South West Bluff and Osprey Rock

Posted on January 14, 2022 by marta

Bonefish Point is the most beautiful spot on Providenciales

A perfectly beautiful Sunday and a trip is planned to head down to the southern most tip of the island at South West Bluff, Osprey Rock and Bonefish Point. I always enjoy this excursion and make sure all my camera batteries are fully charged. There’s always so many plants, birds, views and our extraordinary clear ocean with its’ marine life to photograph.

View of the Pirates cave and Osprey Rock

Please don’t forget to bring lots of water and some shade as it does get really hot.

A Black Legged Stilt was very vocal as he tried to scare me away.

There’s a beautiful pond area as you get closer to the little beach by Osprey Rock. There seems to always be salt foam looking much like snow. This Sunday there were several Black Legged Stilts and they really didn’t like my being there. Perhaps there were nests as they tried to ward me off.

A large patch of wild sea island cotton

Sea island cotton has such pretty yellow blossoms

The view looking towards Bonefish Point from on top just above the beach.

The wide cove from Osprey Rock to Bonefish Pont is a wonderful place to see cruising or resting rays, turtles, juvenile sharks crabs and other marine life.

This is one of my favourite places to go by boat or road. It’s a little piece of heaven that often is yours alone to enjoy but getting busier so now it becomes more difficult to find these treasures

Love to snorkel between the rocks and see all the little fish.

The pirate’s cave is easier to access through the water and make sure to take some water shoes as the rocks can be sharp ……. no flip flops! Climb the ladder in the little cave through the rock opening and onto the top of the cliffs where shipwrecked sailors came ashore in the early 1800’s. In the rocks on top of the cliffs there are carvings with the names of the sailors.

The ocean looking from the pirate’s cave

Lone fisherman stand on top looking towards Osprey Rock or Split Rock

There are always ospreys out there and sometimes you’ll luck out and see the babies

Inscription of the St. Louis burnt at sea in 1840 carved into the rock by shipwrecked sailors

This inscription is found up on the bluff along with others. A newspaper in Nova Scotia indicates that the St. Louis burned on Aug 30th, 1842 and was lost. A brig called the Impulse rescued some of the people but apparently she also wrecked on the Caicos Reef on Sept. 3rd and was still carrying the crew of the St. Louis. All this history and it all can be seen if you climb the ladder to the top and look down in the rocks.

Climb up the ladder in the cave to the top of the bluff and see the view……that’s a sting ray in the water below.

A stunning osprey with extended wings dries in the bright sunshine.

The shallows with a southern sting ray cruising through

Pretty beaded periwinkle shells line the jagged rocks as you wade through the shallow waters.

Sand ripples and Osprey Rock in the background

A pin cushion star fish in the shallows of the sandbar at Bonefish Point

A sea star in the shallows of the sandbar at Bonefish Point

Chitons are found attached to the rocks

Interesting rock formations

The waters are so very clear …….. you can see everything!

An osprey stands in the water and he knows I’m there.

Bonefish Point from the air

Bonefish Point on Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

A walk down to Bonefish Point and this awesome view

Such an amazing area for a picnic lunch with friends and do take a walk down to Bonefish Point. I can assure you that you will see so many interesting things as you walk along the beaches and rocks. It is one of Provo’s gems and one of my favourites.

Sighting Flamingos on the way home. I’ve never seen so many!

WOW, what a gorgeous sight, a flamboyance of flamingos flying past.

And on the way home after a perfect day, we sighted a huge flamboyance of flamingos.

What a treat as I’ve never seen so many in all my years here on Providenciales

Enjoy your day,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Historical Salt Cay and St. John’s Church

Posted on March 15, 2021 by marta

Salt Cay church dating from the 1800's — St. John’s Anglican Church on Salt Cay

St. John's Anglican Church on Salt Cay Turks and Caicos Islands

The beautiful old shutters of the church

St. John’s is a beautiful old Anglican church also referred to as St. John’s the Divine and was built in the early 1800’s. We wandered through the graveyard which stretches to an old seawall. Mr. Holton Dickenson, the chatechist and our guide, opened up the old doors which allowed for the sea breezes to flow through up to the altar.

Mr. Holton Dickenson opens the big old doors to the church

Interior of the church with two pulpits

The old windows of the church at Salt Cay

Beautiful windows looking out towards the Brown House

Mr. Dickenson holds the old Register of Services showing numbers of worshippers and amounts collected.

