Diario de susanhewitt

So we came in on Saturday. Our flight was about an hour late and for the first time ever in 23 years it was raining when we arrived. There was a great deal of cloud cover over the entire region. Five international flights had arrived at SKB all more or less at the same time -- that's pretty amazing. I have never seen more than two flights arrive close together. It is not a large airport.

It took a very long time to get a wheelchair, but in the airport checking all the documents was quite well set up. We needed to show our KN acceptance letter three times -- in the health check, in Immigration, and in Customs.

Outside the terminal we were met by Elmoth in a taxi. Elmoth drove us to the IGA Basseterre supermarket and we bought a lot of groceries. Then Elmoth drove us up to the Cockleshell Bay pier, where there were really a lot of cars waiting! The water taxi came soon, but there was no free Ting or water this time.

We unloaded near Oualie on the new concrete pier, but we had to use Tin Tin Taxi to get us over to our room, number 221, called Pelican Point, with all our numerous bags, which were luggage plus a lot of shopping bags and cardboard boxes full of groceries.

Our room looked good. I unpacked a little bit, but not much. Made dinner. Went to bed early.

Sunday I walked the grounds and made iNat observations. Also went in for a swim. And did almost all the unpacking.

Monday more observations around the hotel grounds and beach.

Really great to be here again!

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Since 2020 this is our first visit to Nevis, Leeward Islands, West Indies, and we are staying at Oualie Beach Resort for four weeks, essentially the whole of the month of April. The hotel grounds are semi-wild and they support quite a lot of nature. We have been here almost three weeks so far, so with luck there is still time to see more species before we have to leave.

I did very well with the butterflies, and I managed to find several that I have never seen before at all, i.e. "lifers". The lifers are listed here with the common name in italics and slightly indented with two periods beginning the line.

Here is a list of the 18 species of butterflies which I have observed so far during this visit in April 2022. This list does not include any of the moths that I have seen. I ended up making a separate journal entry with a list for moths.
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Eighteen butterfly species seen in April 2022:
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Great Southern White -- really large numbers of these, as usual.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111767850

Cloudless Sulphur -- several of these, as usual, but they are very tough to photograph as it seems that they usually won't ever sit still.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427165

Little Yellow, lots of these in the grazing areas. Some are more yellow than others -- some look almost all-white on the topside.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111093496

Monarch, every so often I see an adult, and I also found several larvae. One iNat person thought the larvae were of the Southern Monarch, but I think that species only lives in South America?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110395577
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111337578

Gulf Fritillary -- at the Rest Haven ruins north of Charlestown I saw several of these flying around, but I was not able to get any photos. This image is from 2019:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21910918

.. Long-tail Skipper -- a new species for me, very cool, and nectaring on Bermuda Rose, right outside our hotel room. April 5th, LIFER
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110499855

.. Hammock Skipper -- also very cool and a new species for me, also nectaring on Bermuda Rose, right outside our hotel room. April 12th, LIFER
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111238475

Monk Skipper -- two so far this visit. This photo from 2019:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/22324117

.. Dictynna Skipper -- saw this same species of small orange skipper twice.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/113018541 April , LIFER

Cramer's Scrub-Hairstreak -- three of these.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110979578

.. Columella Scrub-Hairstreak -- one only so far, new to me. April 10th, LIFER
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110965223

.. Angerona Hairstreak -- one only so far, new to me. Not many iNat records. April 9th, LIFER
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110839044

Miami Blue -- found once before in 2019.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110507313

Hanno Blue -- found once before in 2018.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111697753

Cassius Blue -- found once before in 2018.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112305448

White Peacock -- found once before in 2018. This photo from Sanibel, Florida.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/76784179

Northern Tropical Buckeye --found once before in 2020.
This photo from 2020.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40669014

Tropical Checkered-Skipper -- found once before in 2020
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423405

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Here are six other butterfly species that I have observed on Nevis in previous years. They were all new to me (lifers) at the time I saw them:

Banded yellow -- in 2018.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11392414

Red Rim -- in 2018, and fairly far up the mountain.
No photo of this species as yet.

Fiery Skipper -- 2019
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21321379

Caribbean Scrub-Hairstreak-- 2019 on Majors Bay in St. Kitts
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104665690

Florida Leafwing -- 2019
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21498942

Fiery Broken-Dash -- 2018
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11772443
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As time goes by (we leave St. Kitts & Nevis on April 30th), I may be able to add species to both of these two lists.

NOTE: If you look at my observations, you will see that some of the butterflies are photographed on flowers or otherwise in situ. Others were captured in a BioQuip child's butterfly net, then they were chilled until they were torpid, photographed, allowed to warm up, and then released to fly away.

We could not visit Nevis last year because of extreme covid restrictions by KN, so this is our first visit to Nevis since 2020. We are staying at Oualie Beach Resort, once again for four weeks, and for the fourth time. The hotel grounds are semi-wild, and they support quite a lot of nature. We have been here more than two weeks so far, so with luck there is still time (10 days) to see even more before we have to leave.

I did very well in the first two weeks with the butterflies, and managed to find several that I have never seen before at all, i.e. "lifers". Here is a list of the 15 species of butterflies which I have observed so far during this visit in April 2022, not including any of the moths that I have also seen.
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15 butterfly species seen in April 2022
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Great Southern White -- really large numbers of these, as usual

Cloudless Sulphur -- several of these, as usual, but they are very tough to photograph as it seems that they won't ever sit still. This photo from 2019.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21925530

Little Yellow, lots of these in the grazing areas. Some are more yellow than others -- some look almost all-white on the topside.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111093496

Monarch, every so often I see an adult, and I also found several larvae. One iNat person thought the larvae were of the Southern Monarch, but I think that species only lives in South America?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110395577
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111337578

Gulf Fritillary -- at the Rest Haven ruins north of Charlestown I saw several of these flying around, but I was not able to get any photos. I saw several flying at the west end of the airport runway on Nevis also, but was unable to photograph any. This one is from 2019.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21910918

Long-tail Skipper -- a new species for me, very cool, and nectaring on Bermuda Rose, right outside our hotel room. LIFER
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110499855

Hammock Skipper -- also very cool and a new species for me, also nectaring on Bermuda Rose, right outside our hotel room. LIFER
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111238475

Monk Skipper -- two so far this visit. This photo from 2019.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/22324117

Cramer's Scrub-Hairstreak -- four of these.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110979578

Columella Scrub-Hairstreak -- one only so far, new to me. LIFER
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110965223

Angerona Hairstreak -- one only so far, new to me. LIFER
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110839044

Miami Blue -- found once before in 2019.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110507313

Hanno Blue -- found once before in 2018.

White Peacock -- found once before in 2018. This photo from Sanibel, Florida.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/76784179

Northern Tropical Buckeye --found once before in 2020.
This photo from 2020.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40669014

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8 other Butterfly species seen on Nevis in previous years
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There are eight other butterfly species that I have observed on Nevis in previous years:

Banded yellow -- in 2018.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11392414

Red Rim -- in 2018, and fairly far up the mountain. Not able to get a photo.

Cassius Blue -- 2018
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11333555

Fiery Skipper -- 2019
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21321379

Caribbean Scrub-Hairstreak -- 2019 on Majors Bay in St. Kitts
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/22279943

Florida Leafwing -- 2019
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21498942

Tropical Checkered-Skipper -- 2020
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40537606

Fiery Broken-Dash -- 2018
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11772443
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Before we leave St. Kitts & Nevis on April 30th, I will update these two lists as necessary.

NOTE: If you look at my observations, you will see that some of the butterflies are photographed on flowers or otherwise in situ. Others were captured in a BioQuip child's size butterfly net, then they were chilled until torpid, photographed, allowed to warm up, and then released to fly away.

Some seashell-oriented people here on iNat have noticed that I am not observing many seashells from Saint Kitts and Nevis. They may be wondering why.

