Category Archives: Turks and Caicos Islands

Sea Urchins Part 2

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Kai collects sea urchins found in the seaweed along the beach at the North West Point

Kai collects sea urchin tests or skeletons found in the seaweed along the beach at the North West Point

Every trip out to this particular stretch of beach at the North West Point results in finding sea urchin skeletons or “tests”. There were hundreds of them this particular day and Kai and Sandra couldn’t believe their eyes at how many had been washed up and were lying in the seaweed.

Some sea urchin tests lie half buried in the sand whilst others were on the seaweed

Some sea urchin tests lie half buried in the sand whilst others were on the seaweed

There are more than 700 species of sea urchins and the name means sea hedgehog, hedgehog being one meaning of the word “urchin”. Some of the most frequently seen colours are black, red, brown, purple and pink.

My favourite sea urchin test are the greenish ones...........they are so beautiful

My favourite sea urchin tests are the greenish ones...........they are so beautiful

 

Here's a close up ......... it's so interesting especially with that greenish tint.

Here's a close up ......... it's so interesting especially with that greenish tint.

Did you know that sea urchins in large populations are a good thing as they graze on algae and prevent algae overgrowth on reefs?

Happy shelling,

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Sea Urchins

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Low tide exposes an interesting seascape......an underwater garden of sea urchin beds

Low tide exposes an interesting seascape......an underwater garden of sea urchin beds

Another walk out at the North West Point where the beach is usually strewn with sea urchin tests (skeletons). If you walk out into the water you will find many live sea urchins which are black and black with red. These sea creatures apparently come in many different colours.

Sea Urchins tucked into holes in the rocks under the water

Long-spined Sea Urchins tucked into holes in the rocks and the coral reef just below the water out at the North West Point

Sea Urchin bodies are covered with spiney shells....the spines are moveable.

Sea Urchin bodies are covered with spiney shells....the spines are moveable.

The bottom side of a sea urchin has five teeth with which they eat algae. They are found in areas where there are lots of seagrass, seaweed and other foods.

Black moveable spines protect the sea urchin from predators

Black moveable spines protect the sea urchin from predators

Close up of a sea urchin

Close up of a long-spined or black sea urchin

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Haitien Sloop

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Last night another Haitien Sloop made landfall at Long Bay beach

Last night another Haitien Sloop made landfall at Long Bay beach

We went out to Long Bay today as we were told that another Haitien Sloop had landed up on the shore. It must have come in under the cover of night with probably over 100 illegal Haitiens. We’ve had such calm seas which makes for an easier crossing.

The sails were still up as we wandered up to it along the beach

The handmade sails were still up as we wandered up to it along the beach

The beach and trail to the road is littered with discarded clothing, backpacks, shoes and even a cooking pot.  

The sloop was listing badly with the a sail dragging in the water

The sloop was listing badly with the a sail dragging in the water

The waves were quite strong when we were out at Long Bay today and I’m sure the sloop will get quite a pounding.

One last look as we head up the rocks and the trail out to the road

One last look as we head up the rocks and the trail out to the road

 

Illegal Hatiens arrive on our southern shores all too frequently……….some are caught and sent back home. Their boats are left on the beaches wherever they make landfall. These sloops are left to the elements and gradually are broken up by the wind and waves.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Island girls

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Oh so cute..........these two "Little Miss Turks and Caicos Islands" posed for the camera on the beach in Grace Bay

Oh so cute..........these two "Little Miss Turks and Caicos Islands" posed for the camera on the beach in Grace Bay

I tried so hard to get some unposed shots but these two cuties must have been in some beauty pageants or even watched their big sisters.

Smiling kids having fun in the calm waters of Grace Bay

Smiling kids having fun in the calm waters of Grace Bay

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

TCSPCA Dog Show

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I know I'm going to get doggie treats for this smile!!!!

I know I'm going to get doggie treats for this smile!!!!

What a great event ………. every year I  look forward to it and head down to Turtle Cove Marina. This year’s Turks and Caicos SPCA dog show was bigger and better than ever.

This little guy was four months old with a mind of his own (the potcake I mean)

This little guy was four months old with a mind of his own (the potcake I mean)

Lil'Bug just didn't want to negotiate the tunnel on the obstacle course. Look at the cute pink bows.

Lil'Bug just didn't want to negotiate the tunnel on the obstacle course. Look at the cute pink bows.

Too cute for words........the winners of the owner and dog look a like contest

Too cute for words........the winners of the owner and dog look a like contest

This duo posed for lots of photos

This duo posed for lots of photos

The end of the obstacle course required going through these canine jaws

The end of the obstacle course required going through these canine jaws

Who can resist a loveable face like this????

Who can resist a loveable face like this????

On your next visit to Provo, stop by and see if there’s any way you can help the Turks and Caicos SPCA. They do such good work and perhaps you can contribute by giving a donation.

Keep those tails wagging!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

North West Point Walk Part 2

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Here's the pelican gobbling up a fish while the seagull hovers waiting to snatch a tasty morsel.

Here's the pelican gobbling up a fish while the seagull hovers waiting to snatch a tasty morsel.

We stopped to sit for a while and take in the view of the waves breaking on the shore. You can just make out the Amanyara resort way down at the end of the coastline.

Pat takes a break and just above her head you can make out the Amanyara Resort

Pat takes a break and way past her at the other end, you can make out the Amanyara Resort

As we walked along the beach towards Malcolm Roads and the Amanyara, I came across something just lying there in the sand. It was an egg and the best I could come up with on the internet was that it looks like a sandpiper egg. This would make sense and most of the birds we saw were Ruddy Turnstones, a common visitor here to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This egg was just laying there in the sand. It had black, brown and greyish markings.