Mr. Holton Dickenson showed us some old records that the church still keeps. These old registers need to be photographed page by page or they will eventually deteriorate and be lost for the future generations of Salt Cay residents.

A page from the Marriage Register

St. John's church on Salt Cay Turks and Caicos Islands

Record of Marriage of Thomas Grant and Eliza Araminta Hamilton from 1909

Names of Officiants such as Astwood, Morgan, Tatem in the Register of Services

From an old postcard

From an article in the Turks and Caicos Weekly news by Candy Herwin.

Looking over the old cemetery walls out over the ocean

The graveyard and church doors taken from the old sea wall in 2018 after Hurricane Irma devastated our islands.

The cemetary and old sea wall

Harriot/Dunn grave site………owners of the White House and salt merchants on Salt Cay

Neil (Daniel Francis Harriot) was the resident Harriot at the White House until his death in 1910. He is buried at St. John’s Church in the plot he set forth in his will. My husband and I were fortunate to meet and talk with Michael Dunn when he visited us at Harbour Club Villas with a friend years ago. I remember he was looking for a piano that he could play and at that time, I believe there were only two or possibly three on island. A friend of ours had one of them.

The church overlooks the salt pans

The bell tower outside of the St. John’s Anglican Church was usually rung to announce to everyone that it was time to come to church. Every Sunday dressed in their Sunday best, the faithful would listen to the bell tolling and head to church in time for Sunday worship. There are three of these bells still left on Salt Cay.

St. John’s church is a beautiful start to stepping back and into the history of Salt Cay……… a tranquil and peaceful place that speaks of an era of days gone by. The population is dwindling as the ocean breeze gently brushes the gravestones. Time to reflect on the history of this magical island that is steeped in history. We are the keepers of years past and need to do everything we can to preserve, nourish and protect the history and stories of Salt Cay and our national heritage. Thankfully we have concerned and caring people that are doing their utmost to document and keep Salt Cay’s history alive for future generations. Take a bow….you know who you are!

Salt Cay is a jewel in the sun.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Harbour Club Villas and Marina

Posted on August 30, 2020 by marta

Six villas with lake views and a private marina for scuba dive boats

Harbour Club Villas and Marina is a cluster of six, one bedroom villas or cottages, that sits on a rise between two waterfronts. Villas overlook Flamingo Lake, a bone fishing lake, and the ocean at Cooper Jack Bight on Provo’s more tranquil south side.

Harbour Club Villas is a unique place to do social distancing while you vacation in paradise.
A one-of-a-kind estate with individual villas that are ideal for people wanting to go on holiday together but at the same time, retain some privacy.
Our individual, self-catering guest cottages are separated with private patios over looking the lake and each one is surrounded by large stone planters with tropical bushes and flowers.

Villas are on a lake that’s great for bonefishing

We’re only a short, ten minute drive to Grace Bay beach and within easy reach of all major island attractions. Our small, island hideaway has a special appeal to couples, families or small groups looking for something a little bit different to your typical resort.

Our guests often tell us that we are the best kept secret in the Caribbean Islands.

The entrance to the Marina at Harbour Club Villas

Barry and Marta live on site and are always available to help you with everything from the minute you book right through to your departure.

Six, one bedroom cottages for couples and or a group vacation

We have six, identical cottages surrounded by palm trees and tropical bushes and flowers, a gazebo with a barbecue/grill and seating right beside the pool. We offer our guests a unique location to stay at and from which to explore our island, visiting all our wonderful and varied beaches some of which are great for snorkeling and swimming, others for walking and shelling, and everyone can enjoy the amazing water and ocean we have in the Turks and Caicos.

One bedroom cottages with fully equipped kitchens in a tropical setting

We have:

Bone fishing on our doorstep in the lake and nearby flats.

Scuba diving right from our marina…grab your dive buddy and a short walk brings you to dive boats.

Beaches just a short five minute drive away.

Eco friendly villas and can show you the beauty of the flora and fauna of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Our location is unique between ocean and lake

Villas with views overlooking Flamingo Lake

Villa pool area with gazebo surrounded by coconut palms and tropical flowers

Our Marina has dive boats and and a fishing charter and what a view of the lake from the front of the villas

A short walk takes you down to our marina where dive boats are moored.

