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
A Laughing Gull displaying its breeding plumage
Laughing gulls come to the Turks and Caicos Islands to breed in early summer and can be frequently seen. It might be a little early as I didn’t see many gulls at French Cay.
In breeding season, the laughing gull has a distinct black head and deep red beak which changes to a whitish head and black bill in the fall.
Further down the beach, I came across a beautiful osprey perched on a rib of a boat that was sticking up out of the water.
A lone osprey surveys the surrounding seas as he rests for a moment.
The Osprey is a year round resident of the Turks and Caicos Islands and they prey on the abundant fish in our waters.
Preparing to take flight and catch his next fish
Ospreys that breed here year round are distinct as they have a very faint stripe behind the eye. The one pictured here is not from the region and has migrated here. Have a look at the eye and you will see a distinct black stripe.
Ospreys soar along our coastlines looking for fish rippling the water.
Enjoy the Turks and Caicos Islands and I hope you will get to see many of our birds during your stay here.
Marta
An unusual shaped log is the perfect perch for this group of Brown Noddy birds
I managed to slowly walk quite close to these birds all sitting on a large piece of drift wood. I looked them up in Richard Ground’s Bird book and found out they were a sea bird from the Tern family called Brown Noddy.
Note the numerous crabs on the log upright....not sure what they were doing.
As I got closer I couldn’t believe how many crabs were scrambling on the part of the log closest to the water. The birds weren’t at all bothered by my approach and continued perching on the drift wood.
This Brown Noddy seems to be scolding "her" mate???? He's turning a deaf ear to her anyways!
The Brown Noddy is the largest of the Terns with a white forehead blending to gray nape, and small white (lower) half-eye ring. Noddies range throughout the world where the seas are warm. They breed on land in large colonies usually remote islands such as French Cay.
Here's a close up of this beautiful seabird...the Brown Noddy
Look at the clear water and the spectacular colours.....unbelieveable.
There were more birds but that’s for another time.
Happy bird watching.
Marta
Stunning day and crystal clear water out at French Cay today. The white speck to the right of the photo is The Turks and Caicos Aggressor liveaboard dive boat.
Our first time out to French Cay and we couldn’t have picked a better day. The weather has been flat calm with no wind for the past few days. We decided it was time to head to French Cay as none of us had ever been there except Barry who went out with FiFi of Caicos Adventures a few years ago.
Approaching the beach at French Cay in about eight feet of water. We could see everything so clearly.
We moored just off the beach in about two feet of water and went ashore to explore and of course my camera was constantly taking photos. So many birds and in a future post, I will show you some of the bird photos I took.
French Cay is an amazing dive area……..divers come to the Turks and Caicos Islands to experience the dive sites out at French Cay. Take a look at my website at www.diving.tc where you will find some photos and information on dive sites out at French Cay.
A sun bleached piece of coral washes up on shore with that turquoise blue ocean as a backdrop.
We loved being able to see and experience this spectacular little island and its abundant bird life and hope to return again soon for more photos.
Marta
Guests at Harbour Club set off for a kayaking adventure out the marina boat channel complete with picturesque beaches and small tidal coves.
We have two ocean kayaks at Harbour Club Villas that guests can use at any time. They can put them into the water off our marina docks and head out to explore a very beautiful coast line. To the right of the Marina channel where all the boats come in and out are Delou’s beaches.
Delou's Beach is an idyllic spot easily accessible from Harbour Club Villas by kayaking out of the Marina and following the shore line on the other side of the channel.
These small private beaches are tucked away and basically “found” by our guests at Harbour Club Villas. Some have even kayaked out to some of the little cays for snorkeling.
Recent guests put one of the kayaks up on a rock out cropping while they snorkeled the clear waters out in Cooper Jack Bay close to our villas
Spend a few hours or an afternoon off Delou’s beach and enjoy the clear shallow waters of the south side of Provo. There’s numerous coral heads where you can find lobster as well as a variety of fish.
Recent guests out for an afternoon heading towards one of the secluded tidal beaches found across the bay from the Marina channel at Harbour Club's Marina
One of the advantages of staying with us is that we have so much local knowledge and favourite hidden places for you to explore. Actually, we have many favourites as each one has it’s own charm and beauty.
Enjoy seeing the quieter south side of Provo.
