Category Archives: Birds

Hummingbird Re-Cycles Nest

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A new hummingbird appeared and began adding a second storey to the old existing nest

Can you believe it?  A week ago, we were surprised to see that our old hummingbird nest in the cactus beside the walkway to our house, had grown taller. It wasn’t a few minutes later, that I heard her! A new hummingbird mama had seen the nest and decided to re-use and re-cycle the old nest. She was busily adding a second storey to the old nest to build it up a little more.

Here's the nest showing the new portion between the two stars.

The nest is totally about 1 3/4 inches and the addition is almost a half inch. Still pretty tiny all things considered. Mama has laid her second egg (yesterday) and is now sitting on the nest leaving periodically to feed.

Here's the nest from the back side showing all the fine strands of cobwebs used as "glue" to secure the nest.

 

I wanted to show you the new materials and fluff that has gone into recycling the top of the old nest.

 

A backside view of the Bahama Woodstar hummingbird sitting on a nest with two little eggs

 

Nesting hummingbird ... how sweet she is!

So here I go again!  I’ll keep taking more photos………….I can’t tell you how many I already have but there’s tons!!

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hummingbirds Getting Bigger Part 2

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The two baby Bahama Woodstar hummingbirds are squished into the tiny nest as they continue to grow.

The above photo was taken a month ago and as you can see, the little birds are growing very fast. The nest is glued and held together with cobwebs and this enables the babies to compact and stretch the nest to hold the both of them. Clever little birds they are and when they just get too big, they are ready to fly.

Please check the previous blogs.

 

From building the nest..http://myturksandcaicosblog.com/?p=2601

 

To laying the eggs…http://myturksandcaicosblog.com/?p=2616

 

To the chicks hatching…http://myturksandcaicosblog.com/?p=2699

 

The chicks getting bigger…http://myturksandcaicosblog.com/?p=2745

One little baby sits almost on top of the other.

At a different angle, the baby birds are definitely getting too big for the nest and sure enough the day after the photo, we missed one flying out of the nest

What excitement as we managed to catch the one baby leaving the nest and making his first flight. The other little one must have been hidden in the bushes and trees.

Here it is.....ready to fly off into the big world!

 

It's first flight was from the nest to a nearby Opuntia cactus where he perched for a few minutes

Here the baby hummingbird lifts off and flies up into our large bouganvillea

It has been such a joy to take all these photos from start to finish…………right from when we discovered the nest just being built to seeing the eggs hatch and the birds grow and fly away. Nature is so wonderful !!

 

Now just when I was getting used to leaving my camera behind…………..we have another event unfolding!!!!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

Hummingbirds Getting Bigger

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Here's the MaMa hummingbird feeding one of the babies that I managed to catch on camera.

Here's the MaMa hummingbird feeding one of the babies that I managed to catch on camera.

Ten days ago, the little baby hummingbirds were tiny and scrawny with hardly any feathers.  I spent hours trying to get photos of her feeding them but she was really edgy if I got up too close.  The last few days or so she doesn’t spend as much time sitting on the nest as the little ones are growing fast.

A baby opens his bright yellow beak wide ready for a meal.

A baby opens his bright yellow beak wide ready for a meal.

They are now filling up the nest and are all feathery.

They are now filling up the nest and are all feathery.

Often when I walk past the cactus, all I see is two little beaks sticking up out of the nest.

Often when I walk past the cactus, all I see is two little beaks sticking up out of the nest.

 

The mother will feed the nestlings on small insects and nectar by inserting her bill into the open mouth of a nestling and regurgitating the food.

The mother will feed the nestlings on small insects and nectar by inserting her bill into the open mouth of a nestling and regurgitating the food.

A close up shows the little ones nestled together with beaks resting on the edge of the nest.

A close up shows the little ones nestled together with beaks resting on the edge of the nest.

The Mama Bahama woodstar humming bird watches me from a nearby branch

The Mama Bahama woodstar humming bird watches me from a nearby branch

The hummingbird mother pushes the food down the chicks’ throats with her long bill directly into their stomachs. The little chicks are brooded only the first week or two, and left alone after about 12 days – probably due to the small nest size. The chicks leave the nest when they are about 20 days old.

Twin beaks peaking out of the nest which is made of silks and apparently expands a bit as they grow.

Twin beaks peaking out of the nest which is made of silks and apparently expands a bit as they grow.

