Category Archives: Turks and Caicos Islands

“Yappy” Hour on Provo

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"Yappy" Hour at Horse Eye Jack's in Blue Hills, Provo

What a fun afternoon/evening we had at the first “Yappy” Hour held at Horse-Eye Jack’s down in Blue Hills. There was a great turn out of dogs and their two legged owners with a percentage of the proceeds going to the Turks and Caicos SPCA.

All kinds of items were for sale including tickets for a cash pot ....the winner receiving half and the TSPCA the other half.

 

Give your voice to an animal and become a member.

 

Closeup of the banner .......... help animals in need.

Ripley is such a handsome fellow as he greets a friend.

 

The kids enjoyed dancing to the DJ

These two potcakes were smiling as they watched the festivities

A potcake drawing on the floor of Horse-Eye Jack's

A well needed shower had cleared the deck at Horse-Eye Jack's and then we were treated to some wonderful sunset colours

Spectacular colours as the sun went down and storm clouds moved in for for rain

A fisherman with conch poles his way along the shore on his home made raft

 

Stunning hues at sunset

The TCSPCA welcomes your help in all their projects such as the annual Christmas Fair, TCSPCA Dog Show, and their yearly calendar showcasing all the animals they have helped. Other revenues come from membership fees, private donations of money and pet related products including veterinary supplies and grants from the Potcake Foundation and the government Conservation Fund. This is a great organisation so please support them and do whatever you can to help. Thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors of the first ever  “Yappy” Hour and we’re hoping it will become another annual fun event.

 

Keep those tails waggin’

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

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This juvenile yellow crowned heron came for a visit and a drink from the pool.

It’s been so hot of late and this juvenile, yellow crowned night heron has been visiting the pool at Harbour Club Villas to cool off and to get a drink. Juvenile night-herons have different plumage from the adults. The juvenile is grayish-brown overall with thin spotting on the back and upperwings. This heron is a year round breeding resident in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The adults look quite different and are dark gray over all, with black on the face and a large, white ear patch. The crown is also white. In breeding season, they get white, thread-like plumes on the back of the head and long, plumes of feathers on the back.

The adult night heron has a thread like plume on the back of its head

Yellow-crowned night herons acquire adult plumage by two years of age. It makes a living catching crabs and especially likes land crabs, and will even dig into their burrows to catch them. Although primarily nocturnal it does sometimes hunt in the day, and can be found quietly stalking through the dry bush looking for a meal. They’ve been seen eating cockroaches too.

He didn't like me approaching him and kept making warning noises.

Juvenile night heron with gorgeous brownish grey spotted feathering

 

Piercing yellow-orange eye

Preening yellow crowned night heron sitting on the pool fence at Harbour Club Villas.

looks pretty fierce here as he gets ready to fly off.

 

Love the long plumes from the back of his head.

Our guests at Harbour Club Villas are frequently surprised by both Green Herons and Yellow Crowned Night Herons as they fly in to drink water from the pool. It’s lovely to see and watch them as they squawk and make their presence known. It’s almost like the pool belongs to them and how dare these non flying creatures be allowed to lounge around at will!!

 

Happy bird watching……….the Turks and Caicos Islands has many species of birds and this is just one of them.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

 

 

Stunning Leeward

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Stunning colours on the beach at Leeward..........it was so beautiful, soft white sand, warm turquoise waters and a blue sky dotted with white clouds

Clear blue waters with a cruise boat heading off to another spectacular beach

Yes, you too can bask in the sunshine on many of our amazing beaches…….come and see us in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

 

See you soon!

 

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

Old Man Cactus

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The most common cactus found in the Turks and Caicos Islands is the Dildo Cactus more locally known as Old Man Cactus

Take a look around you in our local bush and frequently you will see this spectacular cactus. The Dildo Cactus with its rather suggestive name is locally called the Old Man Cactus and is probably the most commonly found cactus in the islands.

The tips of the branches are sporting tufts of a white hairy substance resembling an old man's beard

The Bahama Dildo cactus has long tubular branches ribbed with from eight to 12 sections bordered by sharp spines. Often the tips are covered with a fine white wool resembling an old man’s beard hence the local name…Old Man Cactus. This white wool is a favourite for nesting material and was used by my recent humming bird when building her nest.

Flower bud forming on the cactus

 

Bahama Dildo flower bud just about to open

An exotic, white flower and I think it only blooms at night.

The white flowers of the Bahama Dildo Cactus attracts butterflies as well as insects searching for nectar. The bright red fruit is sweet and juicy and is eaten by our local birds which they end up depositing complete with seeds and fertilizer to begin the cycle again.

The lushious, red fruit of the cactus is a favourite snack of our birds.

The Bahama Dildo cactus bearing fruit.

 

Glorious Provo sunset with an Old Man Cactus towering up to the blazing orange skies

Dildo cactus with a turquoise ocean backdrop

Tip of a cactus branch with tufts of white silky hair

Look to the hills on Provo's south shore paradise and you'll find many Old Man Cacti.