I could certainly increase my species count if I observed more seashells. And no doubt add quite a lot of new things to the iNat database too. I know that I found over 100 species on Cockleshell Bay on St. Kitts during this trip, but not so many species on Nevis, as the shelling overall was not very good. The beaches were mostly very short of sand, and shells were generally very sparse. but why am I not photographing all the shells that I do find?

The thing is, I am working on writing a big checklist-style paper on the shallow-water marine mollusks of Nevis. Over the years since 1997, when I first started coming here, I have found about 600 marine mollusk species on Nevis (with a few extras found only on Saint Kitts) although a number of the micros I have found are not yet successfully ID'ed to the species level.

I currently have no idea where the paper will be published, or of course when it will be published. I am hoping it will be accepted by a peer-reviewed journal.

I have allowed myself over the years to make a few iNat observations of the more common shelled marine mollusk species here, but I don't want to do more than that, because uploading photos and data onto iNat counts in some respects as publishing the data. Therefore I don't want to undercut my own publication by pre-publishing more than a little info here on iNat.

I am hoping to acquire a few coauthors to help me get the paper together. If anyone would like to assist me with that aspect of it, please let me know. If you help in an intellectual capacity, your name will be on the paper as a coauthor when it is published.

I will also need help with photographing a shell of each ofl the species, many of which are very small. But simply organizing and checking all of the info that will go into the paper is a big task, and one that can sometimes seem quite overwhelming for just one person.

As an iNatter, when I visit somewhere I do my own bioblitz, and I try to make an observation of every species of organism that I come across. It is a bit haphazard as I don't deliberately search for any group other than seashells. However, I was able to find a few nice spiders while I was on this trip to KN, so I thought I would list them here. The IDs probably need some work.

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Genus Nigma
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110588781

Spiny Backed Orbweaver
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110681061

Genus Neriene
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110682378

Silver Garden Orbweaver
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110764863

Garden Orbweavers
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110765274

Spiny Backed Orbweaver
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110801556

Theraphosine Tarantulas
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111310654

Genus Cytopholis
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1580145

Genus Clubiona Leaf-curling Sac Spiders
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111697509
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NOTE: Many of the IDs in this journal post may need to be refined and/or corrected.

On Earth Day 2022, I recorded 80 species of organisms at Fort Ashby, near the coast in the Cotton Ground region of Nevis. You can consult the following link to a calendar page to have a visual sense of what I was able to see. All but the first two and last four images were taken at or from Fort Ashby:
https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/susanhewitt/2022/4/22
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Fort Ashby is a piece of land surrounding a coastal fort on the Caribbean Coast of Nevis. The fort was built in 1701 on a coastal point, near what was, in the 1600s, the original capital of Nevis, Jamestown. The fort was a simple stone structure, much of which remains intact. The design is semi-circular, and the outer wall, which faces towards the sea, still features four cannon.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426636

But due to slow coastal build up of sand in this one part of the coast, the fort is now 100 yards back from the edge of the sea. There is also now a lagoon pond that reaches from one side of the piece of land to the other side -- Fort Ashby has private property on both sides of it. The lagoon at Fort Ashby was, until recently, crossed by a wooden bridge, but that has now disintegrated, so currently there is no way to access the beach directly from Fort Ashby.

At some point in recent times, one of the walls of the fort was extended upwards with concrete, and the entire structure was given a mostly open-air roof, in order to convert it into a bar-restaurant. Then subsequently, when the lease expired, the restaurant was abandoned, along with three small residences nearby, and at least one other small building.

After the restaurant closed, the entire area of Fort Ashby was not maintained, and it had recently become extremely overgrown with vegetation. The area was also occasionally misused for illegal dumping.

The Nevis Historical and Conservation Society (NHCS) is now in the process of reclaiming the site and improving it, so that it can become a natural, historical, and educational attraction for both locals and tourists.

A Nevis friend of mine, Miriam Knorr of NHCS, asked me if I would volunteer at Fort Ashby on Earth Day. Although the rest of the NHCS team were doing much-needed physical clean-up of the site, Miriam asked me if I would use iNaturalist to record and photograph the nature of the area. I spent nearly four hours there in the morning, making 160 nature observations of what appear to be 80 species. The other NHCS volunteers collected and carried out abandoned trash (two entire truckloads) and cut down a vast amount of invasive vegetation, which will be burned. There were six Nevis Historical and Conservation volunteers, 10 youth-group volunteers, Jahnel Nisbet who is the director of NHCS, and myself, for a total of 18 volunteers.

More trash will need to be removed.

My iNat lists and photos will eventually be used to create such things as a leaflet and signage, once the Fort Ashby site is fully restored and ready for visitors.
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PLANTS..................................................................................
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GARDEN PLANTS, brought in and planted deliberately by humans (7 species recorded)

African Baobab
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421846
Bougainvillea
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426973
Common Lantana
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422759
Glory-bower, Red Bleeding Heart Vine
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424461
Crinum -- Swamp Lilies
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421983
Fan Palms, Coryphoideae
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422137
Mother-in-law's Tongue
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424855
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WILD PLANTS
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All from the Scrubland area:

WILD TREES AND BUSHES (8 species recorded)

White Leadtree
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423499
Sea Almond
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426863
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422397
Indian Mango
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422423
Neem
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423380
Noni (seedling inside the fort)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426242
Clammy Cherry
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421583
Shrubby Indigo
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421626
Sandbox Tree
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424955
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SOFT PLANTS WILD -- includes wildflowers and weeds (27 species recorded)

Coral Bells aka Coralita
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423484
Bush Morning Glory
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426991
Painted Spurge
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426919
Genus Lagascea
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423077
Asthma Plant
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423270
Tridax Daisy
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423537
Castor Bean
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424772
Blue Porterweed
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422628
Gale of the Wind
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421238
Porknut thorn bush
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421292
Whitemouth Dayflower
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421321
Browne's Blechum
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421344
Common Fanpetals
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421381
Lion's Ear
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421417
Brazilian Bachelor's Button
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422603
Scorpion's-Tail
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422861
Caesar Weed
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422910
Erect Spiderling
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423037
LIttle Ironweed
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423064
Lobed Croton
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423136
Asian Spiderflower
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423162
Legumes
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423307
Pyramid Flower
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423554
Graceful Spurge
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424090
Amaranths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424167
Sacramento Bur
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424330
Common Fan petals
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427305
Devils Horsewhip
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423740
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427209
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Species found on or inside of, the Fort structure itself (8 species recorded)
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Bitter Panicgrass
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426526
Brown's Sword Fern
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426411
Dicot Tree, ID unknown
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426321
Small Dicot Tree with some red leaves, ID unknown
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426284
Noni seedling
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426242
Siam Weed, Chromolaena odorata
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426218
Cure-For-All
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426188
Spiny Fiddlewood
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426599
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Monarch Fern
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421927

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Plants growing near the lagoon pond (3 species recorded)

Nickernut
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425732
Tree of Little Stars
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425732
Beach Naupaka
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425943
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426067

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FUNGI AND LICHENS (4 species recorded)
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Teloschistaceae
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426733
Common Lichens
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426481
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421786
Shelf Fungi
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425249
Agaricomycetes
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427047

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ANIMALS OF EVERY KIND........................................................
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MAMMALS, REPTILES, BIRDS (Only three species recorded so far)

Domestic Cow -- a cow pat left behind
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426086
Schwartz' Anole
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426764

Green Heron -- no photo possible, but the bird was both seen and heard.
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INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS
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INSECTS
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Butterflies (5 species recorded)

Cloudless Sulphur
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427165
Cramer's Scrub-Hairstreak
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427111
Tropical Checkered Skipper
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423405
White Peacock
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423576
Cassius Blue
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424820

