Category Archives: Flora and Fauna

Conch Season Opens

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Conch season opened several days ago.

Conch season opened several days ago.

I didn’t know we had a conch season here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I found out yesterday that Conch season opened Oct 15th and will run until July 15. Conch has played an integral part in the islands’ history. The Taino and Lucayan indians subsisted on conch and the Bermudians and American Loyalists also fished for conch for their food as this was a cheap food source rich in protein. Conch from the Turks and Caicos Islands was actively traded with Haiti on board Caicos-built sloops. Millions of conch were dried and shipped reaching a peak in 1943 when 3.9 million conchs were exported

Conch assembly line on the beach in Blue Hills

Conch assembly line on the beach in Blue Hills

Using a small hammer with a pointed head, the conch is “knocked” with a hole between the second and third row of nodes on the shell’s spire and this provides access to the tendon that holds the animal in its shell. The animal can then be pulled out by its claw which is removed with a fileting knife along with some tough skin and knobs.

The conch is "knocked" and the animal removed from the shell.

The conch is "knocked" and the animal removed from the shell. The translucent "rod" can be seen against the pink of the shell.

The long, translucent  and gelatinous rod know locally as “the pistol” or nature’s own Viagra is pulled out. This is quickly eaten as it is purported to be an aphrodisiac.

To many, this is the best part of the conch!!

To many, this is the best part of the conch!!

On a really good day, about 1,000 conch can be harvested. In recent years a quota for export has been set at 1.6 million pounds which does not include the shells. Some of the discarded shells are used by local crafts persons to create some lovely looking gifts for our visitors to take back home for family and friends.

Conch shells lined up and ready for sale in Blue Hills.

Conch shells lined up and ready for sale in Blue Hills.

Enjoy a selection of conch dishes when you are in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Are you brave enough to eat “the pistol”?????
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

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Saw and photographed this colourful and lovely looking butterfly the other day

Saw and photographed this colourful and lovely looking butterfly the other day

This is a Gulf Fritillary and it is one of the most frequently seen butterflies in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Not only is it beautiful with its rich orange with black markings but on the underside, it is even more spectacular.

Intricate patterns on the underside of the butterfly's wings.

Intricate patterns on the underside of the butterfly's wings.

This butterfly is also known as the Passion butterfly as the caterpillars feed on the many passionflower vines found here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The side view shows the patterned wing which has silvery spots.

Colourful head markings on a Gult Fritillary

Colourful head markings on a Gult Fritillary

Close up of the beautiful markings found on the underside of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Close up of the beautiful markings found on the underside of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

We encourage you to keep your eyes open so that you can spot these butterflies as you travel about our islands. The Turks and Caicos has some 40 species of butterflies that have been recorded.  

 

Look out for those butterflies!!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Kestrel

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I managed to get some photos of an American Kestrel as he perched on a palm frond behind one of our villas.

I managed to get some photos of an American Kestrel as it perched on a palm frond behind one of our villas.

It was so great to see what I thought was a hawk behind one of our villas at Harbour Club today. I ran back to our villa and grabbed my camera. On looking it up, I found out that American Kestrels are also known as Sparrow Hawks but they are not true hawks but are a member of the Falcon family of birds. They resemble the Peregrine Falcon which is a distant cousin.

I'm not sure if this one is a female or a male Kestrel

I'm not sure if this one is a female or a male Kestrel

These birds are a common sight here in the Turks and Caicos Islands and are year round breeding residents. There was two of them and I’m now thinking that the one above was the female and one below is the male.

If this is the male Kestrel, he didn't stick around for me to get a better photo.

If this is the male Kestrel, he didn't stick around for me to get a better photo.

I’m sure these birds are attracted by our large population of lizards here at the villas and this makes for good hunting grounds.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

A Day on the Water

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This beautiful pink tipped sea anemone looked like it was growing out of an old conch shell.

This beautiful pink tipped sea anemone looked like it was growing out of an old conch shell.

 Another great day spent with friends on the water. As we waded to our little cay with the iguanas, I came across a pink tipped sea anemone. It appeared to be growing out of an old conch shell encrusted with marine life.

This iguana was ready to hide under the sea grape bush if we came any closer.

We saw many iguanas on the little cay and they were probably introduced some years ago.

The iguanas scurried away as we approached and this one was almost ready to put up a fight. He positioned himself so that he could hide in the brush under a sea grape bush if he needed to.
Three pelicans all in a row were feasting on a large school of little fish

Three pelicans all in a row were feasting on a large school of little fish

As we anchored off the pirate’s cave and Osprey Rock, we were treated to a pelican show…………..three Brown Pelicans and their synchronized dive bombing for fish show. It was spectacular to watch as I positioned myself in the water in the hopes that they would feed close beside me.
Look at the huge stretch of this pelican's gullet.

Look at the huge stretch of this pelican's gullet.

Little fish were jumping all around as the pelicans swooped time and time again.
I love the way they skip along the water trying to get enough lift to launch into flight.

I love the way they skip along the water trying to get enough lift to launch into flight.

And finally, front row seats for the best view in the world and a grande finale to the day. The sun sets over Turtle Rock, and we head back to Harbour Club’s Marina.

We watched the sun go down from the waters of Taylor Bay.