 

The young hummingbirds are beginning to show some greenish tinged feathers as you can see in the photo

The young hummingbirds are beginning to show some greenish tinged feathers as you can see in the photo

They are growing fast and so small and downy looking. The first baby hatched June 29 so they are about two weeks old.

 

Marta

 

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Then There Were Two….Hummingbirds

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Then there were TWO........the second egg hatched today.

Then there were TWO........the second egg hatched today.

I peeked into the nest today while Mama hummingbird was away and discovered that the second egg had hatched. Apparently when hummingbirds lay their eggs, the incubation starts once both eggs are in the nest and so they hatch at about the same time.

I never thought they'd be so dark and scrawny looking with a few feathers on their back.

I never thought they'd be so dark and scrawny looking with a few feathers on their back.

I managed to catch two little beaks wide open and waiting for food.

I managed to catch two little beaks wide open and waiting for food.

Here's the cracked egg and you can just see the yellow beak of the second, newly hatched humminbird

Here's the cracked egg and you can just see the yellow beak of the second, newly hatched humminbird

 

Two hummingbird babies lying beside the discarded shells....I wonder what will happen to the egg shells as the birds get larger.

Two hummingbird babies lying beside the discarded shells....I wonder what will happen to the egg shells as the birds get larger.

 

I’m so pleased at being able to photograph these sweet little hummingbird nestlings.

Enjoy!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Baby Hummingbird

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Peaked in the nest today and surprise, surprise, there it was, a tiny little hummingbird has hatched.

Peaked in the nest today and surprise, surprise, there it was, a tiny little hummingbird has hatched.

The other egg is still waiting to hatch and the mother hummingbird still sits on the nest most of the time .

The other egg is still waiting to hatch and the mother hummingbird still sits on the nest most of the time .

Here's the little one with his beak wide open hoping for some food.

Here's the little one with his beak wide open hoping for some food.

The mother hummingbird tending to her young.

The mother hummingbird tending to her young.

Bahama Woodstar hatchling.

Bahama Woodstar hatchling.

Tiny newborn hummingbird.

Tiny newborn hummingbird.

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hummingbird Update

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Here she is.....nest all finished and ready to lay her eggs.

Here she is.....nest all finished and ready to lay her eggs.

All during this last week, our little hummingbird mama has been soooo busy building her nest. It has grown quite substantially (see my earlier blog as she began building her nest). For the first several days we had consistent rain but that didn’t stop her as she flew in and out with soft bits of tree bark and glued her nest together with spider webs.

Note she has some fluff in her beak to line the nest with some softness.

Note she has some fluff in her beak to line the nest with some softness.

 

Clever little bird, she camouflaged her nest well and built it into a cactus branch

Clever little bird, she camouflaged her nest well and built it into a cactus branch. This is another of Mike's super photos...look at the colours on the tail feathers!!

A closer look at those spectacular colours on her tailfeathers

A closer look at those spectacular colours on her tailfeathers

Two days ago when I took a look inside the nest, the Bahama Woodstar hummingbird had laid a tiny egg. Apparently it will take 16 to 18 days to incubate but I’m thinking she will be laying another egg soon. So far though, there’s only the one. 

One little egg in the nest ..... will she lay another?

One little egg in the nest ..... will she lay another?

She spends lots of time sitting on the egg in her nest. We walk past here so many times during the day so she must be getting used to the traffic.

She spends lots of time sitting on the egg in her nest. We walk past here so many times during the day so she must be getting used to the traffic.

Hummingbirds build an amazing, well constructed nest that is a bit more than an inch or so in diameter and probably two inches high so that the eggs are secure.  It is round, open, and made of soft woolly material similar to cotton, camouflaged on the outside with tiny pieces of bark . We have some wild cotton here at Harbour Club so she has probably found some of that to line her nest with.  They may choose a variety of sites from two feet to twelve feet from the ground. Two rather elongated white eggs are generally laid so we are now waiting for the second egg to appear.

You can see a closer view of the egg in the hummingbird's nest

You can see a closer view of the egg in the hummingbird's nest

 

Nesting hummingbird hidden in the cactus tree close by our walkway to our house at Harbour Club Villas
Nesting hummingbird hidden in the cactus tree close by our walkway to our house at Harbour Club Villas

Much excitement with watching and photographing this little hummingbird! Watch for more as hopefully the babies will hatch in a few weeks. I’m also watching a Gray Kingbird nest which today has four eggs in it. When I first saw it, there were just two but these birds lay up to five eggs….so we’ll see. But this will be for another post.

