Such a wonderful evening watching the sun go down while floating in the water. We didn't see the "green flash" because of the low clouds on the horizon.
Marta
Ocean Sunset
July 26th, 2010Sunday Beach Day
July 21st, 2010
Barry deserves top billing as he "frolics" in the water with an ever present Coors Lite!!!
We motored out from our Marina channel to a small sliver of white powdery sand beach for a few hours Sunday afternoon
It was pretty windy and the ocean was rough last Sunday but we thought it would be fine out at little Bay Cay. It was a bumpy ride over the white caps so much so that I was literally gripping onto the hand rail. Luckily we were protected from the wind and things calmed down as we approached the little beach on Bay Cay.
As I explored the island, the others stayed on the boat and slowly made ready to enjoy the water.
I was thrilled to see several Rock Iguanas and I could hear the rustling of many others as they made their escapes before I could spot them.
Bay Cay was one of many little Cays where the Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana was re-introduced. It is an endangered species of lizard and is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The waves were pounding on the far side of the island and I was fascinated by the large rock formation with a hole in it.
We enjoyed the sun, sand and beach and of course we had it all to ourselves. Even the iguanas didn't mind sharing this little spot of paradise.
There’s so many idyllic beaches and secluded getaways in these picture perfect islands. We hope you’ll come down and visit us in the Turks and Caicos Islands soon and enjoy what our islands have to offer.
Marta
Hermit Crab’s New Home
July 18th, 2010
Here he is again carrying his very distinctive red, tube style home.
Hermit crabs or Soldier Crabs are usually very particular about their shells. Shell switching is not uncommon as the crab searches for the perfect shell. Barry and I had laid out four shells we had and it seemed that his preference was for the West Indian Top Snail shell.
We helped him shed the red tube and he gradually worked his way into his new home.
The hermit crab has four tiny legs to hold the shell in place…a fourth leg that clasps the shell and the fifth that holds the shell.
Here's a close up of the Hermit Crab's fourh and fifth legs that grasp onto the shell.
Another view of the additional much smaller legs as the Hermit Crab moves into his new shell home.
In the wild, Hermit or Soldier Crabs feed off of coconut trees, leftovers from humans, and they will scavenge dead organisms, such as fish and other crabs. By the way, if they can’t find an adequate shell, they will use such man made things as plastic glasses, tiny one person jam jars, PVC pipes or whatever they can scrounge.
OK..........finally it's time to move in !
Almost set to go and settling in.
Home Sweet Home and we're on the road again.
Hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I enjoyed photographing this little guy and helping him along in finding his new home.
Marta
Hermit Crab’s New Home
July 17th, 2010
Four new homes lie ready and waiting for this Hermit Crab I found in our wild area today
This little Soldier Crab was maneuvering quite easily with his four inch, closed pipe for a home. Barry watched him while I ran to get my camera and play realtor by looking for some shells that might make a new, more traditional home for him.
The reddish pipe or tube like container didn't look all that comfortable.
Checking out a Tulip Shell for size and fit??
Here's a West Indian Top Snail shell that our hermit crab is taking a look at.
Hermit crabs are the only crabs that are able to walk forwards!!
This shell is also known as the Magpie Shell and is a species of large edible sea snail
The West Indian Top Snail shell is very popular indeed as “housing” for the large land hermit crab species and over the years we have gathered quite a few for occasions such as this. They are found at water’s edge and the snail is known as “wilks” or sometimes as “whelks” in the islands here where they are popular food item.
Tomorrow’ post will show the hermit crab moving into his new “shell” home.
Marta
Papaya or Paw Paw
July 16th, 2010
Papaya trees come in one of three sexual forms: male, female and hermaphrodite and the photo above is of a male flowering papaya.
The Papaya tree or Paw Paw is found growing wild throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands and we have several here at Harbour Club. Presently, Barry and I are juicing these wild papayas almost every day as we have so many that are ready to eat right now.
Male flowers are formed in clusters and grow on a branched drooping stalk
Male Papaya flowers have no ovaries and therefore do not produce any fruit. Female flowers have an ovary and are borne on the stem of the plant where the leaf is attached.
Beautiful yellow flowers of the female gender have five petals and are rather waxy looking.
Some papaya bear only short stalked female flowers while others bear male clusters of flowers and pollination is done by the wind.
The bright yellow petals start to wilt and turn brown as the fruit starts growing
A small papaya fruit appears and starts to grow
The ovary of a female Papaya plant must receive pollen from either a male or hermaphrodite plant before it can be fertilized and produce a fruit bearing viable seeds. Insects and or the wind will carry the pollen.
