Jim Hill Nature Walk

Posted on January 29, 2016 by marta

Jim Hill view towards Five Cays…….such calm turquoise waters today.

What an awesome day it was today. One look at that turquoise, flat calm water and a quick trip up Jim Hill ended up being a good two hours. There was an abundance of glorious wild flowers in full bloom after the rains of last week. The Turks and Caicos Islands are blessed with so much natural beauty.

The wispy, dried and twig like Broom Brush has undergone a transformation and now has white delicate flowers.

Most of the year, the Broom Brush goes un noticed as it looks withered and dry most of the time. The rains of last week created the greening of the branches and an abundance of delicate white flowers. The Broom Brush is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas.

Jacquemontia Havanensis is a twining vine and the flowers on this one had pretty pink highlights.

Many of the shrubs were covered with this little vine with star shaped flowers. Many were white but there are variations with pink and light blue colours.

I love the scent of the Bahama Strong Back which is similar to jasmine.

This shrub provides food for birds and insects and the fragrant flowers are a source of nectar for butterflies and the Bahama Woodstar Hummingbirds found in the Turks and Caicos. And when you boil the twigs and leaves making it into a tea, it relieves back pain and has medicinal properties. I’ve heard it is good for tummy problems too.

This Old Man Cactus is about to burst out with a beautiful flower……..it generally blooms at night.

Blooms are extraordinary…….satin like and with a cloying scent.

The Old Man Cactus flower is attractive to insects and butterflies and its bright red fruit is loved by our local birds.

The Wild Senna has beautiful bright yellow flowers.

The Candlewood when not flowering looks like a miniature holly bush.

The Candlewood has bright spikey orange flowers with four longer stems that look like candles, thus the name.

Encyclia Altissima, our beautiful wild orchid

I don’t know what this is but it was a pretty little daisy like weed.

Just love this one with its delicate seeds and turquoise sea background.

Sea Sage has to be one of my favourites with its multi pink and yellow cluster flowers.

Heading down Jim Hill towards the marina and Harbour Club Villas.

How I love the Wild Passionflower vine and this one was in full bloom….. check out the little caterpillar.

A little snail on the Sea Grape bush.

Pretty butterfly hovers above the passion vine.

The lovely Melochia with its’ pinkish purple flowers

A beautiful day, a wonderful photographic excursion to enjoy our local wildflowers.

Look around you as you enjoy our beautiful by nature islands.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Times of the Islands

Posted on January 16, 2016 by marta

Times of the Island……….a beautiful island magazine that’s published four times a year.

Times of the Islands current issue for Winter 2015/16 is on the stands now and I’m so excited and proud of my cover photo! Taken on a stunningly beautiful day from the top of Jim Hill. It was one of those days filled with reflections and calm flat waters that you dream about and try to capture the beauty. I know I did!!

Taken on the same day, a fishing boat heads off to French Cay and passing the Five Cays in the background.

This issue had several of my photos as you browse through reading some great articles. I was surprised to find my photo of bonefishing with Darin Bain taken on another clear bonefishing day on the back side of Middle Caicos.

Bonefishing with Darin off Middle Caicos…no land in sight just a perfect, top class bonefishing day.

Joe Cermele and his beautiful bride on his honeymoon trip to Provo. What else would you do but fish???

Joe Cermele of Field and Stream wrote an article for Times of the Islands and I arranged for him to go out with Darin on this day so I could take photographs for my bonefishing portfolio. The article is called “If You Love Me, Let Me Fish……..A newly wed’s quest for Provo bonefish.” Here’s the exert from this moment when I had gone into the water to catch some shots of the boat.

“Are those all bonefish?,” I ask Darin in disbelief of what I’m seeing. He grins and tells me I’m not going crazy. I cast directly into the center of what must be 200 gray ghosts swimming in unison like choreographed jets in an air show. I hook one instantly and the entire school follows its struggling brother. Cameras flash as I land the fish and quickly return it to the turquoise water. The school hasn’t moved far. For the next 40 minutes, bone after bone attacks my fly in what I can only describe as the antithesis of everything I know about the species. Bonefish are sly, wary, and cunning fighters. These fish would strike a hotdog if I presented it to them, and they have no qualms about swimming right up to the boat. Christen even lands a few after I hook them up. “

Times of the Islands winter issue has a great article on the TSPCA……….all volunteer run. Here are the judges at the annual dog show.