Such a beautiful shallow lake where bonefishing is a favourite pastime for some of our guests

BEACHES

Sunlovers and snorkelers love the beaches of Provo … soft, white sand with crystal-clear turquoise water providing swimming and great snorkeling close to the shoreline for all to enjoy. We’re just a five minute drive to Grace Bay beach.

SCUBA DIVERS

Enjoy the easy walk from the villas to the dive boats moored in and close by our marina by most of the islands’ best dive operators.

BONEFISHING

“Great villa accommodation and self guided Bonefishing right in front of your own private cottage as well as on the bonefishing flats of the south shore of Provo. Go when you want to go!”

Grab your rod and be fishing in minutes right in front of your villa

BONEFISHING: The areas close to Harbour Club Villas are great for self guided bonefishing and DIY fishing. We have two lakes, Flamingo and Turtle Lake, plus a beautiful ocean flat just down the road. Grab your rod and go when you want to go! DIY bonefishing in the flats by Harbour Club Villas.

Bonefishing packages are available and everything can be arranged for you.

At dusk, a lone fisherman casts to bonefish in Flamingo Lake right by our villas.

YES! There are bonefish in the lake ……… all catch and release.

The Marina at Harbour Club Villas is a center for scuba dive operators.

DIVING is spectacular in the Turks and Caicos Islands and our Harbour Club Villa guests have this to say.

“The scuba diving was terrific and the 2 minute walk to the Marina
for 8:30 a.m. dives is the way to go!”

We have four of the island’s top dive operators operating out of our little marina: AquaTCI who are right on our doorstep, Provo Turtle Divers, Flamingo Divers and Caicos Adventures. We can help you book your DIVE PACKAGES.

All our guests have to do is walk down the driveway and onto the boats moored in the Marina.

Providenciales has some 90 dive sites on our spectacular reefs out at West Caicos, French Cay, Sandbore Channel and North West Point.

AquaTCI island dive operator has it’s boat moored right in our marina a short walk from the villas.

Dive boats in our marina ready to head out to the reefs at West Caicos and French Cay

Dive boats heading out for French Cay dive sites

WOW – those perfectly flat calm days where you can see Five Cays and that awesome colour of the water!

Cottage type accommodation with hand made stone walk ways and planters full of flowering plants.

Each Harbour Club Villa has:

Air-conditioning in the bedroom only
Ceiling fans throughout our vacation rentals
Louvered windows with screens to catch island breezes
Restful queen-sized bed
Bathroom with spacious walk-in shower
1 comfortable queen sleeper sofa for additional guests
Dining table for 4
Fully equipped kitchen
High, open beamed ceilings
Flat screen TV’s with Cable TV
WiFi internet access in ALL villas and by pool
Lockable safes in our vacation rentals
Private stone patios
Uninterrupted lake views
Eco friendly
On site hosts always ready to help

We have a spacious floor plan with several couches and chairs

Louvered and screened windows to catch the breezes

Living area with couches, dining room table and chairs and a fully equipped kitchen

Roomy open area with fully equipped kitchens at Harbour Club villa accommodation on Provo

Fresh table flowers every day at the villas

Fully equipped kitchens, flat screened TV and all you will need to prepare meals

DCIM100GOPROGOPR3935.JPG

Comfortable bedrooms with screened and louvered windows to catch the island breezes

Bedrooms have queen sized beds with open slatted luggage bench and closet shelving.

Sofa beds have proper queen mattresses for additional comfort

Bathrooms have a walk in shower

Dining room table with a view out the window of the lake

Dining nook with a view over the lake

Private patios beside each villa with lake views

Having breakfast before heading out for some spectacular diving on our reefs

A lovely spot for sipping a morning cup of coffee or cocktails in the evening.

Late afternoon just perfect for a cocktail on your own private patio overlooking the lake

Our pool looking towards the tiki hut. where there’s a barbecue/grill

OUR POOL AREA is just made for small group entertaining. We’ve had many wedding receptions here and group functions like yoga retreats, dive groups, family reunions, birthday and anniversary vacations where everyone can stay all together and enjoy the resort to themselves. Book your group event today….we can help you arrange everything!

