Hermit Crab’s New Home

Here he is again carrying his very distinctive red, tube style home.

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.

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.

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.

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 !

OK……….finally it’s time to move in !

Almost set to go and settling in.

Almost set to go and settling in.

Home Sweet Home and we're on the road again.

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

Four new homes lie ready and waiting for this Hermit Crab I found in our wild area today

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.

The reddish pipe or tube like container didn’t look all that comfortable.

Checking out a Tulip Shell for size and fit??

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.

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!!

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
 

Sandbar at Bonefish Point

A beautiful walk from the little beach by Osprey Rock all the way to Bonefish Point

A high light of any trip out to South West Bluff is the beautiful walk from the beach at Osprey Rock down to Bonefish Point.

Osprey Rock in the distance as we wade through the shallows

A mangrove is salt tolerant and look at the roots.

Miles of beach with only us walking along the shoreline.

Bone fisherman stalking the flats for the elusive bonefish

A Haitien sloop washed up along the shore

Sad to say, we often see these wrecked Haitien sloops carrying probably 100 or more people to what they think will be a better life. Many are caught and repatriated.

Pin cushion sea stars love the sandbar. We found many of them.

That’s an amazing flat but make sure you have your fishing license with you if you plan to fish

Turquoise waters and brilliant white powdery sand

Mr Crabby shows his fighting form.

In search of starfish at the sandbar

A picturesque, dream of a day at Bonefish Point

A perfect afternoon to wade into the water at Bonefish Point

On another rather cloudy day, a storm changed the colours to a soft pastel combination of hues.

These great kids hammed it up for the camera in the shallows of the sandbar.

These great kids hammed it up for the camera in the shallows of the sandbar.

Some local kids were fishing  with one fishing rod and a hand line but I’m not sure that they caught anything other than disturbing a blue crab, a cushion starfish and a conch.

A blue crab wasn't too impressed with facing the camera but he was let go after his modeling debut.

A blue crab wasn’t too impressed with facing the camera but he was let go after his modeling debut.

The boys were having fun finding starfish and a conch while their Dad or uncle continued sitting and fishing.

The boys were having fun finding starfish and a conch.

Life is always interesting around the sandbar and on this day I lucked out, smiling kids, someone fishing, finding a small blue crab, a bright orange cushion starfish, a conch and of course, the muted colours of the ocean at low tide and passing storm clouds. Wow! What a spectacular and lovely day.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Flora and Fauna at Harbour Club Villas

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An anole lizard wards off visitors on Harbour Club Villas’ office deck.

Another week of photographing some of the critters wandering through the gardens at Harbour Club Villas along with our beautiful wild orchids that have just started to bloom. I came home the other day to this anole lizard guarding our deck. He wasn’t too pleased to see me but did pose long enough for me to snap a photo or two.

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Cute anole and he had the most gorgeous colours on top of his little head.

 

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A pretty shell house for this little hermit crab……..he didn’t want to go to the pool!

We often find hermit crabs also know locally as soldier crabs ambling on through. Sometimes we even help them by giving them a choice of a new home. There’s also been some strange houses such as PVC pipe, an old film canister and basically they’ll use whatever they can find in the moment. This one had a very pretty shell.

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We often find hermit crabs and I’m sure I’ve photographed many of them.

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Here’s a gorgeous Encyclia Altissima wild orchid.

The wild orchids are blooming all over Providenciales. Found our first Encyclia Altissima orchid today just starting to bloom and what a beautiful scent they have.

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A cluster of wild orchids in the bush by Harbour Club Villas

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A Cuban tree frog ……….. look at those suction pads.

This little Cuban tree frog is not native to the Turks and Caicos Islands but they are spreading rapidly throughout.

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Pretty amazing to see how far they can jump!

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A yellow bellied sap sucker………this is a new bird for me and really exciting to see.

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Here he is pecking holes in our coconut palms.

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A row of old holes and then the new ones.

It was thrilling to catch sight of and photograph the yellow bellied sap sucker. Definitely not easy to do as they are very shy birds and hard to get a photo of them.

Hoping we can show you some of the local critters around Harbour Club Villas…lots of birds, lizards, geckos and some beautiful flowering plants and shrubs.

Marta

A Beautiful Leeward Afternoon

Ripples on the rocks, ripples in the sand, gentle waves and calm, turquoise waters.

An afternoon spent on the beach at Leeward brought many interesting sights and things to photograph. This island is rich in natural beauty and you don’t even have to look for it. Here are some of the photos taken in just a few hours.

A group of Black-Necked Stilts dropped by for a visit.

Elegant, long pink legs and quite noisy as they circled and dive-bombed .... not sure if there was a nest nearby??

 

Stilts are a common breeding resident of our islands.

 

Leeward rocks with patterns created by the clear waters

 

A small crab scuttles along the rocks and disappears quickly from the camera's view.

 

A grinning potcake with no collar was happily taking a cooling swim.

 

 

A beautiful starfish and look at that water....spectacular!

 

Ten or so starfish but why were quite a few floating? I'm hoping it wasn't that they were dying. Anyone know?

Washed up on the shore.

 

Brown Pelican sits on his favourite perch at Leeward

 

Constant entertainment watching the pelicans as they dive into the water for fish.