Marta
Beautiful spider's web catches the light at the pirate's cave at Osprey Rock.
We headed out early today towards Osprey Rock as we knew it would be sheltered a little from the wind. We anchored the boat just off the pirate’s cave and since I hadn’t been up ontop of the bluff for a while, I decided to climb up the ladder to get some photos. Just inside the cave were some beautiful spiders’ webs.
Spider's web with the ladder in the background to climb up ontop of the bluff.
What a view from the top as the water was a little churned up and showed off that amazing turquoise colour.
I took a photo of the boat anchored below me just off the cave
This beautiful ground cover with little white flowers was growing out of a small pocket of dirt in the rocks
We were in about two feet of water so it was easy to wade back to the boat
Malaika is just starting to walk and loves playing in the sand.
Here she is on the beach at South West Bluff close to Osprey Rock
Make sure you have a rental vehicle ( Scooter and Amos at Scooter Bob’s will be happy to help you out) and then you can explore the whole island which is full of unique and wonderful more remote places to see.
See you there!!
Marta
What a treat to see Provo Ponies' Camille and her group out at Long Bay beach.
We went out to Long Bay beach and started walking from the future site of another hotel. The kite boarders were out in full force and it was fun watching them jumping and twirling and racing across the shallow waters out there. We were fortunate to see Camille from Provo Ponies who had her group out for a leisurely ride along the beach. I caught this great photo as Camille’s horse pranced out of the water and her dog seemed to want to play along.
Meet Cowboy as he heads to cool off in the water
Cowboy is a Paso Fino……these horses were originally shipped to Provo from the Dominican Republic and when Camille rescued them, they were showing signs of abuse. Camille and friends nursed them back to health and eventually became Provo Ponies.
Enjoy a horseback ride along an amazingly beautiful stretch of beach when you are next here on Providenciales. The warm sun, the turquoise ocean, true blue skies and miles of deserted beach will make for a horseback ride to remember.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com
.
Sea oats and weathered deck chairs with a backdrop of soft pastel shades on a cloudy day out at Leeward beach.
We haven’t seen much sunshine here in the Turks and Caicos Islands this week but photos such as this one will show you that no matter what the weather, the water and the beaches are always spectacular.
Marta
Our daughter Tina and potcake friends at Smith's Reef
We were out at Smith’s Reef when two potcakes came up to say hello to Tina. I snapped this photo as they sat on the beach on either side of her watching the snorkelers in the water. To the left of the photo, you can see the sandy roadway leading into the water where snorkelers can start exploring the snorkel trail.
Happy snorkeling!
Marta
Today I experience a bit of Bonefish Heaven out on the flats by Pine Cay.
What an unbelieveable day we had out on the flats with our guide Darin Bain of D and B Tours. He ordered up this spectacular flat calm day with clear see through water and those reflections! We headed off towards Pine Cay and it didn’t take Capt. Darin long to sight the fish.
Joe got busy and caught his first bonefish of the day.........a beauty!
We couldn’t have picked a better day and I was just along to take the photographs. I’m not sure how many cards I filled or batteries but I made sure I wouldn’t run out. The colours of the ocean, the flats, the bonefish and the reflections in the water were all breathtaking. I don’t fish but found the whole experience exciting and exhilarating.
Joe releases a good sized bonefish one of many caught this day.
I think Joe hooked up at least 13 or so and landed some six. At one point when I was shooting from the water, he saw a hundred or so coming towards me from behind. What a sight to see!
Fish On...........Joe catches another one and check out the reflections in the water.
Capt Darin has been fishing the Caicos Flats for over 10 years and he really knows the area like the back of his hand and will put you on the fish. His eagle eyes can see them when no one else can…..I was hopeless at seeing them but then I was too busy with the camera.
Joe smiles from ear to ear.......another bonefish. They're called "the ghosts of the flats"
Joe and Christen are honeymooning at Harbour Club Villas and Joe is a photo journalist with Field and Stream Magazine. This is his first time fishing for bonefish and I think we have him convinced that the Turks and Caicos Islands is the place for bonefishing.
Bonefishing is GREAT in the Turks and Caicos Islands
A perfect day! All you bonefishermen out there just have to head down to Provo and I’ll hook you up with Darin for a trip out onto the flats. Call me and I’ll arrange everything for you.
Tight Lines!
Marta