The walkway leading into the pool and gazebo at the villas

Come and have a swim or read a book surrounded by flowers and palms

The gazebo beside the pool where guests can meet and relax the day away

Tiki hut with barbecue grill right beside the pool

A lovely spot to read a book or have barbecue

Lounge chairs for sunbathing or enjoy lunch in the shade of the umbrellas by the pool

Sun loungers around the pool

The Gazebo has a barbecue/grill for guests to enjoy.

Tiki hut by the pool

Gazebo by the pool with flowering bouganvillea

Flowering tropical plants and stone walkways

Gazebo at our villa rental set among trees and shrubs

Stunning marina sunset with shooting rays of sunlight

Kayaking the shoreline outside the marina channel

Complimentary kayaks are yours to explore the shoreline and it’s tidal beaches

Aaaah, beautiful Grace Bay just a five minute drive from Harbour Club Villas

Snorkel the Bight Reef and hopefully you may see the turtles

A turtle at the Bight Reef….a great place to snorkel

The Bight Reef and Smith’s Reef are both great snorkel areas and they are only a ten minute drive away from our villas. Check with us and we will give you directions to all the best spots on Provo.

And here’s a Spotted Eagle Ray cruising along the reef

Now this little beach you will have to ask us about!

Bonefishing the flats that are just down the road from our villas at Harbour Club

Harbour Club Villas……….the best in island accommodation with bonefishing in the lake

BONEFISHING: There are bonefishing flats to wade and two lakes within walking distance of the villas. We overlook the Caicos Banks………shallow waters, wide open flats and great bonefishing. We have over the years compiled a guide which includes tips on where to bonefish, what flies work best and where, tidal flows in our area and numerous other fishy tales. A wealth of fish related info only available to our guests!

Here’s Ed bonefishing in the lake by the villas

Guests can see bonefish tailing in the lake from our villa windows……grab your rod and go. DIY bonefishing at its’ best as our location is right on a bonefishing lake!

We have bonefishing packages with a great local island guide with great rates for our guests.

We can book you on a bonefishing excursion with Provo’s best guide…………check out our bonefish packages.

What a beauty……..just before releasing it back to the waters.

Birdwatchers and eco lovers will enjoy seeing the variety of birds and interesting flora and fauna surrounding the villas

Harbour Club Villas……..the best in island accommodation

Let us help you plan a wonderful vacation on Provo. We’ve been here for over 20 years and we are ready to show you the south side of Providenciales. Call us and Book your holiday trip today.

See you soon,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Blue Hills

Posted on May 20, 2020 by marta

Blue Hills with its Caicos sloops is a fun place to explore.

Blue Hills is hands down, the most quaint and colourful part of Providenciales. Take an hour or two and meander along the beach road where you’ll find small eating establishments, many churches and cemeteries right on the ocean.

The pier in Blue Hills is a scenic spot for photographs

Caicos Sloops are being built on the shore.

Some say that Blue Hills was the former name for our island of Providenciales and named for the blueish tinge of the hills and ridges as sloops neared the island from the sea. Life centered around the sea, sloop building , fishing and conking. Sloops would sail out towards West Caicos and French Cay to collect conch which would be dried and then traded with neighboring islands for materials and other food products.

Beach has coral formations close to the shore

Blue Hills on Providenciales in theTurks and Caicos Islands

Looking down the beach towards the Blue Hills pier.

Chasing the birds on the beach in Blue Hills.

Beautiful conch shells are sold down on the beach.

This handsome pelican was perched on one of the pillars on the pier at Blue Hills

Harbour Club Villa guests and others such as this paddleboarder drop in for a conch lunch at one of the eateries in Blue Hills

Da Conch Shack is a beautiful ocean side eatery

Delicious conch salad, fritters and rum punch too

Our guests at Harbour Club Villas and Marina are often seen having lunch or dinner down in Blue Hills as it is a quaint and charming part of Providenciales not to be missed. The road rambles along the shore line and was the first paved road on the island. Work started on Front Road in 1956 at a time when there was no heavy machinery. Much of the work was done by local residents and by hand and took some ten years to complete.

See you soon enjoying the local flavours, sights and sounds of Blue Hills.

Marta

www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hermit Crab’s New Home

Posted on March 18, 2020 by marta

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

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hermit Crab’s New Home

Posted on March 17, 2020 by marta

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 as is a species of large edible sea snail

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

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Babalua Beach Day

Posted on March 16, 2020 by marta

Babalua Beach is one of those wonderful little beaches a bit hidden and out of the way.