So that’s it, a lovely afternoon at Leeward and many photos later.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sand Bubbler Crab

Look down and see the amazing art works at your feet

This fascinates me and I’m always looking down as I stroll along our Provo beaches. You’ll see those intricate balls of sand that form some wondrous patterns in the sand. I finally had to look this up and found out that it is all the works of a small crab……the Sand Bubbler Crab.

Sand bubbles created by the Sand Bubbler Crab

At low tide, the sand bubbler crabs emerge from their holes beneath the sand to gather microscopic food that the tide has brought in. They do this by collecting and sifting the sand, actually checking each grain, and rolling those parts that have nothing useful for them into little balls (sand bubbles) that they toss behind.

A little crab emerges from its burrow in the sand at low tide to search for food.

Sand bubbler crabs live in burrows in the sand, where they remain during high tide. When the tide is out, they come out on to the surface of the sand, and scour the sand for food, forming it into inflated pellets, which cover the sand and form some great designs.

Kinda looks like a palm tree to me!

Next time you are wandering on one of our beautiful beaches, take a look and see some of these intricate designs in the sand. A sand bubbler crab artist will be hiding near by just too shy to come out and take a bow!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sunshine Sunday

Another spectacular Sunday and as you can see we're having such calm seas that we just had to head out over the blue turquoise waters.

Another spectacular Sunday and as you can see we're having such calm seas that we just had to head out over the blue turquoise waters.

This little crab had the most vivid colours I've ever seen, red and orange and blue eyes. I believe it is called a Sally Lightfoot crab.

This little crab had the most vivid colours I've ever seen, red and orange and blue eyes. I believe it is called a Sally Lightfoot crab.

I'm still looking to find out the name of this delicate "shell."

I'm still looking to find out the name of this delicate "shell."

We were treated to a beautiful sunset but no "Green Flash" this time.

We were treated to a beautiful sunset but no "Green Flash" this time.

The ocean at dusk as we headed for home

The ocean at dusk as we headed for home

Another magnificent Provo Sunday enjoying the calm and unbelieveably clear water. It was a joy to be out on the water.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Land Crab

Barry found this night visitor down by one of our villas

Barry found this night visitor down by one of our villas

As Barry was making the rounds this evening, he heard a loud noise and couldn’t imagine what it could be until he spotted this huge land crab.

This one was super aggressive as he waved his formidable claw at the camera

This one was super aggressive as he waved his formidable claw at the camera

Barry yelled at me to bring my camera…………I was in the shower and didn’t even have time to rinse off.

Close up of one impressively lethal looking claw.

Close up of one impressively lethal looking claw.

It moved really fast and we were nervous about getting too close but of course, the photo opportunity was too hard to pass up.

This Land Crab brings up his massive claw ready to attack.

This Land Crab brings up his massive claw ready to attack.

We quite often see these large crabs here at Harbour Club Villas. This one gave me lots of great photos for my collection.

 

Hope you enjoy seeing them!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Ghost Crab at Malcolm Roads Beach

This little Ghost Crab put on quite an aggressive display as I photographed him

This little Ghost Crab put on quite an aggressive display as I photographed him

Malcolm Roads beach and little Ghost Crab. I photographed it for at least twenty minutes. I wanted to capture the ocean turquoise background and the beach.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Long Bay Beach

The eastern end of Long Bay beach is so quiet and peaceful

The eastern end of Long Bay beach is so quiet and peaceful

I can’t believe that it took me this long to discover another little piece of paradise. Several weeks ago when Yogi and Pat were visiting, we stopped to take a look at this area of Long Bay. I had heard that this was where the kite boarders went for lessons because of the shallow nature of the water and also, sadly in my opinion, another new development (5 stories high!!!!) is going to be built.

The water was like a mirror and storm clouds were threatening.

The water was like a mirror and storm clouds were threatening.

It was late in the afternoon so the water was warm and so very calm with not a breath of wind. We just lazed in the shallows enjoying the last few rays of the sun as storm clouds brewed out at sea.

Footprints outlined in the sand along the shoreline

Footprints outlined in the sand along the shoreline

Yogi took a walk and I snapped this photo of the footprints he left behind and the deepening shadows. I just love this time of day for picture taking. He called us to come and see what he had found…………a blue crab in the water. I took several photos and then realized that my digital takes photos under the water……….it just goes against the grain to put a camera into the water and friends tease me as I always hold it up high trying not to get it wet. When we got home and I put the photos up onto the computer, I was again surprised as the photos showed not one but two crabs who were mating.

A blue crab mating pair is called a "doubler"

A blue crab mating pair is called a "doubler"

The male cradle carries the female for two to seven days until molting is imminent. This serves two purposes: the male protects the female from predators and it assures that the male will be present when the female’s shell is soft and she is able to mate.

The male blue crab defends his mate as my camera came closer

The male blue crab defends his mate as my camera came closer

Once the female molts, the male releases her. She’ll only mate this one time in her life while her shell is soft. The male turns her upside down so that their abdomens are touching and copulation will last some five to twelve hours. Once again the female is clasped and cradle carried until her shell has had a chance to harden. The male will continue to mate with others while the female won’t release any eggs until 2 to 9 months after mating.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com