Explore Dog Island with the Anguilla National Trust

The Anguilla National Trust invites its members for morning hike across Dog Island on Saturday 24 July.

Dog Island is a privately-owned 511 acre island that lies 13 kilometres northwest of Anguilla. As a low-lying, rocky island it is covered primarily with dense and prickly scrub. It is also ranked as one of the top three seabird nesting areas in the Caribbean. Indeed, over 200 000 birds use Dog Island as a nesting and resting ground during the peak breeding season (May through July). Brown and Masked Boobies can be seen year round, usually along the cliffs while Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies nest within the dense scrub land. Hundreds of Magnificent Frigatebirds not only soar through air, but a large nesting colony can also be found on the eastern end of the island. During the peak nesting season, clouds of birds move within their nesting areas, protecting their eggs and their young, searching for food, and chasing away potential predators. The scene is truly spectacular.

We will meet at the Anguilla National Trust at 7.00am and make our way to Sandy Ground where we will catch a boat (kindly being provided by Mr. Emile Lloyd). We should leave Sandy Ground no later than 7.30am.

We will arrive at Great Bay on the western side of Dog Island and make our way along the cliffline to the eastern side of the island to the Magnificent Frigatebird nesting colony. We will pass a saltpond and a beach where green turtles lay their eggs, a small field of cacti where lizards scurry along the dusty ground, and colonies of various species of seabirds. We may be lucky and see a sea turtle or two or even a shark in the water. Using the same route, we will make our way back to Great Bay.

The boat ride may be a bit rough and we will get wet as we disembark the boat and walk onto the island so it is suggested that you wear shorts and sandals while on the boat. There is little shade and much prickly scrub on Dog Island, so you should bring sun screen, a hat, long pants, and sturdy walking or hiking shoes which you can change into when we are on the island.

For those interested in photography, the Dog Island landscape and its wildlife are beautiful, so please bring your cameras (but safeguard them in dry bags to make sure they don’t get wet! The ANT has two large dry bags which will bring with us.)

We expect to be on Dog Island until approximately 10.30am for an 11.15am return to Sandy Ground.

Water and a light snack will be provided, but please feel free to bring additional refreshments.

As the boat can only carry 12 individuals safely, please contact the Trust at 497 5297 if you are interested in taking part in this exciting activity.