Author Archives: marta

Iguanas and Little Water Cay

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Little Water Cay and the iguanas are only accessible with a boat ride from Leeward.

The nature preserve of Little Water Cay is locally known as ‘Iguana Island’. This small island, or cay, is home to the few remaining Rock Iguanas that used to live on most of the islands in the Turks and Caicos. The Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana or Cyclura Carinata is now classified as endangered. At one time they lived on all the islands but the introduction of cats and dogs by humans led to their rapid decline and extinction on the other islands.

A boardwalk leads visitors on a nature walk to spot the iguanas

An iguana waits on the walkway.

 

The rock iguana lives in rocky areas and sandy habitats as sand is required for nesting

Little Water Cay is approximately 116 acres and has two small interior ponds that are surrounded by many native plants. This little cay is home to between 2,000 and 3,000 Rock Iguanas. In 2002, hundreds of iguanas were moved from islands that had larger populations to four uninhabited cays where they could be safe and multiply. Pine Cay is a good example of how fast populations can decline. In the 1970’s a population of some 15,000 iguanas was completely destroyed within five years by a mere handful of dogs and cats brought in by hotel workers.

Little Water Cay and its' beautiful beach.

 

Some iguanas will come out and greet you while others hide in shallow burrows dug in the sand or under rocks.

Coloured glass beads are used for identification by scientists.

You will notice that the iguanas on Little Water Cay have been tagged with coloured beads by scientists and researchers who use this harmless procedure to get information on the iguanas’ life span, survival and  reproductive rate as well as eating, mating habits and individual growth rates. These coloured glass beads correspond to different numbers. Rock Iguanas are basically herbivorous and eat leaves, flowers, and fruits from many different plant species including Sea Grapes and Seven-year Apple to name a couple of favourites.

Iguanas love to sun themselves on the rocks

The boardwalk winds its way through the vegetation.

Please remember that the boardwalk was built in order to protect the iguanas. All visitors are not allowed to step off the walkway and can view the Rock Iguanas, the fine-powder beaches, red mangroves, small lakes, and scenery. A small entry fee goes toward preservation efforts currently in progress.

The Rock iguana's basic colour can range from green to brownish grey, usually patterned by darker markings.

Looking for something good to eat.

 

Up close and personal with a Rock Iguana

Time for a little swim break before heading back

 

 

Make sure you put a visit to Little Water Cay and the Rock Iguanas on your list of things to do. The kids will love it!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

Kayaking at Harbour Club Villas

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Harbour Club guests taking a rest on this tiny idyllic slip of a beach outside the Marina entrance.

Tropical storm Chantal had fizzled out leaving us with hot but hazy weather for today. Perfect for a bit of a work out with the kayaks. Dan and Lynnetta took off with the ocean kayaks to explore the beautiful shore line just outside the Marina entrance at Harbour Club Villas.  There are small coves with pure white sand and since these are tidal, much depends on what time you choose to go out. The turquoise water is shallow so guests can hug the shoreline or cut right across without any worries.

Shooting from the top of the hill at Harbour Club through the masts of sailboats moored in the Marina.

 

Heading back the water was calm with a little breeze.

 

Delou's beaches are usually deserted so you can have your own private little beach.

 

A short paddle down past the Marine Biology School, a turn to the right and home.

It was definitely a good day today with cloudy skies keeping the temperatures just perfect for a kayak excursion.

Marta

www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turks Head Cactus Pods

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Half eaten, rosy pink seed pod from the Turks Head cactus.

Many of the Turks Head Cacti here at Harbour Club Villas are flowering and throwing off seed pods like crazy right now. They are providing a feast for our local population of anoles and curly tailed lizards. I haven’t managed to snap a photo of them actually eating one but I keep trying.

This fairly young cactus does not have a pronounced cap as yet but it is producing so many seed pods.

 

An anole lizard has no problem with the cactus spines as he makes for the seed pods.

 

The seed pods are shaped more like a fushia coloured pepper elongated at the one end where it grows in the white part of the cap.

 

Close up of the indentation in the cap left by the seed pod with a curly tailed lizard.

No seed pod but still a fair sized Curly Tailed Lizard and we do have some pretty large ones at the villas.

The seed pods of the Turks Head Cactus provides food for many birds and lizards who injest, fertilize, eliminate the tiny black seed to propagate more cacti.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

Fool’s Regatta 2013

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Picos ready and waiting to start the racing at the Fool's Regatta on Saturday.

The 2013 Fool’s Regatta at the Children’s Park in the Bight was held on Saturday. Saturday was as perfect as perfect gets even though it had a dubious and a bit ominous start weather wise. I arrived at about 1 pm in the afternoon and the kids races were underway. Tents were set up selling drinks and burgers, the water was warm and inviting (yeah for summer time when I can actually get into the water). Yes, I know what you are thinking but when you live on Provo, you tend to be pretty selective water warmth wise before swimming. Here’s some of the photos from the day.

The colourful Beluga was showing off for the crowds watching the racing.

The kids of the Provo Sailing Club were having a blast sailing and competing on the Picos

 

The kids (little and one big) were happily playing and building castles in the sand.

These two little seven year olds were away to the races.

Lil' Tinkerbell was sporting her pink bikini.......she's a potcake rescue chihuahua that's found her forever home.

 

Big boats and Caicos Sloops were also racing just off shore.