Babalua Beach is simply a lovely spot for lazing in the water, snorkeling around the rocks or the reef just off shore, pelican watching, and exciting for the kids too. It is on the other side of the Turtle Cove Marina boat channel.

The water is always crystal clear as you wiggle your toes in the sand and the shallows as the sun creates sparkling prisms on the water.

Dive boat returning from diving Provo’s spectacular reefs.

Snorkeling in the shallows around the rocks

Always fun to see all the colourful fish.

The rocks are home to numerous little crabs.

A pretty blue crab scuttles along the rocks….hard to catch in a photo.

Kids love to explore as they climb onto and around the rocks.

What a spot to photograph our national bird, the Brown Pelican.

Babalua is full of activity. I managed to get up real close to the pelicans and the resulting photos were spectacular. The Caribbean brown pelican, has a wingspan of around 5 to 8 feet and a weight of 6 to 12 pounds. Endless entertainment as they dive bomb into the water and scoop up fish in their large bills, which can hold up to 3 pounds. Their bills are a natural sieve that will drain out all of the excess water.

A swooping pelican comes in for a landing.

The rocks create a shallow calm area to enjoy the water.

A treasure found while snorkeling….that’s a sea urchin test.

A snorkeler takes a close look at a beautiful King Helmet shell

Eve finds and takes a closer look at a spectacular King Helmet shell while snorkeling off Babalua beach a while ago. They have a thick, glossy “shield” on the inside of the aperture on the bottom of the shell. This can be carved into cameos, and so they are sometimes called “cameo shells.

The King Helmet is a species of very large sea snail with a solid heavy shell.

Keep a watch for these striking shells as you snorkel. The waters are brilliantly clear and hopefully you will enjoy seeing a variety including the Queen Conch.

And here’s a monster turtle cruising the shallows. It was the biggest one I’ve seen to date.

Providenciales is blessed with the most extraordinary beaches.

We’d love to have you enjoy our “Beautiful by Nature” islands.

Take some time to travel around Providenciales and while away a few hours at our more hidden beaches that are tucked away. Here at our villas…….Harbour Club Villas and Marina, we can give you ideas as to where you might go. We’ve been on Provo for over 20 years and know all the best spots. Hope to see you soon!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hummingbird Nest at Harbour Club Villas Part 3

Posted on March 14, 2020 by marta

At about two weeks old, the baby hummingbird is filling the nest nicely — At two weeks old, the baby hummingbird is filling the nest nicely

The little hummingbird grows very fast in its’ third week of life. Mama is flying back and forth and feeding every half hour or so. When females feed their young she inserts her long bill into a part of their esophagus and passes to them a mixture that is both nectar and insects.

Such comfort but can you imagine if there were two babies.

Nestling being fed a mixture of nectar and insects

Baby is getting quite big and can catch flying insects

Showing perspective of just how tiny the nest is

At three weeks of age, the little baby hummingbird is looking like a real hummingbird. It keeps testing its wings more and more in preparation for flight. In the next few days, this little one will fly off and I will no longer be able to photograph him daily. Sad really but I loved having been able to catch this all on camera from nest building to baby’s flight.

Hungry after that exercise and mama’s right there

And here’s the very last photo of the young hummingbird

For many weeks I photographed this delightful hummingbird. A nest was built by the mother hummingbird and she laid two eggs. One egg disappeared but I was lucky enough to film the little nestling right through to a few days after leaving the nest.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.

Marta

www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hummingbird Nest at Harbour Club Villas Part 2

Posted on March 13, 2020 by marta

Two little eggs were laid but only one left……….perhaps taken by one of our critters like a pygmy boa.

Unfortunately, one day when I looked in the nest, only one egg remained. I asked around and found out that it could have been a snake that made off with the egg. In any case about two weeks after the eggs were laid, a baby hummingbird hatched.

Just hatched…too bad I didn’t get it on camera!

The mother hummingbird disposes of the broken egg shells after the babies are hatched. When the baby hummingbirds hatch, they have no feathers and dark skin and they are hatched with their eyes are closed.

Momma flies in to feed the little one.

The mother hummingbird drinks nectar and eats tiny bugs. she then will regurgitate the slurry substance that her baby can easily digest. She flies in every 20 minutes or so to feed this mixture to the baby hummingbirds. Of course there are usually two babies to feed so she’s kept very busy.

