Category Archives: Flora and Fauna

Green Turtle

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Green turtles are often seen at the Bight Reef on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Green turtles are often seen at the Bight Reef on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Here’s one of Mike’s great turtle photos taken while snorkeling at the Bight Reef. There are probably three species of marine turtles in the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands……green turtles, hawksbill and the loggerhead. Divers and snorkelers alike can be assured to see a few turtles during their stay in the islands.

A close up view of a Green Turtle

A close up view of a Green Turtle

Unfortunately, these beautiful creatures are often caught for eating and are now on the endangered list.
A local fisherman with comes in with his catch of lobster and this turtle

A local fisherman comes in with his catch of lobster and this turtle

Turtles are thought to mature between 30 and 50 years of age and apparently only one in a thousand turtle eggs survives to become a mature and reproductively active adult. We are hopeful that protective measures are being implemented to save our local Turks and Caicos turtles.
Marta
http://www.diving.tc

Spring Orchid

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I noticed this beautiful orchid growing at Harbour Club Villas today. I've been looking for it as I know it should be starting to bloom about now.

I noticed this beautiful orchid growing at Harbour Club Villas today. I've been looking for it as I know it should be starting to bloom about now.

 

Encyclia Rufa is the name of this orchid and the yellow flowers grow in clusters.  They are often found growing on thatch and silver palms and flowers can start to appear from early February until July.  The Spring orchid is currently listed on the endangered species list.

Yellow flowers of Encyclia Rufa our Spring Orchid that is found growing wild throughout Providenciales.

Yellow flowers of Encyclia Rufa our Spring Orchid that is found growing wild throughout Providenciales.

Have a look in the bush as you travel around Provo……….you’ll be sure to see the Spring Orchid.

Have fun,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sea Ox Eye Daisy

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The Sea Ox Eye Daisy found growing right off the sand among some rocks at Long Bay Beach

The Sea Ox Eye Daisy found growing right off the sand among some rocks at Long Bay Beach

I’m just amazed at how many wild flowers I see that are growing here in the islands. Some grow in the most precarious positions just out of pockets of dirt or sand in the rocks. There are two species of Sea Ox Eye Daisy found in The Turks and Caicos Islands. The one above has the official name of Borrichia Frutescens whose succulent leaves are covered in a fine silver fuzz. Until I took a close look at my photos, I didn’t realize there were two species.

Bright yellow flowers resembling a daisy appear throughout the year

Bright yellow flowers resembling a daisy appear throughout the year

This Sea Ox Eye Daisy is named Borrichia Arborescens and has leaves that are a deep green and smooth. These beautiful flowers are used by the locals and brewed into a tea for calming nerves and the stomach. The tea also treats colds, asthma, allergies and food poisoning. You can also eat the leaves in a salad to boost your Vitamin C content.

Watch for these pretty flowers the next time you are out for a walk.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sea Urchin

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A sea urchin found on the beach still has spines attached and with some neat looking encrustations

A Club or Pencil sea urchin found on the beach

 

Isn’t this something ! Anna found this sea urchin on the beach and I thought it just had all kinds of encrustations making it look quite unique. However on looking things up, I discovered that this is a Club or Pencil urchin.

See you on the beach,

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Passionflowers on the beach

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Our trip to the beach today was spectacular as I found these beautiful passionflowers growing along the sand dunes.

Our trip to the beach today was spectacular as I found these beautiful passionflowers growing along the sand dunes.

This flower is also called a Wild Apricot and a number of them are found in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I wanted to take some photos of the water through the waving sea oats and discovered passionflower vines blooming, some with pinkish red fruit and the flowers were also a little different. The one shown below had a pale pinkish tinge to the petals.