 

The talented youngsters of Provo Primary Steel Band entertained the crowds.

 

Most of the kids learn to sail with the Provo Sailing Club.

 

Wishing he could be out there sailing!

Every June the Fool’s Regatta gets underway so come down to the beach the next time you are here and especially during Regatta time.

 

 

Happy Sailing!!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Lignum Vitae Tree of Life

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A profusion of purple-blue flowers..........the Lignum Vitae trees are in bloom.

All of a sudden after the heavy rains recently, my Lignum Vitae tree has burst into bloom. I then started seeing these beautiful trees in the bush on a recent trip to the grocery store.

Flowers have five purple-blue petals and are a favourite of insects and nectar drinking birds.

The Lignum Vitae is also known as the “tree of life” and ironwood because the wood is incredibly hard and is so dense that it does not float. It is found throughout the Bahamas and in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Lignum vitae wood is exceptionally heavy and was used around the Caribbean for ballast in ships.

The Lignum Vitae had medicinal value and was considered the penicillin of the time. The bark was used as a cathartic, the fruit as a vegetable and the flowers as a laxative. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, the resin (locally called rosin) was collected for boiling in water to make a tea to treat muscle and back strains, particularly for men with lower back problems. Another use was to collect branches several inches in diameter which were honed down into heavy, smooth batons called “conch bruisers”. These were used to tenderise conch before cooking.

Teas prepared from all parts of the lignum tree were used for everything...to treat boils and swollen glands, fevers, aches and pains.

The ‘wood of life’ apparently derives from the tree’s medicinal qualities rather than any physical prowess.

A canopy of blue-purple flowers....beautiful.

Beautiful by nature, the lignum vitae has an honoured place in these islands. Take a look as you travel our roads and you will see a blue-purple haze on certain trees. The tree of life, Guaiacum sanctum or Lignum Vitae is spectacular when it is in bloom.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

 

More Birds at Harbour Club Villas

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Sweet little fledgling just learning to fly.

All kinds of twittering going on today and I left my computer to go and investigate. There were two baby Blue-grey Gnatcatchers learning to fly while the mama flew around from one to the other. They are fairly common breeding residents on all islands of the Turks and Caicos.

 

He was pretty tiny as he peeped and called for mama to feed him.

 

Cuban crows are not often seen on Providenciales.

 

 

He flew from Coconut tree to coconut tree as the mocking birds attacked him.

This was a first for me and these Cuban Crows are more often seen on North and Middle Caicos. Now I have to catch photos of that pesky Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that is leaving holes throughout our coconut palms!! He’s really fast though and hard to capture in a photo.

Happy birdwatching.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Island Fish Fry and Miss TCI Universe

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Miss Salt Cay ready to compete in the Miss TCI Universe competition this weekend.

Great excitement this evening at the Island Fish Fry as everyone prepares to cheer on all six beauties vying for the Miss TCI Universe 2013-2014 crown. This has to be the largest crowd yet ….. a mix of visitors and locals enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of delicious fry fish, peas and rice, conch fritters, fish fingers, jerk chicken served up by many of the island’s great local restaurants. It was a chance for the six beautiful young ladies to strut their stuff infront of an enthusiastic crowd. Lively entertainment, a rake and scrape band and a Junkanoo rush by We Funk. Here’s some photos of this great event and don’t forget if you are visiting, come on down to the Children’s Park in the Bight on Thursdays.

These gorgeous contestants pose for all the cameras before taking centre stage.

 

Man, could this fellow play that saw and he had all the moves to go with it!

 

Six beautiful ladies on stage and ready to walk the catwalk.

 

Miss Salt Cay takes centre stage

 

Emcee David Bowen watching contestants trying to win Turks and Caicos Tourism sponsored bags and T shirts.

David shows how to "step on the roach".

 

Doing "around the world"

 

Henry the Conch leads the Junkanoo rush with We Funk.

 

One of the younger members of We Funk Junkanoo band.

Whistles and drumming, dancing to the Junkanoo band.

 

The booming beat of the drum and scraping of the grater makes the crowd join in and dance.

We Funk entertaining the crowds at the Fish Fry this evening.

Another sensational evening at the Island Fish Fry. Don’t forget to come on down.

See you there!

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Ripsaw

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Bending the saw to make music

One particular type of music in the Turks and Caicos Islands is called “Ripsaw” and it is also known as “Rake n’ Scrape.” The main instrument is a plain and ordinary carpenter’s saw and some musicians have turned these instruments into a work of art.

Diamond performs on his painted saw

The saw can be played with the serrated edge or teeth facing the body, though some players face them away. Also the saw can be held by the handle or the reverse end to produce a gentle bend in the center of the blade.

"Ripping the Saw" by using a knife in this case to produce a unique scraping sound.

 

An "S" curve in the saw will make it sing.

Our local musicians use a metal scraper of some sort, either a knife, a screwdriver or a fork  is raked and scraped over the teeth of the saw to make rhythmic percussion-type scratching sounds.

Ripsaw music is included in local folklore skits

 

The centre of the S curve is "the sweet spot" that creates sound when scraped.

 

Ripsaw musician with the Island Boys local band

Diamond in action

We are fortunate to be able to see and enjoy the abundance of local talent found here in the Turks and Caicos.  Head on out to some of the hot spots on island to enjoy the sounds of our Ripsaw bands.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com