Big yellow beak and wide open mouth just waiting to be fed.

The baby grows pretty fast and the feathers are coming in.

When the baby hears the whirring of the Momma’s wings, it pops up and opens its beak ready for feedings

A good perspective so that you can see how tiny the nest is as compared to an adult hand

When the baby hummingbirds are first born, the mother hummingbird will spend most of her time sitting on the nest, keeping the baby hummingbirds warm.

The baby hummingbirds will feel the wind from the wing of their mother and lift their little heads up and open their mouths.

The mother hummingbird puts her beak all the way down into the mouths of the baby hummingbirds while dropping a little of the regurgitated insects and nectar inside.

Big commotion and twittering as the momma hummingbird chases off a curly tail lizard……she fans out her tail feathers as a warning.

The baby quickly doubles in size.

After one week, the baby hummingbird is covered in tiny little fuzzy feathers

The baby spends a lot of time snoozing but grows very quickly with all the daily feedings

More to come as the baby starts moving around more and grows large enough to fill up the nest.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hummingbird Nest at Harbour Club Villas Part 1

Posted on March 13, 2020 by marta

The start of a hummingbird nest in a potted Desert Rose at Harbour Club Villas and Marina

Two weeks ago, I noticed a hummingbird flying around a Desert Rose that I had growing in a pot at our villas at Harbour Club Villas and Marina. I noticed something on a branch and on looking closer discovered the start of a nest. She was a busy little bird flying to and fro gathering bits of bark, spiders nests, fibers and the hairs from the Old Man Cactus. An amazing piece of work!

Here she is perched on the nest.

A close-up view of the nest showing the delicate, soft bits lining the inside.

Here she is bringing back some wisps of white fluff for the nest.

Love this one as she looks overcome by all the bits and trying to pack them down.

Hummingbirds bring little bits of fluff, bark, fibers back to the nest a little at a time and it’s glued all together with spider webs. The nest will stretch because of the spiders webs as the babies grow. The photo above shows her with webs over her beak and body as she tries to pack it all down. The hummingbird will camouflage the nest as much as she can by using small sticks, bark and plant pieces for the darker outside of the nest. The parts of the nest that may catch the sun are done with lighter materials while the darker parts of the nest are in the shade and blend in with the surroundings.

Notice that the nest is beginning to take shape and this is three days after I first spotted it.

She uses her wings and presses the nest against her body so that she can get the perfect shape and rounds off the center.

The nest is pointed towards the bottom join in the branch and you can clearly see the bits of plant materials used.

The nest is getting bigger and more rounded but it’s only like less than two inches across.

She’s letting me come up fairly close to her as I take all my photos.

My little hummingbird lays her first egg seven days from my noticing the nest.

She continues building the nest and doesn’t start incubating the eggs until she lays the second one.

Pretty colours as she lands on the nest.

I managed to capture her flying in with wings spread and feet grasping the edge of the nest.

Beak open as she brings more plant material for her nest.

It’s difficult to catch them in flight as the wings are beating so fast.

And then there were two little eggs. She laid them two days apart.

She will now start incubating the eggs and continue to build up the nest.

My desert rose is starting to bloom.

Usually the Momma hummingbird works on her nest for about four hours per day with many, many trips to gather materials as well as feed. She can make as many as 40 trips in a day.

She will sit on the nest incubating the two little jelly bean sized eggs for approximately 16-18 days before they hatch.

And so, she’s sitting on the eggs probably until the end of September when hopefully I’ll be able to post more photos of the eggs hatching and baby hummingbirds in the nest. I can’t wait. Make sure to check back in to see the babies. Marta http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

MyTurksAndCaicosBlog.com

Turks and Caicos Vacation, Travel, Fishing, and Diving

South West Bluff and Osprey Rock

Historical Salt Cay and St. John’s Church

Harbour Club Villas and Marina

BEACHES

SCUBA DIVERS

BONEFISHING

Each Harbour Club Villa has:

Blue Hills

Hermit Crab’s New Home

Hermit Crab’s New Home

Babalua Beach Day

Hummingbird Nest at Harbour Club Villas Part 3

Hummingbird Nest at Harbour Club Villas Part 2

Hummingbird Nest at Harbour Club Villas Part 1