A delicate passionflower with a pink tinge to its petals

A delicate passionflower with a pink tinge to its petals

This passionflower had a deep purple centre...........just so beautiful so look for them on your next trip to the beach

This passionflower had a deep purple centre...........just so beautiful so look for them on your next trip to the beach

I’m still looking to find some red passionflowers and also I once saw a deep crimson one. I believe somewhere in my photos I do have pictures so I will look for them and put them up in another post.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Janet’s Bonefish

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Wow..........what a beauty. Janet's first bonefish caught out at Bonefish Point on Providenciales

Wow..........what a beauty. Janet's first bonefish caught out at Bonefish Point on Providenciales

Grinning from ear to ear, one of our guests at Harbour Club Villas shows off her very first bonefish. Apparently it was 20 inches long and weighed 4 lbs 5 ozs. It took out about 120 feet of line on the second run. Janet sighted the bonefish about 30 feet away and cast right infront of it. The fish took the fly gently and made at least six runs. On the last run, the bonefish turned 180 degrees and headed straight towards her. She frantically had to try and wind the line back in so as not to lose the fish.

Catch and release id the name of the game

Catch and release is the name of the game

Now I know why they call bonefish the "silent grey ghost of the flats"

Now I know why they call bonefish the "silent grey ghost of the flats"

The Turks and Caicos Islands have some of the most spectacular ocean flats where you can wade and bonefish.
See you in the Turks for your next bonefishing vacation.
Marta
http://www.bonefishing.tc

Humpback Whale

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Magnificent creature..........Diving with a humbacked whale

Magnificent creature..........Diving with a humback whale

We had three guests that went out diving today with Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers. Our guests were treated to an amazing dive when a humpback whale was sighted out at West Caicos. They quietly slid into the water and stayed together while observing this magnificent creature. Zach thought it was at least 50 feet as it was much larger than the bottom of the Flamingo’s boat. A perfect day of diving! Diving the reefs and walls of the Turks and Caicos is a wonderful experience………….visibility is excellent with an abundance of marine life.

Hope we see you soon when you head our way on your next dive trip.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Whale Watching

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Humpbacked Whale has flippers that are heavily scalloped and that are often a third of its total body length.

The Humpback Whale has flippers that are heavily scalloped and that are often a third of its total body length.

Once again, I have to thank Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers for letting me use these incredible shots of the humpback whale they dove with in late January. These wonderful creatures can grow in length from 40 to 60 feet (12 to 15 meters) and can live from 70 or 80 years. The humpback whale is generally a blackish colour with a white area covering the throat grooves. They are playful and can throw themselves completely out of the water which is called “breaching”.  Salt Cay is truly the Whale capital of the islands from January to March every year as this is where the Atlantic Humpbacks migrate to the Silver Banks to calve and mate.

Impressive view of a Humpbacked Whale........head on down to the Turks and Caicos now and see them for yourselves
Impressive view of a Humpback Whale……..head on down to the Turks and Caicos now and see them for yourselves

Now’s the time to see whales in our beautiful waters. Book that trip soon and have an experience of a life time seeing these magnificent creatures.

Marta
http://www.diving.tc

Humpback Whale

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What a glorious sight........a humpbacked whale. Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers and their group swam with this humback whale for the entire dive.

What a glorious sight........a humpback whale. Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers and their group swam with this humpback whale for the entire dive.

 For those of you that have dreamed of seeing whales, now is the time to head down to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Every year from late January through April, the North Atlantic Humpback Whales migrate to the Silver Banks which is a mating and nursery area north of the Dominican Republic. Our islands are in the middle of this annual migratory route and the Humpback Whales can be spotted and heard “singing” all over the Turks and Caicos…………from West Caicos, Salt Cay, Grand Turk and even off the Malcolm Roads beach where I actually saw a mother and calf several years ago………my first and only sighting of a whale!

Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers spent asome time up close and personal with a Humpbacked Whale on a recent dive trip.

Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers spent some time up close and personal with a Humpback Whale on a recent dive trip.

Jayne writes: “We had a humpback show up on our dive on Jan 20th – stayed with us the entire dive, even followed me to my safety stop and did it with me! Then it came back to our divers on the 2nd dive. It was amazing. I’ve attached a couple of pics….(I have 196 of them so won’t send them all!!!!!)”

Thanks Mickey and Jayne for the great photos.

Book your dive trip now and you too will hopefully see the Humpback Whales migrating. Call me or email me at Harbour Club Villas and we’ll organize everything for you and or put you in touch with the diving experts.

See you soon……remember that if you want a chance at seeing whales, now is the prime time!

Marta

http://www.diving.tc