Happy birding and birdwatching!!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hummingbird Nest

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I looked and looked trying to find the little hummingbird's nest........finally, there it was!

I looked and looked trying to find the little hummingbird's nest........finally, there it was!

Over the last few days, every time I walked up the stone pathway to our cabin, a tiny hummingbird would hover over my head as if to say….don’t come any closer!  I thought there might be a nest in the large Sapodilla tree but I kept looking there and couldn’t find anything. I finally stood there and took a few photos of the hummingbird as she perched and posed on a branch.

The start of a tiny nest on a cactus plant....soft plant material and cobwebs to glue it together.

The start of a tiny nest on a cactus plant....soft plant material and cobwebs to glue it together.

The Bahama Woodstar hummingbird spent alot of time today flying in with bits of soft  plant pieces and leaf hairs. The spider webs make terrific glue for the nest and allow the nest to stretch and be flexible as the baby hummingbirds grow. Take a look at the spider’s webs holding the nest on the cactus as well as the cactus spikes.

Bahama Woodstar hummingbird forming her nest with her body as she builds it in a tall cactus tree beside our cabin.

Bahama Woodstar hummingbird forming her nest with her body as she builds it in a tall cactus tree beside our cabin.

A mother hummingbird will sit in a nest and use a wing to press the nest against her body to mold it into the perfect shape. She will press her rump into the center of the nest and against the walls to round the inside. I’m excited at the prospect of watching this mama bird as she completes the nest and lays her eggs. Also wondering if this cactus branch isn’t a little too exposed especially with all the comings and goings of Barry and I as it’s right there at the entrance to our cabin.

The Mama hummingbird trying her nest on for size!

The Mama hummingbird trying her nest on for size!

I’m hoping in the days to come to get photos of the eggs and baby birds. Keep checking back.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Another Taylor Bay Sunday

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"Groovin" on a sunny Sunday afternoon on Provo......it just doesn't get any better than this!!!

"Groovin" on a sunny Sunday afternoon on Provo......it just doesn't get any better than this!!!

I wish my photos did justice to the true colours of the sand, seas and skies on yet another perfect Sunday afternoon dreamily lazing around at Taylor Bay. We got a late start at about 3 pm and cruised on down to Taylor Bay anchoring in 2 feet of water fairly close to shore. The tide was on it’s way out so ever so often we’d drag the anchor further back.

The boat was out in two feet of water as we lay around in the gently rippling water

The boat was out in two feet of water as we lay around in the gently rippling water

As the sun slowly sank lower in the sky, we pulled up anchor and headed towards home. As we came towards the marker buoy off Ocean Point, we were greeted by over a dozen sailing boats anchored out in Sapodilla Bay.

Note the marker buoy in the foreground with a Royal Tern perched ontop of it.

Note the marker buoy in the foreground with a Royal Tern perched ontop of it.

 

Here's a closer view of a Royal Tern taken down in Blue Hills

Here's a closer view of a Royal Tern taken down in Blue Hills

Sapodilla Bay had more boats anchored out than I’ve seen in a long while…………. a beautiful sight to see especially as the sun was starting to set.

At least two dozen boats were gently rocking back and forth out in the bay.

At least two dozen boats were gently rocking back and forth out in the bay.

A parting shot of the sunset and Sapodilla Bay boats as we motored home to Harbour Club's Marina

A parting shot of the sunset and Sapodilla Bay boats as we motored home to Harbour Club's Marina

A lovely tranquil afternoon. We’re fortunate to be able to enjoy all the stunning beauty around us in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We hope you will book your next holiday and vacation in these “beautiful by nature” islands. See you soon.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Evening Bonefishing

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A peaceful and calm setting as a lone fisherman wades the lake by Harbour Club Villas.

A peaceful and calm setting as a lone fisherman wades the lake by Harbour Club Villas.

This evening I caught sight of Paul, one of our bonefishing guests, out in Flamingo Lake. It was a beautiful still evening just made for some bonefishing.

Someone else was also looking for fish as a Green Heron perched on a dead branch to view the lake waters.

Someone else was also looking for fish as a Green Heron perched on a dead branch to view the lake waters.

The Green Heron finds a tasty snack in the waters of the lake.

The Green Heron finds a tasty snack in the waters of the lake.

I know the heron was sucessful in finding food but I'm not sure if Paul caught any bonefish?

I know the heron was sucessful in finding food but I'm not sure if Paul caught any bonefish?

 

Evenings are a great time to catch some of our water birds and to see bonefish tailing in the lake.

 

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.bonefishing.tc