Archive for the ‘Iguanas’ Category
Wednesday, 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
Tags: Bay Cay, beach, Beaches, Cay, cays, iguana, Iguanas, Rock Iguanas, Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana
Posted in Animals, Beaches, Flora and Fauna, Iguanas, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | No Comments »
Friday, October 16th, 2009
This beautiful pink tipped sea anemone looked like it was growing out of an old conch shell.
Another great day spent with friends on the water. As we waded to our little cay with the iguanas, I came across a pink tipped sea anemone. It appeared to be growing out of an old conch shell encrusted with marine life.
We saw many iguanas on the little cay and they were probably introduced some years ago.
The iguanas scurried away as we approached and this one was almost ready to put up a fight. He positioned himself so that he could hide in the brush under a sea grape bush if he needed to.
Three pelicans all in a row were feasting on a large school of little fish
As we anchored off the pirate’s cave and Osprey Rock, we were treated to a pelican show…………..three Brown Pelicans and their synchronized dive bombing for fish show. It was spectacular to watch as I positioned myself in the water in the hopes that they would feed close beside me.
Look at the huge stretch of this pelican's gullet.
Little fish were jumping all around as the pelicans swooped time and time again.
I love the way they skip along the water trying to get enough lift to launch into flight.
And finally, front row seats for the best view in the world and a grande finale to the day. The sun sets over Turtle Rock, and we head back to Harbour Club’s Marina.
We watched the sun go down from the waters of Taylor Bay.
A perfect ending to another Provo day filled with sun, fun, good friends and alot of laughter. We wish the same for you as you make plans to visit soon.
Marta
Tags: Anemone, Brown Pelican, Conch, conch shell, Harbour Club Marina, iguana, Iguanas, Osprey Rock, pelican, pelicans, Pirate's cave, Rock Iguanas, Sea Anemone, Turtle Rock
Posted in Animals, Beaches, Birds, Birdwatching, Conch, Flora and Fauna, Iguanas, Marinas, Places to go, Providenciales, Sunsets, Turks and Caicos Islands, Underwater | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Lots of lizards or Anoles at Harbour Club Villas
I’m constantly tripping over these lizards and they are so interesting to watch. Anoles found in the Turks and Caicos Islands are from a group called Anolis Scriptus and there is quite a variety of them. The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to four species of lizards in addition to iguanas: one species each of anole, gecko, skink and curly-tail lizard.
These two anoles were having a heated discussion as to which one of them should leave the tree branch
Male anoles are very territorial and will often engage a rival with threatening displays. They open their mouths to show off their bright colours. Anoles are tree dwellers and are highly agressive.
This one looked like he was posing as he cocked his head to the side and looked at the camera with one eye.
Handsome anole lizard in our gardens at Harbour Club Villas
In future posts, I will add photos of our curly-tail lizard. Some of these guys found on the grounds of Harbour Club are getting quite large.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com
Tags: Anole, Anole lizard, Anoles, curly-tail lizard, gecko, Lizard, Lizards, skink
Posted in Animals, Flora and Fauna, Iguanas, Lizards, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | No Comments »
Saturday, August 8th, 2009
A grasshopper sits posing on a pretty, pale pink Sea Purslane flower
Sea Purslane grows abundantly in salty and dry habitats such as on the tiny cays just out from Harbour Club Villas and Marina. We decided to explore one day and stopped on a little cay with a spectacular view of the Five Cays shoreline.
View of Five Cays shoreline from one of the tiny cays where Rock Iguanas have been introduced
We spotted some Rock Iguanas but they scurried away quickly as we approached. I did manage to get a photos of one though!
This rock iguana was very wary and was ready to take flight if I came any closer
On one of the slopes of this little cay, a carpet of sea purslane cascaded over the rocks. Some had star shaped pink flowers that bloom throughout the year.
Sea Purslane carpets the rocks on this little cay
Sea Purslane is a succulent herb that makes for a great ground cover. It grows along beaches and along the edges of salinas and has smooth, fleshy leaves. The leaves are edible and have a salty taste. I’ll have to find out if iguanas eat the leaves as this island seemed pretty limited in the way of food.
Sea Purslane is also know as Sea Pickle and can be used medicinally for treatment of scurvy and kidney disorders
What a great plant and useful for so many things!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com
Tags: Cay, cays, Five Cays, flower, Flowers, grasshopper, Harbour Club Villas and Marina, iguana, Iguanas, rock iguana, Sea Pickle, Sea Purslane
Posted in Animals, Bush Medicine, Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Iguanas, Insects, Places to go, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, Wild flowers | No Comments »
Monday, April 27th, 2009
Sapodilla fruit and flowers locally known as the "dilly" tree
I just thought you might like to know what a Sapodilla is…………this tropical tree is called a “dilly” locally and grows here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The fruits are favoured by our island iguanas and the taste is sweet and pleasant, ranging from a pear flavor to crunchy brown sugar.
