Category Archives: Flora and Fauna

The Sandbar at Bonefish Point

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The sandbar at Bonefish Point......an idyllic afternoon of lazing in six inches of water.

Light winds and pretty smooth seas so off we headed to Bonefish Point. We hadn’t been out there for ages and it was spectacular as always.  The shore line has changed somewhat but as usual, we nosed right onto the sandbar and stepped off the boat into about two feet of water. Right away we sighted some beautiful pin cushion star fish, a large orange and a yellow one and then a smaller sandy coloured one. They were just laying in the shallows and our little munchkin was fascinated by them.

Malaika was enthralled with the starfish as we taught her to keep them under the water.

As you can see, the sandbar is really shallow and extends quite a ways out to where the boat is anchored in two feet of water.

We strolled along the deserted beach looking for shells and bits of coral.

 

Malaika stops to call out to her Dad who's on the boat.

We thoroughly enjoyed the day  and walking along this stunning stretch of shoreline. A big bonus was seeing all the starfish and getting a close up look at them in the shallows.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turtle Rock

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Snorkeling out at Turtle Rock this afternoon was fantastic........calm waters and oh so clear.

Snorkeling out at Turtle Rock this afternoon was fantastic........calm waters and oh so clear.

We anchored off Turtle Rock for a lazy afternoon………..we had lunch and drinks along with some good snorkeling. This unique rock formation looks like a turtle and is part way between South Dock and Osprey Rock on the south side of Providenciales.

Unusual rock sculptures jutting up out of the water.

Unusual rock sculptures jutting up out of the water.

The water was “cold” for those of us that have been on island for so long but nonetheless, I braved the water to get some close shots of these unusual rock formations at Turtle Rock.

Barry will do anything for a beer as he "hangs" around Turtle Rock.

Barry will do anything for a beer as he "hangs" around Turtle Rock.

I had to bribe Barry with extra beers to make him pose for the camera.

I had to bribe Barry with extra beers to make him pose for the camera.

Lobster for dinner as we hailed a passing fishing boat.......four nice sized lobster tails.

Lobster for dinner as we hailed a passing fishing boat.......four nice sized lobster tails.

A nice sized grouper along with a parrot fish were caught that day.

A nice sized grouper along with a parrot fish were caught that day.

The snorkeling was amazing through a channel between the rocks and since it was low tide, we were in three or four feet of water.

Come snorkel with us here on Providenciales and in the other islands of the Turks and Caicos.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

West Caicos Beach

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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
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sunshine Sunday

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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

Dolphins on the Way to French Cay

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A lone dolphin swims alongside and infront of our boat on the way to French Cay today.

A lone dolphin swims alongside and infront of our boat on the way to French Cay today.

I walked up our hill this morning overlooking the marina at Harbour Club Villas and was greeted with an ocean like a mirror. I took a few photos and shot off an email with photo to friends………It’s a French Cay day! Look at the calm ocean. Let’s aim for 10 am.

It was an amazing sight and the colours of the ocean were unbelievable.

It was an amazing sight and the colours of the ocean were unbelievable.

We weren’t too far out when we sighted a lone dolphin and we played with him for a while as he played in the wake of the boat and skimmed along with his head right between the pontoons of the boat.
He was just surfacing and about to blow the water out of his blowhole.

He was just surfacing and about to blow the water out of his blowhole.

Dolphins breathe through a blowhole located at the top of the head. Water in a dolphin’s blowhole will drown the dolphin so it uses powerful muscles to close the blowhole so that it can dive under the water again.
This is one of my favourite photos taken today and you can see ever so clearly the dolphin that swam along with the boat.

This is one of my favourite photos taken today and you can see ever so clearly the dolphin that swam along with the boat.

 

A great smile and close up of the dolphin.

A great smile and close up of the dolphin.

We also saw a mother dolphin and her baby but she wanted nothing to do with us. She was protecting the little one and so we left her alone. 
I only managed to get the shapes of the mother dolphin and her little one as the water was rippling and distorting the dolphins.

I only managed to get the shapes of the mother dolphin and her little one as the water was rippling and distorting the dolphins.

More photos to come of our French Cay trip today but it will have to wait until the next post.
Marta
http://www.diving.tc

Conch Festival 2010

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Samples of delicious conch salad were on offer at the Conch Festival this afternoon in Blue Hills.

