Category Archives: Providenciales

Baby Hummingbirds

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Here's the little baby hummingbird just waiting for Mama to bring him some food.

Here's the little baby hummingbird just waiting for Mama to bring him some food.

Hummingbirds have long tongues and I didn't know that until I saw this photo.

Hummingbirds have long tongues and I didn't know that until I saw this photo.

To reach the nectar at the base of a long flower tube, a hummingbird will extend its tongue past the bill to a distance at least as long as the bill. I’m not sure if the baby hummingbird was trying to lap something up or just preparing for his Mama and feeding time.

The Mama hummingbird arrives for a feeding.....she's on the left and baby has cocked his head away from the camera for the feeding so I didn't get and good photos.

The Mama hummingbird arrives for a feeding.....she's on the left and baby has cocked his head away from the camera for the feeding so I didn't get any good photos.

 

He was looking around for his Mama......we could hear her but couldn't see her.

He was looking around for his Mama......we could hear her but couldn't see her.

 Hummingbirds feed by dipping their tongues into nectar at up to 12 times a second. The mother humming bird will eat nectar and bugs and then regurgitate the substance into a slurry mixture the baby hummingbirds can digest. She inserts her beak all the way down into the mouths of the baby hummingbirds while dropping the regurgitated insects and nectar inside.

Almost grown and ready to venture out on its own.

Almost grown and ready to venture out on its own.

Hope you enjoyed the last few posts on these extraordinary little creatures. I sure had fun watching and photographing them.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Bahama Woodstar hummingbirds

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The two baby hummingbirds have almost outgrown their little nest.

The two baby hummingbirds have almost outgrown their little nest.

Here's a closeup of these two cute little baby hummers.

Here's a closeup of these two cute little baby hummers.

The Bahama Woodstar hummingbird babies are almost ready to fly and leave the nest

The Bahama Woodstar hummingbird babies are almost ready to fly and leave the nest

I’ve been keeping an eye on the two baby hummingbirds these last few days. All of a sudden when I checked, there was only one baby left in the nest. I looked around for Mama and the little one that had flown off but couldn’t see him. Then yesterday, there was lots of twittering going on and the the mother hummingbird was calling to the one baby who had flown a short ways into our ficus tree. He was low enough that I managed to get a few photos which I will post tommorrow.

The proud Mama hummingbird perches on our clothes line and keeps flying off to find food for her babies.

The proud Mama hummingbird perches on our clothes line and keeps flying off to find food for her babies.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Baby Hummingbirds at Harbour Club Villas

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I looked up and straight ahead and saw a small hummingbird nest with two beaks sticking up in the air.

I looked up and straight ahead and saw a small hummingbird nest with two beaks sticking up in the air.

I was taking in the laundry today and all of a sudden I heard the humming of a hummingbird………..Barry had told me that he had seen one frequently out back of our cabin. I looked up searching for the tiny bird and to my surprise, I looked directly at a nest that was in our Poui tree. I could see two little beaks pointing straight up in the air.

The two baby hummingbirds were snuggled side by side in the nest.

The two baby hummingbirds were snuggled side by side in the nest.

The nest is made out of soft materials like moss and lichen, cotton fluffs, soft plant pieces, dryer lint, and leaf hairs. Items are brought back to the nest a little at a time and glued together with spider webs……..there’s loads of those here at Harbour Club!

I wanted you to see how this nest is cradled in a tri-fork of a Poui tree.

I wanted you to see how this nest is cradled in a tri-fork of a Poui tree.

The Mama hummingbird looks for a place that is well off the ground to prevent predators such as ants, snakes, and predatory birds finding the nest. It must also be sheltered from wind and the heat of the sun during the main part of the day. She found a really good solid base in our Poui tree where three branches had grown from a knot.

The two baby hummingbirds are so sweet and almost look like they are getting too big to fit both of them together.

The two baby hummingbirds are so sweet and almost look like they are getting too big to fit both of them together.

I’m thinking these two little ones will be flying the nest pretty soon as they seem to be really squished in there together.

A beautiful twosome.........I'm hoping if I watch close enough, I'll see them trying to fly really soon.

A beautiful twosome.........I'm hoping if I watch close enough, I'll see them trying to fly really soon.

Here's a closeup of one of the babies in the nest.

Here's a closeup of one of the babies in the nest.

And so, I’ll be watching the babies and hoping to get a few photos as they learn to fly. The positioning of the tree and the nest may make it difficult as I don’t want to scare them. We’ll see………hope you enjoy these photos.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Lobster Hunt

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An abundance of Lobster as we headed out late this afternoon to catch them

An abundance of Lobster as we headed out late this afternoon to find some lobster.

 A late afternoon, spur of the moment decision had us heading out to find some lobster for Pete’s last night on island before he leaves tomorrow for Kentucky. I wish we could say that we actually caught them ourselves!!!  No such luck as we motored off towards Five Cays and the fish plant knowing we could hail some boats and get some lobster the lazy man’s way. We whistled to a local fishing boat and they had a few lobsters on board.

 

We managed to hail a small local fishing boat.

We managed to hail a small local fishing boat.

 As the fishing boat drew near, we could see that their catch for the day was not huge. In past years the boats would be filled……………over harvested perhaps???

A nice, one man dinner sized lobstertail.

A nice, one man dinner sized lobstertail.