The TCSPCA has a remarkable and dedicated group of volunteers………they are all amazing people.

My favourite little donkey taken on Salt Cay

He was just the cutest little guy

A flock of flamingos on Salt Cay out at North Creek

Such beautiful flamingos taken on a trip to Salt Cay

Times of the Islands is a publication worth taking home with you. If you’d like to read the magazine from cover to cover, the link is below.

http://www.timespub.tc/pdfpub/Winter%202015-2016%20Times%20of%20the%20Islands.html

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Flamingos on Flamingo Lake

Posted on October 19, 2015 by marta

Such beautiful plumage colours on these flamingos sighted in the lake by Harbour Club Villas.

The flamingos have returned to Flamingo Lake by Harbour Club Villas and Marina on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Just recently, a friend called me to tell me she could see the flamingos feeding in the lake. She ran down to pick me up and off we drove just before sunset to find and photograph them.

These two were honking and ruffling their wings.

It was difficult to capture them because they were busily feeding with their heads in the water.

The sun was going down as a small flock of flamingos were feeding in the lake.

Preening, neck stretching and ruffling their wings.

Such beautiful birds with amazing colours

They mainly feed during the day………this one had the most beautiful colours.

Flamingos sweep their bill upside down through shallow water picking up food as they go.

I can’t believe what beautiful plumage and colours these birds have.

Flamingos are like ballet dancers so graceful in the waters

We don’t often see flamingos but these ones were so close to us in the lake just out by the villas.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Thirsty Anole at Harbour Club Villas

Posted on September 27, 2015 by marta

It’s time for relaxing and ending the day with a beer.

Pretty much every evening we head on up our hill and sit and enjoy the view over Harbour Club Marina. On this particular evening, I set my beer on the wall beside the bench and to my amazement a little anole lizard cautiously approached. He evidently was thirsty and started to lap up the beads of moisture that had formed on my Corona. What a photo op and my camera captured this cute event.

Lapping up the beads of moisture

Anole lizards are interesting to watch and they do move fast.

Just another little drink before I go!

Hummingbird Rescue

Posted on August 8, 2015 by marta

Momma hummingbird feeding her two new little ones

Harbour Club Villas and Marina have a new little guest……..a Bahamas Woodstar hummingbird has built a nest in one of our Bridal Bouquet plants. The nest has been battered by the strong winds and the lower leaf supporting the nest is slowly starting to die.

Perching on her nest to feed the babies that were just hatched a day ago.

The yellow beak of one of the two little hummingbird in the nest lined with soft hairs and fibres.

Bridal bouquet showing how off kilter the nest is.

The yellowing leaf is supporting most of the nest but it’s not going to hold for sure until the birds are ready to fly.

The two little hatchling hummingbirds are at the mother’s tail and she will have to add more to her nest to shore it up so that the babies don’t fall out.

Another hummingbird nest at Harbour Club Villas…..what a work of art!

Looking down into the nest to see the little hummingbirds.

Here are the two little hummingbirds sleeping in their soft nursery.

A photo showing the sloping angle of the nest

Our little grandson peaks into the nest to see the new hatchlings

I was really worried about the little birds falling out of the nest as it seemed to be leaning really far on the one side. The nest was only woven around one leaf that was dying. I asked our gardener to try and tie up the nest so that it would last for about three more weeks.

Sturdy twigs on either side of the nest adding support and safety for the hatchlings.

I came back to find two sturdy branches tied around and supporting the nest…perfect! Mama hummingbird is now sitting upright on the nest and the little ones are safe and secure in the newly shored-up nest.

She seems to be enjoying her newly supported nest.

Collecting nectar for the babies

Minute cottonball puffs have been added to the nest

Here’s a close up of the baby hummers

Mama flies in to feed the little ones

Taking a break, the little hummingbird perches on a branch.

Here are the babies a week later and growing so fast

Two open little beaks just waiting to be fed

Mama bird’s favourite perch on a flowering ixora bush.

Flying in for a landing on her perch to see if all’s clear……….she knows I’m there

More repairs as we have to pull the bridal bouquet branch up under the eaves

More repairs …….. the leaning bridal bouquet branch was catching the full on sunshine and I could see that the baby hummingbirds were suffering the heat onslaught. We had to tie it up using the villa louvers to pull the branch back into the shade up under the eaves.

Feeding her hungry crew.

