South West Bluff and Osprey Rock

Bonefish Point

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.

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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.

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A large patch of wild sea island cotton

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Sea island cotton has such pretty yellow blossoms

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

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

Osprey Rock

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.

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The ocean looking from the pirate’s cave

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

Osprey at Osprey 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.

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

The shallows with a southern sting ray cruising through

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

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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

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Chitons are found attached to the rocks

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Interesting rock formations

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

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

Bonefish Point

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.

Flamingos in the distance

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

Flying flamingos

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

South West Harbour Bluff

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Glorious wild sea island cotton along one stretch of the road to South West Bluff and Osprey Rock

A hot sunny day and a trip out to South West Harbour Bluff with visiting friends and some guests staying at Harbour Club Villas. On the road out, we came across some sea island cotton growing wild alongside the road. The cotton had popped and was waving in the wind. We spotted some flowers too…………yellow and delicate.

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A beautiful cotton flower amongst all the white cotton pods

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On top of the bluff looking towards Bonefish Point

Some of us waded through the water to the cave and climbed up the ladder and out onto the bluff. What a view. Others stayed on the beach enjoying a cold beer.

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Perfect day for a cold beer and looking out over the ocean.

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Inscriptions from shipwrecked sailors are found on top of the bluff.

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Osprey nest with two young is perched on top of Osprey Rock

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Chitons attached to the rocks are impossible to pry off

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View after climbing up the ladder at Pirates Cave and out on top of the bluff.

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Sweet little hummingbird nestlings overlooking the beach.

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The mama bird kept buzzing us and we found this nest in the overhanging bush.

Lovely day, wonderful company and so many sights to see. One of the most beautiful parts of Provo that is great for taking photos and walking along the beach out to Bonefish Point.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Birds at French Cay

A Laughing Gull displaying its breeding plumage

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.

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.

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

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.

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

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Osprey

An osprey on our walk out along the beach to the North West Point

An osprey on our walk out along the beach to the North West Point

We went for a long walk along the beach towards the North West Point where we spotted a magnificent osprey. He had just caught a fish which is what they feed on exclusively.

Ospreys will soar along the coast line as they search for ripples made by fish

Ospreys will soar along the coast line as they search for ripples made by fish

The osprey is found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands where it is a year round resident. Every time we head out to the North West Point, we always see them. This time, I managed to get up fairly close and was happy at how well the photos turned out.

A great beach for beachcombing and an added bonus was to see this osprey.

A great beach for beachcombing and an added bonus was to see this osprey.

The osprey was a little agitated as I got closer and he didn't want to stop feeding on the fish

The osprey was a little agitated as I got closer and he didn't want to stop feeding on the fish

The osprey that breed in the Turks and Caicos Islands are a distinct sub-species that have a faint stripe behind the eye. Ospreys that are not from the region have a pronounced black stripe. If you enjoy bird watching you’ll definitely see ospreys as you wander some of the beaches.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com