We watched the sun go down from the waters of Taylor Bay.

A perfect ending to another Provo day filled with sun, fun, good friends and alot of laughter. We wish the same for you as you make plans to visit soon.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com  

Snorkeling close to the Reef

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Ready to jump in for a snorkel out close to the reef off Fort St George Cay

Ready to jump in for a snorkel out close to the reef off Fort St George Cay

The water was amazingly clear and calm as Barry and Ania get ready to jump in for a snorkel. We were moored a little ways out from Fort St George Cay.
The water was quite shallow even though we were a ways from the shore.

The water was quite shallow even though we were a ways from the shore.

Barry shows us a huge Sea Biscuit.

Barry shows us a huge Sea Biscuit.

The sandy bottom was littered with large sea biscuits. We then made our way closer in to the shore at Fort St George
to see if we could find the canons that are laying in shallow water. We did find them but that’s for my next post.
There are several great snorkeling spots here on Provo.  Happy snorkeling!
Marta
http://www.diving.tc

The Bight Reef

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Wow........flat calm at the Bight Reef also known as the White House Reef.

Wow........flat calm at the Bight Reef also known as the White House Reef.

Provo has two great snorkel areas close to the shore line……….The Bight Reef or the White House Reef at Coral Gardens and Smith’s Reef just outside the entrance to Turtle Cove Marina. Usually you’ll see turtles, lots of fish such as parrot fish, angel fish, blue tangs and sometimes spotted eagle rays along with beautiful coral formations.

Look at the clarity of the water as Alexis prepares to head out snorkeling

Look at the clarity of the water as Alexis prepares to head out snorkeling

We have some of the best snorkeling ever here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Come and see us soon and enjoy snorkeling on our reefs.

Happy snorkeling,

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Blind Eye Bush

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One of the most unique looking flowers that I've seen here in the Turks and Caicos

One of the most unique looking flowers that I've seen here in the Turks and Caicos

Yesterday was a rainy and over cast day and in the late afternoon the skies cleared a little. I took my camera and headed out into the bush to see what I could find. The rains had made all the difference and wildflowers were blooming all over. I found this strange looking bush with the most unique flowers and seed pods and with an even more curious name………… Blind Eye Bush.

The creamy flower of the Blind Eye Bush has a long, elongated column that curls back up into the flower.

The creamy flower of the Blind Eye Bush has a long, elongated column that curls back up into the flower.

This bush had flowers in different stages of development along with unusual screw like seed pods a little like cones.

Here are the brown twisted seed pods.

Here are the brown twisted seed pods.

This was a shrub about 5 foot tall and it grows throughout the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands in coastal and marshy areas. The leaves are in an elongated  heart shape often with jagged edges. The reproductive parts of the flowers are at the end of the elongated column.

The long column coming from the centre of the flower, carries the reproductive parts.

The long column coming from the centre of the flower, carries the reproductive parts.

I must say that this Blind Eye Bush is one of the most unusual plants I’ve seen. I also saw some beautiful flowering vines…..Jaquemontia, Cynanchum, Wild Alamanda, Milk Pea and Urechites or Devil’s Potato along with Jamaican Trash, Jack Switch, Mosquito Bush, Wild Senna and I also managed to get some close up photos of a Gulf Fritillary butterfly.

Blind Eye Bush with it's showy flowers.

Blind Eye Bush with it's showy flowers.

How lucky we are to be surrounded with all this natural beauty. Everywhere I go there’s a photo just waiting to be taken or in my case, hundreds of  potential shots!

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Land Crab

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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

Tiny shells

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A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A beach walk on one of the south side beaches and a beautiful discovery………….thousands of tiny shells deposited in a large pile on the sand by the ocean. 

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

 

Happy shelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sword Bush

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I found many beautiful flowering Sword Bush shrubs all over the property at Harbour Club Villas

I found many beautiful flowering Sword Bush shrubs all over the property at Harbour Club Villas

This is an amazing looking shrub when you get up close to it. The leaf like branches are elongated and flattened but what’s interesting is that there are ridges or toothed areas along the leafs edge. From these toothed areas, minute little clusters of flowers appear.

Toothed ridges burst out in clusters of red miniature flowers

Toothed ridges burst out in clusters of red miniature flowers

The Sword Bush is fairly common in our area and I found both pink and red clustered flowers as I wandered around the bush here at the villas.

This Sword Bush was loaded with clusters of pink flowers.

This Sword Bush was loaded with clusters of pink flowers.

The bright red flowers make for quite a showy sight on this Sword Bush.

The bright red flowers make for quite a showy sight on this Sword Bush.

 In bush medicine, the Sword Bush can be used for coughs and colds………….I’m not quite brave enough to try this but I am fighting through a sore throat, cough and cold as I write this! The leaf like branches can be chewed and then spat out. The bitter tasting leaves can be boiled into a pretty bad tasting tea which supposedly stops vomiting.

The flowers develop into seeds and it really does look quite spectacular

The flowers develop into seeds and it really does look quite spectacular

I’ll let you know if I do decide to chew on some leaves.
Oct 3………..I did chew on some leaves for a couple of days. They were very bitter but I can’t tell you honestly if my cold got better because of this or because it had run its cycle.  Next time though, I’ll try chewing on the leaves right away!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com