The mother hummingbird drinks nectar and catches bugs which she regurgitates into a slurry substance the baby hummingbirds can digest. This mixture is fed to the baby hummingbirds approximately every twenty minutes. She insert her beak all the way down into the mouths of the baby hummingbirds.

Peaking out of the nest with beak wide open.

When a mother hummingbird comes to feed the baby hummingbirds, the baby hummingbirds feel the wind and vibrations from the wings of their mother and lift their little heads up and open their mouths.

Close up of the nestlings as they wait for mama.

With two repairs to her nest, we are hoping all will hold together until the baby hummingbirds are ready to fly.

The mama hummingbird and one of her favourite perches in a bougainvillea that’s near the nest.

At six days old they have the startings of feathers and hungry all the time.

The little hummingbirds are grow fast and feeding is approximately every 20 minutes or so.

Hummingbirds lap up the nectar with their long slender tongues.

Two weeks old and they have fluffy feathers.

Yes, they projectile poop lifting their bums out of the nest so as not to dirty it.

See how long her tongue is?

There’s a greenish tinge to their feathers and they are looking more like hummingbirds.

One of the little guys perches at the edge of the nest.

Enjoying a little scratch as she perches on the bougainvillea branch.

Three weeks old and almost ready to fly.

The babies grip the nest with their claws so that they don’t fall out.

Now you can see the iridescent green on their feathers

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Summertime Beaches

Posted on July 5, 2015 by marta

Southwest tip of our island on a summer’s day……..perfection

Summertime on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands brings a laid back, lazy and dreamy time. Much too hot to do anything BUT head to the beach. And those beaches are all beyond belief…………on some of them, there’s not another soul. All that splendor to enjoy for yourself. We call it “silly season” and it’s a time when many leave the island and the beaches are empty but heavenly.

Late afternoon and a lone figure way out on a sandbar………it doesn’t get any better than this!

Summer storm passing on through and what intense colours.

These three ladies have their cooler and glasses of wine……..what could be more perfect?

Thatch beach umbrella and chairs just waiting to be filled.

A little girl enjoying playing on the beach.

Late afternoon as the sun casts a pinkish glow and a lone SUP-er heads home.

Pretty spectacular

Ahhhh Sapodilla Bay and it’s shallow waters………little kids just love this beach

Lace fringed ocean on a flat calm day.

Look at that water with nothing better to do than float around on Grace Bay

The end of a beautiful day with cocktails in the water.

Summertime is the best time………..quiet beaches all to yourself, swimming in perfect island waters, snorkeling the reefs and just enjoying life at a much slower snail’s pace.

Stay with us at Harbour Club Villas and Marina and we’ll tell you all our secrets and best hideaway spots on the variety of breathtaking beaches.

See you on the beach…….somewhere?

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Trip Advisor Hall of Fame

Posted on May 23, 2015 by marta

CONGRATULATIONS……….FIVE-TIME WINNER OF THE CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

We are thrilled to announce that Harbour Club Villas and Marina have been recognized as a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence HALL OF FAME WINNER.

The ‘Hall of Fame’ was created to honour those businesses that have earned a Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years. The Certificate of Excellence award celebrates excellence in hospitality and puts a spotlight on those that consistently deliver an exceptional service to their customers. It is given only to establishments that achieve great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.

Currently we are #4 of 44 hotels on Trip Advisor! For a small vacation complex like ours, this is a major achievement and all our thanks go to our travelers for sending in their reviews.

Six, one bedroom cottages at the edge of Flamingo Lake……..great accommodation for couples, families and groups.

Specializing in couples and small groups, we can accommodate from 2 to 24 guests in our unique and very beautiful accommodation on the south side. We have affordable and highly competitive prices. all villas are available to rent either individually or as a collective group and if required, we’ll rent on an exclusive basis to ensure your family or friends have a very memorable stay.

It is our genuine intention that guests arrive as guests and leave as our friends.

A unique location between the lake and our own private Marina with a channel out to Cooper Jack Bay

Here’s what some of our guests have said……….

Nannie says “Hidden from the rest of the tourists, you have your own island retreat, surrounded by the most incredible gardens and water vistas. Your villa has just enough amenities so as to not interrupt its relaxed and soothing island oasis vibe! Truly my new favorite spot on the globe.”

Hummingbirds, green herons, bananaquits, grey king birds and recently a yellow bellied sapsucker……all can be seen at the pool and grounds of Harbour Club Villas.