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Other insects (9 species recorded)
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Band-winged Dragonlet, a dragonfly
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423685
Rambur's Forktail , a damselfly
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424036
Longhorn Crazy Ant
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421707
Liriomyza a leafminer fly mining in a Bougainvillea leaf
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427017
Cherrypie Leafminer in the Common Lantana leaves
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422791
A leafminer in Nodeweed leaves
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424358
A Phytomyzinae leafminer in leaves of Sacramento Bur
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424632
Pit-trapping Ant-Lions
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426636
Australian Cockroach
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425405
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Bees and wasps (2 species recorded)
Western Honey Bee
Common on the Coralita
Stictia signata a species of sand wasp
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427262
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Beetles (1 species recorded)
Beetle larva burrows in dead wood
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426687
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Other arthropods (4 species recorded)
Blue Land Crab
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422335
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426838
Spinybacked Orbweaver
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424411
Gall and Rust Mites
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426439
Eriophyes pluchea mites on leaves of Cure-for-all
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426041
.

Humans

Carrying an abandoned Fridge out of the woodland took 6 people.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425319

Metal debris to be removed
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425358

An abandoned wheel
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425405

One of the houses
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426863

An abandoned door hanging (valance) from India
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112849690
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As well as the butterflies I recorded, I did also manage to find a few moths on Nevis, so I thought perhaps I would try to list them here. Some of the IDs may be incorrect. And many IDs are incomplete.

Towards the end of the list I have included several observations which may be duplicate species. Since I know so little, this was in the hope that someone more expert can tell me what is what.

The first group of small drab moths are from a grazing area inland a short distance, an area which is rich in Desert Horse Purslane and Alkali Heliotrope. The second group of drab-colored moths is from an area on the upper beach platform which has mostly Beach Morning Glory. I am assuming that at least some of the moth species that are present in each area are using the dominant plant(s) as a food species for their larvae.

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Genus Micrathetis
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112097747

Cabbage Webworm Moth maybe
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112098327

Crambid Moths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111310654

Owlet Moths and Allies
.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110576092

Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110516598

Genus Achyra
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110516657

Achyra bipedalis
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110588824

Achyra sp.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110711324

Bagworm Moths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110839219

More Bagworm Moths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112288768

Crambini
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110884120

Achyra bipedalis larva
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111309019

Spotted Oleander Moth
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111568129
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111701239

Triplex Cutworm Moth
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207519

Genus Chrysoteuchia
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111973196

Genus Urola
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111973196

Triplex Cutworm Moth
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111970549

Eublemma recta Straight-lined Seed Moth?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207483

Crambid Snout Moths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207483

Genus Eublemma recta Straight-lined Seed Moth ?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207429

Genus Eublemma recta Straight-lined Seed Moth ?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207414

Genus Micrathetis
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112305554
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NOTE: If you look at my observations, you will see that some of the moths are photographed in situ on vegetation. Others were captured in a BioQuip child's butterfly net, then chilled until they were torpid, photographed, allowed to warm up, and then released to fly away.

As an iNatter, when I visit somewhere I do my own bioblitz, and I try to make an observation of every species of organism that I come across. It is a bit haphazard as I don't deliberately search for any group other than seashells. However, I was able to find a few nice spiders while I was on this trip to KN, so I thought I would list them here. The IDs probably need some further work.

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Genus Nigma
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110588781

Spiny Backed Orbweaver
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110681061

Genus Neriene
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110682378

Silver Garden Orbweaver
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110764863

Garden Orbweavers
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110765274

Spiny Backed Orbweaver
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110801556

Theraphosine Tarantulas
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111310654

Genus Cytopholis
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1580145

Genus Clubiona Leaf-curling Sac Spiders
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111697509
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(Note: some of the IDs here may need to be refined and/or corrected.)
.
On Earth Day, on request, I recorded 80 species of organisms at Fort Ashby, near the coast in the Cotton Ground region of Nevis.
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Fort Ashby is a piece of land surrounding a coastal fort that was built in 1701. The fort was situated near what was, in the 1600s, the original capital of Nevis, Jamestown. The fort is semi-circular, and the outer wall, which faces towards the sea, features four cannon.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426636
Due to coastal build-up of sand, the fort is now 100 yards back from the edge of the sea, and there is a lagoon pond which stretches the full width of the piece of land. The land itself is bordered on both sides by private property. The lagoon pond used to have a wooden bridge over it, but now the bridge has fallen apart and therefore, sad to say, currently there is no direct access to the beach from Fort Ashby.