A small baby papaya starts to grow as the yellow petals die off.
Harbour Club's papaya trees are loaded with small fruits ready to be picked.
Papaya trees can grow from 6 to 20 feet tall and have a head of foliage much like a palm tree up at the top. The trunk is soft wooded, never developes a bark and is ringed with scars from previous leaf stems that have dropped off.
Tall papaya trees reaching to the skies laden with fruits
Wild papaya fruits aren’t really that large but they are favoured by the birds so long as Barry doesn’t get to them first. They are delicious served up as a smoothie or eaten with lots of fresh lime juice.
If you throw out these seeds they'll be sure to grow more trees.
Papain from the papaya is used by the locals and applied topically for the treatment of cuts, rashes, stings and burns. It is said that Christopher Columbus named the papaya or paw–paw, ‘the fruit of the angels’. Try some papaya with fresh lime juice for a tasty treat…….it is ripe and soft and has a sweet and delightfully vibrant orange flesh much like the consistency of a peach.
Marta
Storm Clouds at Bonefish Point
July 14th, 2010
Ominous thunderclouds roll in at Bonefish Point
What an amazing sight as our friends swam back out to the boat before the storm ……… the ocean turned to a deep turquoise as the ominous thunderclouds rolled in. The sandbar and beach at Bonefish Point created a sparkling sliver of brilliant white breaking up the intensity of the brooding sky and sea. We pulled up the anchor and headed back to Harbour Club Marina.
Marta
Anole Lizards
July 12th, 2010
Face off as two Anole Lizards prepare to do battle
I came out onto our deck today at Harbour Club to find some Anole Lizards sizing each other up as they prepared to defend their territory. I have never seen them quite this aggressive towards one another but I know that they are very territorial.
They were sizing each other up and would make sudden lunges for the head
One Anole had a strong hold on the other so much so that his head was almost torqued right around. The fight consisted of grabbing the opponent with the mouth and then using the legs and tail for leverage.
A number of times these two disengaged and I expected one of them to turn tail. They seemed intent on settling the territorial dispute.
Ferocious looking fellow isn't he?
This one had some colourful markings
Head on shot as this little lizard saw the camera
I'm not sure if this Anole sustained an injury but his head had reddish speckling
We find so many Anoles and Curly Tailed lizards on the grounds of Harbour Club Villas and Marina. Some are now getting quite big especially the Curly Tailed lizards. Hope you enjoyed these photos and I will look for some good ones of the Curly Tails for another post.
Marta
Pretty Spider’s Web
July 7th, 2010
Liquid sunshine pearl drops on a spider's web taken one afternoon that I found irresistable for a photo.
I’m not a big fan of spiders at any time but when I came across a spider’s web dotted with drops of rain after one of our brief rain showers, I couldn’t resist trying to get some photos.
It was fascinating the way the silvery drops hung delicately off the silken strands of the web
The spider's web with strands of liquid pearls stood out from the backdrop of one of my fushia coloured bouganvillea.
The gardens here at Harbour Club Villas always present something interesting or new for me to photograph. Yesterday for example, I couldn’t get a photo of a baby dove that was trying to fly. It was in our wild area hidden somewhat by the bush. Never mind……..there’s always shots that are missed but something else always comes along to take its place.
Marta
Leeward Beach
July 4th, 2010
One of my favourite photos taken out at Leeward beach as the waves were splashing up over the rocks. The sky was a beautiful blue and of course the colour of the ocean was that intense turquoise found here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Marta
Our own private beach
June 30th, 2010
A delightful afternoon spent at a little beach close by where we took Malaika for some swimming
The water was so clear yesterday with sun reflections dancing and creating silvery patterns as we just played in the water. Malaika just loved being buoyant in the foot deep waters of the south side of Provo. She’s beginning to kick her legs and is totally unafraid of the water.
Malaika had such fun kicking her little feet and splashing in the water
Look Mom............I can touch my toes!
We took a little break and close to the shore where we were sitting in the water, we were joined by some tiny little fish. Malaika was delighted but stayed close to Mom.
Malaika spots little fish from the safety of Mom's lap. You can just make the fish out at the bottom of the photo below Mom's feet.
Here's a blow up of the little fish that were swimming around us as we sat in a few inches of water at the beach
An idyllic afternoon spent just lounging in the water close by our villas at Harbour Club. Come on down to Providenciales and enjoy our stunning beaches and the clearest water you’ll ever see.
Marta