Samples of delicious conch salad were on offer at the Conch Festival this afternoon in Blue Hills.

We had such a great afternoon of fun, laughter, meeting friends, music, singing and dancing and  watching the numerous competitions from tug o’ war to conch blowing.

The multi talented David Bowen was MC for the event and he showed everyone how to produce sound from a conch shell.

The multi talented David Bowen was MC for the event and he showed everyone how to produce sound from a conch shell.

A competitor in the conch blowing contest dressed in traditional Turks and Caicos Island national costume.

A competitor in the conch blowing contest dressed in traditional Turks and Caicos Island national costume.

The happy winner of the conch blowing competition

The happy winner of the conch blowing competition

The kids were all having such a fun time in the tug o' war.

The kids were all having such a fun time in the tug o' war.

Mother nature treated us to a wondrous rainbow sunset..the sky was a blaze of orange and pink with a beautiful rainbow to top it all off.

Mother nature treated us to a wondrous rainbow sunset..the sky was a blaze of orange and pink with a beautiful rainbow to top it all off.

More photos to come tomorrow.

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Reef Sharks

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Reef shark checks out the camera on a dive with Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers

Reef shark checks out the camera on a dive with Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers

I’m at a real disadvantage with underwater photos but thanks to Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers, I get to “borrow” theirs. We had guests diving with them all week and they were excited to see lots of sharks.

Reef sharks were sighted all week on the many dives led by Flamingo Divers

Reef sharks were sighted all week on the many dives led by Flamingo Divers

Such spectacular photos by Mickey and Jayne. Thanks guys!!!!

If you are looking for a great diving experience with wonderfully service oriented dive masters, check out Flamingo Divers at their website www.flamingodivers.com. Grab your dive buddy, give us a call and we can arrange both diving with Flamingo Divers and accommodations at Harbour Club Villas.

We’ll do all the work and all you have to do is enjoy the amazing diving to be had here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Happy Diving.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.diving.tc

The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

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The colourful wings of the Monarch butterfly........wings have white spots on the outer margins, and have orange patches.

The colourful wings of the Gulf Fritillary........wings are a brilliant orange and the undersides have large silvery spots.

I was wandering along the road side by Harbour Club Villas and spotted this pretty Gulf Fritillary Butterfly also called a Passion butterfly. It wasn’t the least bit concerned that I was there and seemed almost to pose for the camera. I had never before noticed that butterflies have a coiled proboscis by which they sip liquid food. This tube-like proboscis is a long, flexible “tongue.” It uncoils to sip food, and coils up again into a spiral when not in use. Gulf Fritillaries’ favourite nectar is provided by the passion flowers and the vine’s leaves are the caterpillar’s preferred food.

Here's a close up shot of the Monarch Butterflies' coiled proboscis.

Here's a close up shot of the Gulf Fritillary's coiled proboscis.

The Monarch butterfly stayed still for quite a long time and I was able to get up very close without it flying away.

This magnificent butterfly stayed still for quite a long time and I was able to get up very close without it flying away.

The Gulf Fritillary is the most common large butterfly in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Gulf Fritillary is the most common large butterfly in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands have some 35 species of butterfly.

 

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wild flowers

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On our way back home from the gym, I spotted a brilliant flash of red in the bush. I told Barry to stop and back up. Sure enough it was my first sighting of the Wild Potato that starts blooming before Christmas.

On our way back home from the gym, I spotted a brilliant flash of red in the bush. I told Barry to stop and back up. Sure enough it was my first sighting of the Wild Potato that starts blooming before Christmas.

 

Stunning red flowers on the Wild Potato also known as Ipomoea Microdactyla.

Also, the other day I spotted my first flowering wild orchid at Harbour Club Villas. Beautiful tall Encyclia Altissima with its yellowish brown petals and purple and white striped labellum. The labellum is the lip like part of the orchid which attracts those insects that pollinate the flower, and acts as a landing platform for those insects.

The tall, slender Encyclia Altissima orchid in bloom and such a heavenly scent too!

The tall, slender Encyclia Altissima orchid in bloom and such a heavenly scent too!

The Turks and Caicos Islands have so many different wild flowers that visitors can watch for as they enjoy their island  holidays.

 

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com