At some point in recent times, one of the walls of the fort was extended upwards, and the structure was roofed in order to convert it into a bar-restaurant. Subsequently, when the lease expired, the restaurant was abandoned, along with three small residences and at least one other small building.

The entire area was not maintained, and so in recent years it became extremely overgrown with both native and introduced species of trees and bushes, and thus it became almost impossible to walk through. And, as is often unfortunately the case on Nevis, the area was also occasionally used for illegal dumping.

The Nevis Historical and Conservation Society (NHCS) is now in the process of reclaiming the site and improving it, so that it can become a natural, historical, and educational attraction for both locals and tourists. NHCS has been awarded a grant to help enable this process.

A Nevis friend of mine, Miriam Knorr of NHCS, asked me if I would volunteer at Fort Ashby on Earth Day. Although the rest of the NHCS team were doing physical clean-up of the site, Miriam asked me if I could instead use iNaturalist to record and photograph as much as I could of the natural species living in the area. I agreed, so in the morning of Earth Day I spent nearly four hours at Fort Ashby, making 160 nature observations of what appear to be 80 species. The seven other NHCS volunteers who were there collected and carried out abandoned trash (two entire truckloads) and cut down a vast amount of invasive vegetation, which will be burned. After I had logged in a lot of species, I helped a little bit with the trash removal.

My iNat lists and photos will eventually be used to create such things as a leaflet and signage, once the Fort Ashby site is fully restored and ready for visitors.
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PLANTS..................................................................................
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GARDEN PLANTS, brought in and planted deliberately by humans (7 species recorded)

African Baobab
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421846
Bougainvillea
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426973
Common Lantana
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422759
Glory-bower, Red Bleeding Heart Vine
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424461
Crinum -- Swamp Lilies
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421983
Fan Palms, Coryphoideae
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422137
Mother-in-law's Tongue
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424855
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WILD PLANTS
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All from the Scrubland area:

WILD AND NATURALIZED TREES AND BUSHES (8 species recorded)

White Leadtree
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423499
Sea Almond
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426863
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422397
Indian Mango
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422423
Neem
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423380
Noni (seedling inside the fort)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426242
Clammy Cherry
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421583
Shrubby Indigo
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421626
Sandbox Tree
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424955
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SOFT PLANTS, WILD -- including wildflowers and weeds (27 species recorded)

Coral Bells, aka Coralita
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423484
Bush Morning Glory
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426991
Painted Spurge
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426919
Genus Lagascea
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423077
Asthma Plant
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423270
Tridax Daisy
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423537
Castor Bean
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424772
Blue Porterweed
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422628
Gale of the Wind
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421238
Porknut thorn bush
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421292
Whitemouth Dayflower
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421321
Browne's Blechum
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421344
Common Fanpetals
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421381
Lion's Ear
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421417
Brazilian Bachelor's Button
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422603
Scorpion's-Tail
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422861
Caesar Weed
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422910
Erect Spiderling
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423037
LIttle Ironweed
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423064
Lobed Croton
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423136
Asian Spiderflower
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423162
Legumes
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423307
Pyramid Flower
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423554
Graceful Spurge
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424090
Amaranths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424167
Sacramento Bur
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424330
Common Fan petals
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427305
Devils Horsewhip
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423740
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427209
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Species found on or inside of, the Fort structure itself (8 species recorded)
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Bitter Panicgrass
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426526
Brown's Sword Fern
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426411
A Ficus
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426321
Spiny Fiddlewood
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426284
Noni seedling
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426242
Siam Weed, Chromolaena odorata
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426218
Cure-For-All
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426188
Spiny Fiddlewood
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426599
.
Monarch Fern
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421927

