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

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
 

Babalua Beach Day

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.

A toes in the sand and clear water day

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.
Feasting on some small fish.
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

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.

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

West Caicos Beach All to Ourselves

Shadow dancing on a deserted West Caicos beach

About two weeks ago and a smooth, calm sea found us heading for West Caicos. The boys dropped us off and left us to do a spot of fishing. It was an incredible sight to see this long stretch of deserted beach that had become much wider as Hurricane Irene swept in tons of sand. It was low tide and the water was shallow for a ways out. The waves had created ripples and sand bars and pools of water with shells and interesting bits of debris. We had the beach to ourselves with only a few pelicans that swooped in occasionally to land and shared it only with the pelicans as they dive bombed for fish. What glorious entertainment for the afternoon!

The husbands head off for some fishing and look at those ripples and as a small sand bar forms

Sand ripples formed by the wave action made for interesting patterns in the sand

There were so many bird tracks along the ripples of sand and I was fascinated with all the patterns.

A beautiful shell lies in one of the ripplesand there were lots of bird tracks in the sand

 

The brown pelicans were amusing to watch and photograph but were a little leery of my presence

Probably one of my favorite shells, the sunrise tellin shell lying at the edge of the water, made for a beautiful photo.

Me and my shadow, strolling down a beach avenue!! Just me and my shadow, all alone and feelin' good!!

 

What a glorious day and a wonderful afternoon. We’re going to return to West Caicos as soon as the weather clears………GO AWAY MARIA!!!!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

West Caicos Beach

Here's where we spent the afternoon today.........it was so beautiful.

Here's where we spent the afternoon today.........it was so beautiful.

This afternoon, we headed to West Caicos where the ladies were dropped off on the beach and the men headed off for some fishing. We had miles of beach to ourselves and only a pelican checked us out and an osprey that appeared to have a nest up at the far end of the beach.

There were so many Sunrise Tellin shells all along the shore line, some in the seaweed and others where the ocean had dropped them along the beach

There were so many Sunrise Tellin shells all along the shore line, some in the seaweed and others where the ocean had dropped them along the beach

 

A unique face stared up at me as I took photos of a coconut  that had been washed up on the beach.

A unique face stared up at me as I took photos of a coconut that had been washed up on the beach.

I was reminded of “Winston” from the UPS movie Castaway with Tom Hanks………..can you imagine having something like this to talk to if you were left stranded on a deserted beach like this one?

This is so neat that I had to post another photo of it.

This is so neat that I had to post another photo of it.Malaika was so happy to see her Poppa coming to pick us up for the trip home.

 

Barry had to show us how he can float, this time without a beer in hand.

Barry had to show us how he can float, this time without a beer in hand.

Another wonderful day on the water here in the Turks and Caicos. We hope you’ll come visit us soon for the most amazing beaches and clear water that you’ve ever seen.
Join us???   See you in the islands soon!
Marta

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