The flowers of the Sapodilla are quite beautiful and I hadn't noticed this until I went out to take photos.
The bark of the Sapodilla tree produces Chicle which is a latex that has been used for many years as a chewing gum base .
Marta
Tags: dilly, Flowers, Fruit, Sapodilla, Sapodilla flowers, sapodilla fruit, Sapodilla tree
Posted in Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Fruit, Iguanas, Odds and Ends, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | No Comments »
Sunday, January 25th, 2009
A Curly Tailed Lizard eyes me from his perch on top of an old anchor
This Curly Tailed Lizard is only found in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Although it is fairly common in the islands, this particular species is found nowhere else in the world.
This little Turks and Caicos Curly Tailed Lizard species is only found here.
It is identified by yellow and black stripes along his back and is the second largest lizard after the Rock Iguana. Each major island has a Curly Tailed lizard that has slightly different colouration and or patterns. Leiocephalus psammodromusa is its proper name and it is a ground dweller.
Keep your eyes open for these lizards on your next trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com
Tags: Curly Tailed Lizard, Lizard, Lizards
Posted in Animals, Flora and Fauna, Iguanas, Lizards, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
This Turk's Head Cactus with both flowers and pink fruit grows wild in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Turk’s Head Cactus is one of the national emblems of the Turks and Caicos Islands where it loves the dry climate and thrives in exposed areas. It is named after the distinctive reddish cap that sits on top of the green cactus and looks like a Turkish fez (cap).
Turk's Head Cactus blooms throughout the year in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turk’s Head Cactus produces small spikey looking pink flowers and as they die, they form the fruit which grows inside the white spongey cap. The rosey pink fruit contains the seeds and are much loved by our lizards and birds, iguanas too. The locals also will eat them as they apparently are sweet and juicy. I haven’t tasted one yet but will do so one of these days.
- Turk’s Head Cactus with pretty pink flowers
I’ve had some success in growing Turk’s Head Cactus and have lots started
at Harbour Club Villas. They take forever to grow though!!!!
Cheers,
Marta
Tags: Birds, Cactus, flower, Fruit, Lizards, Turk's Head Cactus
Posted in Animals, Cactus, Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Iguanas, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | No Comments »
Sunday, January 18th, 2009
What a view! Over looking our anchored boat with Five Cays in the background.
Today we pulled up and anchored off this little uninhabited cay………….just us and the local iguana population. They were really skittish but we saw quite a few which scuttled away as soon as they saw us. Over the years, iguanas have been introduced to some of the offshore cays as a protective measure. What a great view from the island with the settlement of Five Cays off in the distance. Weather was perfect and as you can see from the photo, the water was different shades of turquoise.
Come see for yourselves……….plan a vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Hope to see you soon!
Marta
Tags: Add new tag, Cay, Five Cays, Iguanas, Turks and Caicos
Posted in Animals, Flora and Fauna, Iguanas, Places to go, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | No Comments »
Sunday, January 4th, 2009
Iguana at the sanctuary at Little Water Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana is a protected species. Visitors can take short boat ride to Little Water Cay to see the iguanas. They feed on berries, leaves and fruit (Sapodilla is a favourite) and live in shallow burrows. This is a great place to take the kids. The National Trust has built a board walk so visitors can walk the trail, stop to take photos and see the iguanas at close range. Make a point of stopping at Little Water Cay when you visit Providenciales and the Turks and Caicos Islands. See you soon!
Marta
www.harbourclubvillas.com
Tags: Little Water Cay, rock iguana
Posted in Beaches, Flora and Fauna, Iguanas, Places to go, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | No Comments »
Sunday, January 4th, 2009
Friendly iguana on Bay Cay just off the marina at Harbour Club Villas
A short boat ride or a two mile kayak trip takes you to Bay Cay. Guests at Harbour Club have spent all day on this little island (they call them “cays” here ) exploring, snorkeling, fishing, lazing in the sun on the beach and getting up close and friendly with the iguanas. This one was very gentle as he ate an apple from Scott’s hand. Organized trips are available to see the iguanas at Little Water Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands. Hope you get a chance to see one or two on your visit here.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com
Tags: fauna, Iguanas
Posted in Animals, Flora and Fauna, Iguanas, Places to go, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, What to do | No Comments »