Our landscape is dotted by these spectacular looking cacti. I must say, I’ve found it difficult to capture the Old Man Cactus in flower but I keep trying. Most of my photos are taken at Harbour Club Villas and the south shores and I’m constantly adding to my photo library.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourbourclubvillas.com

 

 

 

 

Humming Birds at Harbour Club Villas Part 2

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The hummingbird nestlings are hungry all the time and have tripled in size.

Our little baby hummingbirds are growing so fast and are now fluffy and always hungry. Mama hummingbird spends her days flying back and forth feeding them and they fill up the nest with scarcely room for her now.

Little hummingbirds almost fill up the nest but Mama still manages to squeeze herself in.

 

Mama hummingbird feeding her babies

 

Beautiful little hummers all soft and feathery and look how they fill up the nest now.

 

More sweet nectar as the mother hummingbird feeds her little ones

Poolside hummingbird nest and I'm amazed at how it has survived some pretty strong winds.

Beautiful irridiscent feathering on the Bahama Woodstar hummingbird

Hungrily this little one opens up his beak just as it waits for some food.

 

I'm hoping I'll get to photograph them as they start trying their wings ready to fly.

The palm frond is sagging quite dramatically and turning yellow so it won’t last too much longer. Enough time though for these two little ones to start trying their wings. The nest has survived some brutally strong winds and rain plus a lot of sun making for a real hot spot with not enough shade. We did put up some shade cloth but after the wind ripped it down a couple of times, we just gave up.

Hoping to have more photos as the week goes on.

 

Marta

 

www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

Fools Regatta 2012

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The kids on their Pico's are dwarfed by the fast sailing Minx as she heads out racing to Pine Cay and back.

The first Fools Regatta was held in 1990 and the Minx was part of that first race so many years ago along with the Beluga. This year’s event brought out crowds of people even though the weather was cloudy and a tropical storm made for an exciting day in more ways than one. This year the sailing club introduced the kids to 12 Laser Picos and these have been ideal for training the islands’ younger sailors.

The Caicos Sloops were all in competition for the Tom Lightbourne trophy

Young Provo Sailing Club member watches the races.

 

These three little sisters were having a blast playing in the water.

 

Even some of our four legged friends got in on the water fun

 

Provo Primary Steel Band provided some lively music...those kids are amazing!

 

Storm clouds moving in, the water turned choppy and the winds kicked in.

 

The Beluga and a native Caicos Sloop racing through the waters

 

Awards ceremony with the lovely young presenter receiving the "fools" cap

Winners in the Caicos Sloop A Class category.....Congratulations!

Capt. Tim of the Beluga wins the Bent Prop award for his mad, heart pounding, wind forced dash towards the beach!

Another Regatta is over and this one will be remembered for it’s hurricane like abrupt end. Nonetheless, we all had a great time. Lots of sailing and racing, fun, laughter and seeing and enjoying friends. Well done everyone and the volunteer effort always amazes me. You are all stars in my book!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

Hummingbirds at Harbour Club Villas

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She built her little nest in the pygmy palm right at the entrance to the pool at Harbour Club Villas.

A Bahama Woodstar hummingbird built her tiny nest right at the entrance and walkway to the pool at Harbour Club Villas and Marina. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve walked by there and not noticed anything until that one time when I looked straight at her sitting on her nest. It is such a joy for me to be able to photograph these tiny little birds and right on our doorstep. Can’t imagine what possessed her to build a nest on a main walk through though! On May 28th morning, we discovered the nest and that same afternoon she laid her first tiny egg followed by the second a day later. Today, the second baby hummingbird hatched.

She is so tiny and has beautiful colours on her wings.

 

Flying in for a landing as she returns to her eggs.

Look at the irridiscent green of this little hummingbird's head and wings.

 

Here she is in flight.....so difficult to catch as my camera has a delayed shutter and I frequently miss those great shots.

 

The first little baby hummingbird hatches and it won't be long before the next one arrives.

 

It has been so hot and the pygmy palm is a little lacking in full on shade for the Mama hummingbird.

Note the piece of egg shell caught on the nest. She must have pecked it out so the baby birds would have room in the nest.

 

Can you see that she is actually standing in the nest......probably because of the heat these last two days while the eggs were hatching.

They are so tiny and ever so cute waiting for mama hummingbird to return

 

Feeding time for the little ones!

 

Perched on the side of the nest with one baby visible

A closer view of the two little hummingbird chicks and check out their soft, downy looking bottom of the nest

 

The proud mama hummingbird..........not too much rest for her in the days to come!

Hopefully I’ll be able to do a part 2 as the baby hummingbirds grow. I’m a little worried as the palm frond is already yellowing and has a definite downward droop to it. It’s also really hot and not an awful lot of shade.

Enjoy the photos,

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

Beach Sunset

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Stunning mackerel sky as the sun hides behind the clouds on Grace Bay beach recently

A sail boat cruises by as the sun sets casting gorgeous orange shimmers on the ocean

What a picturesque evening on the beach drinking Pimm’s in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee recently.

 

Cheers

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com