining operation as well as the living quarters of the Lighthouse Keepers, remain as a reminder of the island’s storied past.

Contrast of Old & New Automated Lighthouse on Sombrero (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)

In 2018 after tireless work by the Anguilla National Trust, Sombrero was designated as Anguilla’s first RAMSAR site in an effort to protect the island’s colorful history, seabird populations and endemic reptiles.

Sombrero Landscape (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)
Sombrero Cliffs (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)

The stark landscape devoid of most vegetation except for low scrub, is covered with seabird nests. The endemic Sombrero Ground Lizard can be seen on the ground in search of food.

Endemic Sombrero Ground Lizard (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)

It is reported that 14 species of seabird once nested on Sombrero. Today Bridled Terns nest in numbers that merit global significance. The Brown Booby and Brown Noddy nest here with regional significance. Masked Boobies are also present and breed in large numbers.

Brown Booby Parents with Molting Chick (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)
Brown Booby Chick (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)

The island is surrounded by a marine park where tuna, Mahi Mahi and other marine life abound.

Nature Explorers Anguilla offers tours to this site!

Sombrero

Anguilla Sites

  • Cove Pond
  • Dog Island
  • East End Pond
  • Forest Bay Pond
  • Katouche Canyon
  • Long Pond
  • Meads Bay Pond
  • Merrywing Pond System
  • Prickly Pear Cays
  • Road Salt Pond
  • Scrub Island
  • Sombrero
  • West End By-the-Sea Ponds
  • West End Pond

Anguilla Partners

  • Anguilla National Trust


Anguilla Tour Operators

  • Nature Explorers Anguilla

Recommended Bird Guides

A Guide to the Birds of Anguilla by Steve H. Holliday, Karim V. D. Hodge, and Damien E. Hughes

Birds of the West Indies by Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith, and Janis Raffaele

Birds of the Lesser Antilles by Ryan Chenery

 

Want to know how you can be involved?

Do you know of a place that should be part of the Caribbean Birding Trail? Are you the owner of a lodge or hotel and want to attract eco-tourists? Are you a guide interested in the birdwatching market? Then, get involved with our project!

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It was an extraordinary #GlobalBigDay2023 for the Caribbean! 🎉 We recorded an increase 📈 in the no. of #birders participating in #GBD & #birds recorded 👏🏽Head on over to our blog for a more info! bit.ly/GlobalBigDayR… #GlobalBigDayBirdsCarib @Birdlifejamaica @grupojaragua pic.twitter.com/nl1U…

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In the Caribbean, World Parrot Day strives to raise awareness about the many threatened endemic species · Global Voices Thank you ⁦@JanineMFranco⁩ 🦜🦜🦜 #WorldParrotDay globalvoices.org/202…

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