Category Archives: Lizards

Opuntia Cactus

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Beautiful yellow blooms on an Opuntia Cactus at Harbour Club Villas

Beautiful yellow blooms on an Opuntia Cactus at Harbour Club Villas

All this dry weather and no rain has been ideal for our large Opuntia Cactus also known as Prickly Pear Cactus. It is blooming to beat the band with large bright yellow flowers.

A dried Almond leaf reveals two lizard or anole eggs.

A dried Almond leaf reveals two lizard or anole eggs.

A dried almond leaf was caught up in the spikes by the flower I wanted to take a picture of.  I gently pulled it out of the way and discovered two eggs hidden inside the curled up leaf. I can’t tell whether they are anole eggs or those of the curly tailed lizard.

Close up of the centre of the Opuntia Cactus flower

Close up of the centre of the Opuntia Cactus flower

Take time out during your day to see some of the natural beauty around you!

 

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Kestrel

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I managed to get some photos of an American Kestrel as he perched on a palm frond behind one of our villas.

I managed to get some photos of an American Kestrel as it perched on a palm frond behind one of our villas.

It was so great to see what I thought was a hawk behind one of our villas at Harbour Club today. I ran back to our villa and grabbed my camera. On looking it up, I found out that American Kestrels are also known as Sparrow Hawks but they are not true hawks but are a member of the Falcon family of birds. They resemble the Peregrine Falcon which is a distant cousin.

I'm not sure if this one is a female or a male Kestrel

I'm not sure if this one is a female or a male Kestrel

These birds are a common sight here in the Turks and Caicos Islands and are year round breeding residents. There was two of them and I’m now thinking that the one above was the female and one below is the male.

If this is the male Kestrel, he didn't stick around for me to get a better photo.

If this is the male Kestrel, he didn't stick around for me to get a better photo.

I’m sure these birds are attracted by our large population of lizards here at the villas and this makes for good hunting grounds.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Anoles or Lizards

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Lots of lizards or Anoles at Harbour Club Villas

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

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.

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

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

Turks Head Cactus

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My small Turks Head Cactus is blooking and throwing off seed pods like crazy!

My small Turks Head Cactus is blooming and throwing off seed pods like crazy!

I can’t believe all the seed pods on my Turks Head Cactus……all shaped like peppers but in a rosy pink colour. This little Anole lizard was looking to eat a few. I believe they do eat them along with the birds. Actually, I ate one and they are quite tasty.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Curly Tailed Lizard

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A Curly Tailed Lizard eyes me from his perch on top of an old anchor

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.

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