“There have been very few times in my life where words have failed me. This is one of those occasions! Barry and Marta, you two are such a find! I wish we were neighbors. The villa feels like home and we wanted for nothing during our all too short stay. I especially enjoyed your gardens, the hummingbirds and the blooming “old man.”

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com/ecotourism.htm

Ask Marta to show you the best spots to eat (my personal favorite is the Bay Bistro), or best isolated beaches where treasure may or may not be found…or WHERE TO FIND THE BONEFISH!!!!!!! ”

Rod and Kim Hamilton stayed at Harbour Club Villas to do some DIY bonefishing while writing their book.

“I can highly recommend. Marta and Barry are taking great care of us and if you can believe it, the bonefishing is at the end of their driveway. I can see bonefish tailing from my front window.”

Rod gives the Turks & Caicos a nine out of a possible ten “spousal rating”. Pick up and read his book DIY Bonefishing or ask me to read my personalized copy. By the way, my photos are in the book too!

http://www.bonefishing.tc/

Step out into the lake and be fishing in minutes………..yes the bonefish are just waiting for you.

“Ahhhh yes……..a do-it-yourself bonefish delight! While we were there in April, five of the six cottages housed some world class bonefish and fly experts! What a treat as that is what lured (hahahahaha) my husband and I to this cozy retreat.”

Craig says ” This was my third visit to Harbour Club and as usual our accommodations were immaculate. I am already planning a return visit next year to coincide with an early morning incoming tide. All in all, this is a great winter getaway spot, very “spouse friendly” and a good choice for DIY bonefishing when you don’t have all day to fish.”

A home away from home in lovely surroundings

“Staying on the south side of the island offers a much more immersed and laid back feel to your vacation. While Grace Bay may offer some of the amenities some people prefer, others may prefer a more quiet and secluded stay that isn’t always easy to find on the other side of the island. The Harbour Club Villas are very spacious, comfortable, with air conditioning. We loved walking down the hill to the marina to go sit on the dock in the morning, very beautiful.”

A short walk in the mornings and onto dive boats moored in the marina and close by………Aqua TCI is right on our docks.

“Our villa was large, airy and well appointed. Two of us are divers and had about a 2 minute walk to the dive boat. Marta and Barry are wonderful hosts and provided us with great tips about the island. We will return!”

Aqua TCI is moored on our docks and will show you our spectacular underwater reef life………..the clarity is unbelievable.

Connie ( a six time returning guest) writes”Through snorkeling and diving we saw over 60 varieties of fish and a number of larger sights such as reef sharks, nurse sharks, barracudas, southern stingrays, eagle rays, manta rays and green turtles. The highlight for us was five flying gunnards that we saw with Flamingo Divers at a site called Coney Island off West Caicos.”

Divers can sit and have breakfast overlooking Flamingo Lake before heading off to the dive sites.

“We loved our villa and our stay. The diving was terrific and the 2 minute walk to the Marina for 8:30 a.m. dives is the way to go!!!”

And, breakfast with a view too.

http://www.diving.tc/index.htm

Let us help you arrange your dream island wedding. Rent all our villas for your own exclusive use.

“My new husband and I, along with 17 of our family and friends stayed at Harbour Club Villas for a week. We got married on a beach in Provo (that Marta showed us) and had our reception at the villas. You will not find a nicer place to stay or have better hosts then Marta and Barry. The villas are very roomy, comfortable and clean. Your bed is made everyday and you get fresh towels. There are beach towels and beach chairs as well. Marta and Barry make you feel that they want to do whatever they can to make your stay the best it can be. We had our wedding reception there…we hired a caterer, decorated the bbq/eating area, had music and danced..it was the perfect setup. They did so much to help us with our wedding.”

http://www.cloudnine.tc/wedding.htm

Trip Advisor welcomes Harbour Club Villas to its’ Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame. This unique accolade is granted only to those businesses that have won the Certificate of Excellence for five years in a row.

A big thank you to all our visitors and guests who took time out to send in their reviews.

Marta and Barry

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Under the Dock at Harbour Club

Posted on April 28, 2015 by marta

Anemones growing under the floating docks at Harbour Club’s Marina

A beautiful late afternoon spent lying on the docks taking photos of the marine life and world under our marina docks at Harbour Club Villas. Our guests had wandered down every evening of their stay and were coming back to tell me of all the sightings. I just had to see for myself.