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Plants growing near the lagoon pond (3 species recorded)

Nickernut
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425732
Tree of Little Stars
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425732
Beach Naupaka
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425943
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426067

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FUNGI AND LICHENS (4 species recorded)
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Teloschistaceae
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426733
Common Lichens
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426481
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421786
Shelf Fungi
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425249
Ochre Spreading Tooth
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427047

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ANIMALS OF EVERY KIND........................................................
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MAMMALS, REPTILES, BIRDS (Only three species recorded so far)

Green Heron -- no photo possible

Domestic Cow -- a cow pat left behind
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426086
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Schwartz' Anole
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426764
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INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS
.
INSECTS
.
Butterflies (5 species recorded)

Cloudless Sulphur
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427165
Cramer's Scrub-Hairstreak
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427111
Tropical Checkered Skipper
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423405
White Peacock
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423576
Cassius Blue
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424820

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Other insects (9 species recorded)
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Band-winged Dragonlet, a dragonfly
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112423685
Rambur's Forktail , a damselfly
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424036
Longhorn Crazy Ant
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112421707
Liriomyza a leafminer fly mining in a Bougainvillea leaf
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427017
A leafminer in the Lantana leaves
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422791
A leafminer in Nodeweed leaves
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424358
A leafminer in leaves of Sacramento Burr
Pit-trapping Ant-Lions
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426636
Australian Cockroach
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425405
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Bees and wasps (2 species recorded)
Western Honey Bee
Common on the Coralita
Stictia signata a species of sand wasp
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112427262
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Beetles (1 species recorded)
Beetle larva burrows in dead wood
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426687
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Other arthropods (4 species recorded)
Blue Land Crab
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112422335
and
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426838
Spinycbacked Orbweaver
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112424411
Gall and Rust Mites
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426439
Eriophyes pluchea mites on leaves of Cure-for-all
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426041
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Humans

Carrying an abandoned Fridge out of the woodland took 6 people.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425319

Metal debris to be removed
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425358

An abandoned wheel
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112425405

One of the houses
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112426863

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As well as the butterflies I recorded, I did also manage to find a few moths on Nevis, so I thought perhaps I would try to list them here. Some of the IDs may be incorrect. And many are incomplete.

Towards the end of the list I have included several observations which may be duplicate species. Since I know so little, this was in the hope that someone more expert can tell me what is what.

The first group of small drab moths are from a grazing area inland a short distance, an area which is rich in Desert Horse Purslane and Alkali Heliotrope. The second group of drab-colored moths is from an area on the upper beach platform which has mostly Beach Morning Glory. I am assuming that at least some of the moth species that are present in each area are using the dominant plant(s) as a food species for their larvae.

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Genus Micrathetis
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112097747

Cabbage Webworm Moth maybe
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112098327

Crambid Moths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111310654

Owlet Moths and Allies
.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110576092

Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110516598

Genus Achyra
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110516657

Achyra bipedalis
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110588824

Achyra sp.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110711324

Bagworm Moths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110839219

More Bagworm Moths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112288768

Crambini
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110884120

Achyra bipedalis larva
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111309019

Spotted Oleander Moth
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111568129
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111701239

Triplex Cutworm Moth
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111701239

Genus Chrysoteuchia
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111973196

Genus Urola
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111973196

Triplex Cutworm Moth
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207519

Eublemma recta Straight-lined Seed Moth?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207483

Crambid Snout Moths
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207483

Genus Eublemma recta Straight-lined Seed Moth ?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207429

Genus Eublemma recta Straight-lined Seed Moth ?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112207414

Genus Micrathetis
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112305554
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NOTE: If you look at my observations, you will see that some of the moths are photographed in situ on vegetation. Others were captured in a BioQuip child's butterfly net, then chilled until they were torpid, photographed, allowed to warm up, and then released to fly away.