 

Pete looks like he's ready to sample some delicious Caribbean Spiny Lobster

Pete looks like he's ready to sample some delicious Caribbean Spiny Lobster

 

Do you think anyone will believe Barry when he tells them he dove and caught several lobsters?

Do you think anyone will believe Barry when he tells them he dove and caught several lobsters?

 

Lobster fishing on the second day of Lobster Season in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Lobster fishing on the second day of Lobster Season in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Once we had bargained over the price for the lobsters, we stopped at Bay Cay for refreshments. It’s hard work negotiating you know!!!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com  

Sunday Beach Day

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Barry deserves top billing as he "frolics" in the water with an ever present Coors Lite!!!

Barry deserves top billing as he "frolics" in the water with an ever present Coors Lite!!!

We motored out from our Marina channel to a small sliver of white powdery sand beach for a few hours Sunday afternoon

We motored out from our Marina channel to a small sliver of white powdery sand beach for a few hours Sunday afternoon

It was pretty windy and the ocean was rough last Sunday but we thought it would be fine. It was a bumpy ride over the white caps so much so that I was literally gripping onto the hand rail. Luckily we were protected from the wind and things calmed down as we approached and moored at a little beach.

As I explored the island, the others stayed on the boat and slowly made ready to enjoy the water.

As I explored the island, the others stayed on the boat and slowly made ready to enjoy the water.

I was thrilled to see several Rock Iguanas and I could hear the rustling of many others as they made their escapes before I could spot them.

I was thrilled to see several Rock Iguanas and I could hear the rustling of many others as they made their escapes before I could spot them.

The Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana was re-introduced to several of the many little Cays. It is an endangered species of lizard and is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The waves were pounding on the far side of the island and I was fascinated by the large rock formation with a hole in it.

The waves were pounding on the far side of the island and I was fascinated by the large rock formation with a hole in it.

We enjoyed the sun, sand and beach and of course we had it all to our selves. Even the iguanas didn't mind sharing this little spot of paradise.

We enjoyed the sun, sand and beach and of course we had it all to ourselves. Even the iguanas didn't mind sharing this little spot of paradise.

There’s so many idyllic beaches and secluded getaways in these picture perfect islands. We hope you’ll come down and visit us in the Turks and Caicos Islands soon and enjoy what our islands have to offer.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Papaya or Paw Paw

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Papaya trees come in one of three sexual forms: male, female and hermaphrodite and the photo above is of a male flowering papaya.

Papaya trees come in one of three sexual forms: male, female and hermaphrodite and the photo above is of a male flowering papaya.

The Papaya tree or Paw Paw is found growing wild throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands and we have several here at Harbour Club. Presently, Barry and I are juicing these wild papayas almost every day as we have so many that are ready to eat right now.

Male flowers are formed in clusters and grow on a branched drooping stalk

Male flowers are formed in clusters and grow on a branched drooping stalk

Male Papaya flowers have no ovaries and therefore do not produce any fruit. Female flowers have an ovary and are borne on the stem of the plant where the leaf is attached.

Beautiful yellow flowers of the female gender have five petals and are rather waxy looking.

Beautiful yellow flowers of the female gender have five petals and are rather waxy looking.

Some papaya bear only short stalked female flowers while others bear male clusters of flowers and pollination is done by the wind.

The bright yellow petals start to wilt and turn brown as the fruit starts growing

The bright yellow petals start to wilt and turn brown as the fruit starts growing

A small papaya fruit appears and starts to grow

A small papaya fruit appears and starts to grow

The ovary of a female Papaya plant must receive pollen from either a male or hermaphrodite plant before it can be fertilized and produce a fruit bearing viable seeds. Insects and or the wind will carry the pollen.

A small baby papaya starts to grow as the yellow petals die off.

A small baby papaya starts to grow as the yellow petals die off.

Harbour Club's papaya trees are loaded with small fruits ready to be picked.

Harbour Club's papaya trees are loaded with small fruits ready to be picked.

Papaya trees can grow from 6 to 20 feet tall and have a head of foliage much like a palm tree up at the top. The trunk is soft wooded, never developes a bark and is ringed with scars from previous leaf stems that have dropped off.

Tall papaya trees reaching to the skies laden with fruits

Tall papaya trees reaching to the skies laden with fruits

Wild papaya fruits aren’t really that large but they are favoured by the birds so long as Barry doesn’t get to them first. They are delicious served up as a smoothie or eaten with lots of fresh lime juice.

If you throw out these seeds they'll be sure to grow more trees.

If you throw out these seeds they'll be sure to grow more trees.

Papain from the papaya is used by the locals and applied topically for the treatment of cuts, rashes, stings and burns. It is said that Christopher Columbus named the papaya or paw–paw, ‘the fruit of the angels’. Try some papaya with fresh lime juice for a tasty treat…….it is ripe and soft and has a sweet and delightfully vibrant orange flesh much like the consistency of a peach.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Storm Clouds at Bonefish Point

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Ominous thunderclouds roll in at Bonefish Point

Ominous thunderclouds roll in at Bonefish Point

What an amazing sight as our friends swam back out to the boat before the storm ……… the ocean turned to a deep turquoise as the ominous thunderclouds rolled in. The sandbar and beach at Bonefish Point created a sparkling sliver of brilliant white breaking up the intensity of the brooding sky and sea.  We pulled up the anchor and headed back to Harbour Club Marina.

 

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com