This egg was just laying there in the sand. It had black, brown and greyish markings.

Here's a Ruddy Turnstone. It's fun to watch them scurrying about along the sand and rocks

Here's a Ruddy Turnstone. It's fun to watch them scurrying about along the sand and rocks

Once we got onto Malcolm Roads beach we were ready to hit the water. We had such fun riding the waves and playing in the surf.

Yogi disappears in the surf and all that can be seen are his legs and feet.

Yogi disappears in the surf and all that can be seen are his legs and feet.

Pat enjoying the breaking waves

Pat enjoying the breaking waves

 

What a great way to end the day………….playing in the waves as they came crashing into the beach at Malcolm Roads.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

North West Point Walk

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The road was washed out in two spots...............quite deep too but we pushed on through to explore and find this new beach.

The road was washed out in two spots……………quite deep too but we pushed on through to explore and find this new beach.

Yesterday we set off to explore a beach along the North West Point coast line that we’ve never been to but had heard about from some of our recent Harbour Club Villas guests. We had turned around the day before as it was getting dark and we didn’t know how deep the washed out part of the road was.

Wow! A spectacular rocky shoreline with powdery sand beaches

Wow! A spectacular rocky shoreline with powdery sand beaches

This stretch of beach is between the North West Point and Malcolm Roads beach and we basically walked the beach in both directions. There are some great dive sites off this beach and two of them are named Shark Hotel and Black Coral Forest.

Typical vegetation of the area including this beautiful Cactus Tree just starting to bloom.

Typical vegetation of the area including this beautiful Cactus Tree, Consolea nashii, ( locally called horse pear) just starting to bloom.

We watched a pelican being harrassed by sea gulls as it skimmed and dove into the water catching fish. The gulls would literally sit on top of the pelican in hopes of stealing a tasty morsel of fish.

I'm not sure how well you can make this out but the seagull was dancing on the pelicans head

I’m not sure how well you can make this out but the seagull was dancing on the pelicans head

I’ll post more tomorrow as we had such a great time seeing this part of Provo. It was our first trip out here and I’m sure we’ll return many more times.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Osprey

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An osprey on our walk out along the beach to the North West Point

An osprey on our walk out along the beach to the North West Point

We went for a long walk along the beach towards the North West Point where we spotted a magnificent osprey. He had just caught a fish which is what they feed on exclusively.

Ospreys will soar along the coast line as they search for ripples made by fish

Ospreys will soar along the coast line as they search for ripples made by fish

The osprey is found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands where it is a year round resident. Every time we head out to the North West Point, we always see them. This time, I managed to get up fairly close and was happy at how well the photos turned out.

A great beach for beachcombing and an added bonus was to see this osprey.

A great beach for beachcombing and an added bonus was to see this osprey.

The osprey was a little agitated as I got closer and he didn't want to stop feeding on the fish

The osprey was a little agitated as I got closer and he didn't want to stop feeding on the fish

The osprey that breed in the Turks and Caicos Islands are a distinct sub-species that have a faint stripe behind the eye. Ospreys that are not from the region have a pronounced black stripe. If you enjoy bird watching you’ll definitely see ospreys as you wander some of the beaches.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Fool’s Regatta 2009

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The kids had such fun racing handmade rafts down at the new Bight Park

The kids had such fun racing handmade rafts down at the new Bight Park

Barry and I headed down after three to take in the festivities at the annual Fool’s Regatta on Saturday. It is always such fun and this year the emphasis was on the kids. Food and drinks along with boat races, tug o’ war, hobie wave racing and a couple of beautiful caicos sloops.

Exhausted after paddling hard in the raft race to get to the finish!

Exhausted after paddling hard in the raft race to get to the finish!

The proceeds from this year’s Regatta went to the Volunteer Fire Fighters and the new National Sailing Centre.

Guess what this little fellow is going to be when he grows up?

Guess what this little fellow is going to be when he grows up?

We watched the exciting Hobie Waves racing and each one had to have a child on board.

We watched the exciting Hobie Waves racing and each one had to have a child on board.

The fire fighters team in the tug o' war............the rope broke three times until someone went and found a less weather beaten rope

The fire fighters team in the tug o' war............the rope broke three times until someone went and found a less weather beaten rope

North Caicos was well represented by this beutiful Caicos Sloop called Messenger II

North Caicos was well represented by this beautiful Caicos Sloop called Messenger II

Such a fun day………lots of sunshine, great events to watch and best of all we ran into people we hadn’t seen in a while. A time to relax with friends and just enjoy a great day at the beach. We’ll be sure to see you at the Fool’s Regatta in June of next year.

See you then!

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Barry’s Birthday

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We spent a great afternoon on and in the water to celebrate Barry's birthday today along with visiting friends from Banff.

We spent a great afternoon on and in the water to celebrate Barry's birthday today along with visiting friends from Banff.

The water today was like a bathtub and we spent hours out at Osprey Rock and stopped at Taylor Bay on the way back.

Pelicans kept dive bombing right infront of us at Osprey Rock. What a show they put on!

Pelicans kept dive bombing right infront of us at Osprey Rock. What a show they put on!

A beautiful sunset at the entrance to Discovery Bay canals and Harbour Club's Marina

A beautiful sunset at the entrance to Discovery Bay canals and Harbour Club's Marina

Another beautiful day on the water spent with good friends……….you just can’t beat it!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com