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Over the many years I've been organising Bermuda accommodation for visitors to this beautiful, laidback destination, I'm often questioned about what kind of wildlife might be seen. The good news for nature lovers is that the region is extremely accessible, so wherever your Bermuda accommodation sees you based, you'll be able to get up close and personal with the animal inhabitants. Whale Watching Many people cite the thrill of seeing one of these magnificent mammals in the wild as a truly life changing experience; I've been out several times on whale watching excursions here and I'm inclined to agree. Every year between March and April up to 15,000 humpback whales pass through the island's South Shore region as they migrate from the Caribbean to their North Atlantic feeding grounds. While getting out on a boat trip is the best way to enjoy a close encounter, they can quite often be seen from shore, as well. The best place for this is at the appropriately named West Whale Beach, in Southampton Parish. Birds and Butterflies With over 350 avian species that can be spotted at various times of the year (including some rare and endemic ones), amateur twitchers will be in paradise. While many birds are migratory, there are at least 17 permanent resident species and countless more that come specifically to breed. The Bermuda petrel only breeds here and is, unfortunately, on the endangered list. The fantastic Butterfly House, at Brighton Nurseries in Devonshire Parish, offers a delightful wildlife experience for those who want the opportunity to see the only endemic species – the Bermuda Buckeye Butterfly – enjoying life in a lush nursery environment that perfectly mirrors its wild habitat. The Secret Singing Tree Frog While you may find it hard to actually spot these lovely little fellows, they certainly make themselves heard – and to me, they really are the summer sound of the islands. Every evening the males emit their hopeful tunes to try to attract some female company to mate - and presumably they succeed, if the numbers in the chorus are anything to go by. Fully-grown, these melodic tree frogs are less than an inch long, but they certainly don’t suffer from an inferiority complex! Dolphins at the Dockyard Everybody's favourite marine mammal, dolphins are very popular with visitors to the island. While you'll certainly have the chance to see them frolicking in the ocean if you're out on the water on a boat tour or whale watching excursion, Dolphin Quest, at the famous Royal Naval Dockyard, offers a guaranteed 'up close and personal' encounter, where you'll be in the water interacting at very close quarters with these incredibly intelligent mammals. The Magnificent Marine Life To see the magnificence of the island's underwater life all in one place, the Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, in Flatts, is home to more than 200 species of fish and invertebrates from the surrounding ocean, along with live corals and the most feared predators of the sea, sharks. As the name suggests, there's also a marine museum and a zoo with more than 300 species of reptiles, birds and mammals that make this region home. Enjoy the Wonderful Wildlife While more often than not it's the lifestyle and range of luxury Bermuda accommodation that initially attract visitors, the natural beauty of the unique pink sand beaches and lush interiors, as well as the huge variety of thriving animal life, make Bermuda a true nature lover's delight. John Dixon is an experienced world traveller and the Managing Director of Prestige Holidays. For over 30 years, he has been providing luxury Bermuda accommodation, as well as holidays to Croatia, Sicily and many other destinations around the globe. John tries to visit each of the destinations regularly in order to ensure the quality of his properties, and stays up-to-date about the latest local news and events. He has a taste for the finer things in life and has an interest in the arts, history and culture.
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