Tag Archives: Southern Stingray

A Beach of Our Own

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A little beach all to ourselves on a pre Mother's Day cruise on Saturday afternoon.

A little beach all to ourselves on a pre Mother's Day cruise on Saturday afternoon.

A bit of a late start but we headed out of our little Marina at Harbour Club Villas to our own little piece of beach paradise shared only with the local “introduced”  iguana population (I saw two) and a cruising sting ray.

We moored the boat right off the little beach on Bay Cay

We moored the boat right off the little beach on Bay Cay

We decided to celebrate Mother’s Day a day early. The water was warm as I headed down the beach through the water to explore the rocks at the far end. The reflections were great and I came up with this photo of the boat moored in some pretty shallow waters right off the beach.

Play time on our own beach as I scrambled over the rocks taking photos.

Play time on our own beach as I scrambled over the rocks taking photos.

The rock iguanas were too fast for me today!  You can see Five Cays on the horizon looking towards the Shipyards and Sapodilla Bay beyond.

A surprise visitor cruised by between the two guys and close to the boat.

A surprise visitor cruised by between the two guys and close to the boat.

A friendly Stingray cruised along in the shallows, came right between the guys. Luckily I was on the boat at the time and managed to get a few photos.

Shows you how close to the boat it came and really close to the boys.

Shows you how close to the boat it came and really close to the boys.

Late afternoon and the sun is sinking lower in the sky creating a glistening and sparkling effect on the water.

Late afternoon and the sun is sinking lower in the sky creating a glistening and sparkling effect on the water.

The joy of afternoons like this one……….idyllic tropic scenery, good friends, a beer or two, or three or more, playtime on a deserted little beach, calm waters and soft sand, always hundreds of things to photograph and of course celebrating Mother’s Day.

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Southern Stingray

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Same place but on a different day............a Southern Stingray lies partially buried in the sand

Same place but on a different day............a Southern Stingray lies partially buried in the sand

 

It was low tide in the shallows quite close to the beach at South West Harbour Bluff just off Osprey Rock. I’m not sure if you can see, but a Southern Stingray was lying in the sand and it was really huge.

You can see the distinct triangular shape of the stingray

You can see the distinct triangular shape of the stingray

Rays are fairly docile with eyes and gill slits ontop of a grey to dark brown body. A stingray eats constantly day and night and this one seemed to be resting while covered with sand. Only its eyes were exposed. As soon as I got too close (I was really careful not to agitate it) it turned and moved away.

You can see the cloud of sand in the foreground of the photo as the stingray moved away

You can see the cloud of sand in the foreground of the photo as the stingray moved away

A ray is a cartilagenous fish closely related to the shark and its natural predator is the hammerhead shark.

I hope you get a chance to see these graceful creatures as you vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Water Spout

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Here's Eva in the shallow waters off Osprey Rock with ominous black clouds rolling in

Here's Eva in the shallow waters off Osprey Rock with ominous black clouds rolling in

Yet again we hit a perfect day even with the thunderclouds hovering over the ocean and creating such colours in the water.

Eva got out of the water as this stingray came towards us and if you look carefully on the horizon, a water spout was forming

Eva got out of the water as this stingray (see the shadow?) came towards us and if you look carefully on the horizon, a water spout was forming

First we sighted the stingray and Eva quickly got up on her feet as we grabbed cameras. We were busy snapping photos of the ray when we noticed a water spout forming. Water spouts are basically a tornado that forms over water and is only the second one that I’ve ever seen.

Here's a closer view and Wow, look at the water colour due to the dark clouds

Here's a closer view and Wow, look at the water colour due to the dark clouds

Meanwhile, the stingray was still gliding along in the shallows and I managed to get several really good photos.

The stingray was cruising along in the shallow waters by Osprey Rock

The stingray was cruising along in the shallow waters by Osprey Rock

The Southern Stingray usually lies hidden under a thin dusting of sand and feeds on crabs, small fish and worms. It does have a long poisonous spine but it usually takes off at the first signs of someone getting nearer.

Look at this beauty!!

Look at this beauty!!

I can’t believe that we were so lucky to see and watch two incredible sights and both in one day. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to have such an abundance of subjects to photograph so make sure you have your camera ready at all times. The South West Bluff area and Osprey Rock are both full of interesting sea creatures so take a look once you’re on island.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc