Sombrero Island Nature Reserve Marine Park

View across Sombrero Island showing Old industrial workings associated with past phosphate mining, - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Pools in craters caused by previous phosphate extraction, Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Brown Boobys Sula leucogaster on Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Probable Anguilla Anole Anolis gingivinus, Sombrero Island.  However DNA samples from Sombrero in the late 1990s showed Anoles on Sombrero to be quite different to those on Anguilla and St Martin: further samples might indicate endemism.
Note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Masked Booby Sula dactylatra on Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Pair of Masked Boobys Sula dactylatra chick on Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Endemic Sombrero Island Ground Lizard Ameiva corvina, Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Endemic Sombrero Island Ground Lizard Ameiva corvina, Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus,  Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Masked Booby Sula dactylatra chick on Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
View across Sombrero Island showing old industrial workings associated with past phosphate mining, - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus on Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus,  Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
View across Sombrero Island showing vegetation on old industrial workings associated with past phosphate mining, - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
View across Sombrero Island showing vegetation on old industrial workings associated with past phosphate mining, - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Old industrial equipment associated with past phosphate mining, note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
View across Sombrero Island showing vegetation on old industrial workings associated with past phosphate mining, - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Seabirds on telecommunications mast, Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Old industrial workings associated with past phosphate mining, Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster on Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
View across old phosphate mining areas, Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given
Nest site of Brown Noddy Anous stolidus in shelter of rocks, Sombrero Island - note the date the photo was taken is unknown, not as given

Sombrero Island Nature Reserve Marine Park

  • Country: 
    United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Overseas territories)
  • Site number: 
    2354
  • Area: 
    1,050.7 ha
  • Designation date: 
    22-05-2018
  • Coordinates: 
    18°35'N 63°25'W
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

The Site is formed by Sombrero Island, an offshore cay, and the surrounding sea; it lies some 65 kilometres north-west of the mainland of Anguilla. The Island is a remote, flat-topped rocky outcrop, characterized by its karst topography. The sparse vegetation is concentrated on the eastern half. The otherwise-flat Island was once mined for phosphate and is now marked by craters up to ten metres deep. These craters, and the shallower pits formed over time through natural weathering and erosion (particularly along the shoreline) often form shallow pools in which periwinkles and small reef fish can be found, attracting resting and feeding seabirds. The Island was significantly damaged by Hurricane Luis in 1995, but the vegetation is recovering and once more provides important habitat to the endemic Sombrero Island ground lizard Ameiva corvina. Over 40 endemic species of insect have been documented. The Island was listed in 2005 as an Important Bird Area for its nesting population of bridled tern Sterna anaethetus. Brown booby Sula leucogaster, masked booby Sula dactylatra and brown noddy Anous stolidus also nest there in internationally important numbers. 

Administrative region: 
Anguilla

  • Last publication date: 
    05-09-2018

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