Lying on the docks taking photos of the pale anemones with my reflection in the water.

Many pretty squirrel fish were darting around under the docks

The common blue crab was feeding on growths covering sturdy ropes laying in the water.

The beautiful neon yellows of the juvenile schoolmaster snapper.

Here’s some grunts, foureye butterfly fish and schoolmaster snapper.

Squirrel fish and schoolmaster snapper captured together

Love this photo of a little squirrel fish

Sea Anemone in pretty pink

Pretty but not sure what this is??

A fairly large barracuda kept prowling past.

Excitement when a guest spotted this octopus……..thanks Bryan for the photo.

Red-banded fanworm swaying with the currents.

Octopus trying to hide from Mike’s camera……what a beauty and changing colours.

An upside-down jellyfish.

I’m really amazed at all the marine life found down at the docks. Our guests at Harbour Club Villas love to wander down there in the evenings to discover all sorts of creatures, many birds, even sighting turtles and a four foot reef shark a few weeks ago.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Evening Stroll at Harbour Club Villas

Posted on March 25, 2015 by marta

Zenaida Dove perches on the back stone wall by the pool area at Harbour Club Villas

A beautiful, still and calm evening for a stroll around Harbour Club’s grounds and down to the Marina. An over abundance of opportunities as I wander around taking photos of the flowering plants, animals and sunset views. Here’s a selection and I hope you enjoy seeing them.

The pool at Harbour Club Villas in the late afternoon. Look at the flowering desert rose.

A perfect bridal bouquet of orange island honeysuckle favoured by the hummingbirds.

Pesky woodpecker that’s drilling holes in our coconut palms…….he’s a yellow bellied sapsucker.

Cankyberry, a species of nightshade found on our islands with its sharp prickles.

This little anole lizard was perched high on my frangipani licking I don’t know what off the budding flowers.

A bright yellow spiny orb weaver. Quite pretty really even though I don’t really like spiders.

Neighbours out for an evening sail coming in to the Marina at dusk.

This little anole was curious and posed for the camera.

The sunset glow of golden colours is so amazing looking towards Five Cays from Harbour Club Villas and Marina

Aqua TCI divers boat gently rides out the evening in the Marina, ready and waiting for another great dive day in the waters of Provo.

All this in a casual evening stroll around Harbour Club Villas and Marina. Love the peaceful quiet as the sun sets over our islands.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Favourite Southside Beaches

Posted on December 5, 2014 by marta

Delou’s beach also known as Cooper Jack beaches at the entrance channel to Harbour Club Villas and Marina

Explore with me some of our shoreline where you’ll find some out of the way gems of beaches that many of our visitors miss. Here are some of my favourites and each one has something special to offer.

You can kayak out the marina channel and follow the shoreline to this little beach.

“My beach” also known locally as “Dog beach”

Sunset and shallow waters, pretty idyllic for an evening swim.

Tidal beaches and lovely waters with stone animal carvings on the hillside above.

We’ve spent many hours on this beach and had it all to ourselves every time.

Beautiful Bonefish Point and the shallow sandbar stretching out into the waters.

Anchored out off the sandbar is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Sapodilla Bay is a perfect spot to while away some time especially with little ones.

Sapodilla Bay is an anchorage for visiting boats.

South West Harbour Bluff by the pirates cove has a lovely beach and you can walk for miles down to Bonefish Point.

Lounging in the shallow waters looking towards the pirate’s cave and Osprey Rock just around the corner.

Take a walk along Taylor Bay……..powdery soft sand.

Low tide and sandbars forming at Taylor Bay……take your kids here as they will love it.

Turquoise waters and white sand beaches of the Turks and Caicos Islands

It’s time to think about leaving winter behind and flying to the sunshine and warmth of our islands. Spectacular beaches await you, soft white sand and clear sparkling water.

See you soon and check out our villas for your next vacation ….. http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

MyTurksAndCaicosBlog.com

Turks and Caicos Vacation, Travel, Fishing, and Diving

Category Archives: Harbour Club Villas and Marina

Jim Hill Nature Walk

Times of the Islands

Flamingos on Flamingo Lake

Thirsty Anole at Harbour Club Villas

Hummingbird Rescue

Summertime Beaches

Trip Advisor Hall of Fame

Under the Dock at Harbour Club

Evening Stroll at Harbour Club Villas

Favourite Southside Beaches