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The peninsula "Presqu'ÃŽle de la Caravelle" seen from the north. The distal third is a nature reserve
Photo by njlarsen

[edit] Overview

The peninsula "Presqu'ÃŽle de la Caravelle" is about 5 km-square and juts out from the east side of Martinique, a French island in the eastern Caribbean.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

La Caravelle is well known for its population of White-breasted Thrasher, which even though small, still is easier to see here than at the alternative location in St. Lucia. The endemic species of Martinique, Martinique Oriole, is rare on the peninsula.

[edit] Rarities

To do

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Red-billed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, Magnificent Frigatebird, Cattle Egret, Green Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Broad-winged Hawk, American Kestrel, Royal Tern, Roseate Tern, Brown Noddy, Scaly-naped Pigeon, Zenaida Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Mangrove Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Purple-throated Carib, Green-throated Carib, Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Caribbean Elaenia, Gray Kingbird, Caribbean Martin, Barn Swallow, Tropical Mockingbird, Scaly-breasted Thrasher, White-breasted Thrasher, American Bare-eyed Thrush, Black-whiskered Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Bananaquit, Black-faced Grassquit, Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, Lesser Antillean Saltator, Carib Grackle, Shiny Cowbird, Martinique Oriole

The Martinique Oriole is getting rare at La Caravelle. The above list may be incomplete.

[edit] Other Wildlife

Mongoose is common, as is Martinique Anole (a reptile). "Fer-de-Lance" is supposed to be rare and nocturnal.

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

The nature reserve at the distal part of the peninsula includes the ruins of Chateau Dubuc, which was built from 1721. The ruins are now included in a fee area.

[edit] Areas of Interest

To do

[edit] Access and Facilities

To reach the peninsula, follow signs from Fort-de-France towards Trinite. Once near Trinite, follow signs for Tartane, and then switch to following signs for Chateau Dubuc. The hardtop road becomes a gravel road that leads to a parking lot in the nature reserve. From here, several trails lead to different parts of the peninsula. At the end of the parking area is the gate to the area around Chateau Dubuc, some ruins that are accessible for a fee. Just to the left and outside of this gate is a trail leading down into a gully which is famous for producing White-breasted Thrasher.

[edit] Contact Details

To do

[edit] External Links

• Natural Reserve of the Peninsula of La Caravelle