Category Archives: Birds

Lignum Vitae….Tree of Life

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The beautiful Lignum Vitae is found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands

The beautiful Lignum Vitae is found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands

The other day I noticed a Lignum Vitae just loaded with bright yellow-orange fruits. The fruits are capsule shaped and they split open in September and October to expose black seeds that are enclosed in a fleshy red pulp.

Lignum Vitae translated from Latin means "tree of life" and was used in folk medicine as well as being prized by carpenters.

Lignum Vitae translated from Latin means "tree of life" and was used in folk medicine as well as being prized by carpenters.

Commonly called ironwood, the wood is so dense that it will not float even in seawater. Lignum Vitae is the heaviest and densest wood in the world and will rapidly sink to the bottom when placed in water. It resists rot caused by insects and moisture that lignum vitae wood used as posts for dwellings by Taino Indians have been found. Loyalist settlers also harvested valuable hardwoods from the Caicos bush and exported them to Europe.

When the lignum flowers, the whole tree is laden with beautiful blue-violet blossoms.

When the lignum flowers, the whole tree is laden with beautiful blue-violet blossoms.

The resin has been used for many years, in the treatment of arthritis and other ailments. At one stage it was thought to work both a contraceptive and a treatment for syphilis. Teas have been prepared from various parts of the tree and have been used to treat boils, swollen glands, fevers, aches and pains.

Close up of a colourful seed pod.

Close up of a colourful seed pod.

flowers bloom at different times and is generally because of seasonal rains.

flowers bloom at different times and is generally because of seasonal rains.

What an amazing tree…………even the insects and nectar drinking birds love the nectar of the Lignum Vitae.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Brown Pelicans

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Late afternoon and two pelicans perfectly synchronized take to the air

Late afternoon and two pelicans perfectly synchronized take to the air

What a magnificent sight as two brown pelicans take flight over the calm seas. The late afternoon formed a pastel palette with rose tinted shades of colour. It was a ballet dance duet as these beautiful birds hovered over the water slowly gaining enough lift to soar off into the skies.

I love the gentle feel of this photo and hope you enjoy it too.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

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

Birds at French Cay

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A Laughing Gull displaying its breeding plumage

A Laughing Gull displaying its breeding plumage

Laughing gulls come to the Turks and Caicos Islands to breed in early summer and can be frequently seen. It might be a little early as I didn’t see many gulls at French Cay.

In breeding season, the laughing gull has a distinct black head and deep red beak which changes to a whitish head and black bill in the fall.

In breeding season, the laughing gull has a distinct black head and deep red beak which changes to a whitish head and black bill in the fall.

Further down the beach, I came across a beautiful osprey perched on a rib of  a boat that was sticking up out of the water.

A lone osprey surveys the surrounding seas as he rests for a moment.

A lone osprey surveys the surrounding seas as he rests for a moment.

The Osprey is a year round resident of the Turks and Caicos Islands and they prey on the abundant fish in our waters.

Preparing to take flight and catch his next fish

Preparing to take flight and catch his next fish

Ospreys that breed here year round are distinct as they have a very faint stripe behind the eye. The one pictured here is not from the region and has migrated here. Have a look at the eye and you will see a distinct black stripe.

Ospreys soar along our coastlines looking for fish rippling the water.

Ospreys soar along our coastlines looking for fish rippling the water.

Enjoy the Turks and Caicos Islands and I hope you will get to see many of our birds during your stay here.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Birds on French Cay

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An unusual shaped log is the perfect perch for this group of Brown Noddies

An unusual shaped log is the perfect perch for this group of Brown Noddy birds

I managed to slowly walk quite close to these birds all sitting on a large piece of drift wood. I looked them up in Richard Ground’s Bird book and found out they were a sea bird from the Tern family called Brown Noddy.

Note the numerous crabs on the log upright....not sure what they were doing.

Note the numerous crabs on the log upright....not sure what they were doing.

As I got closer I couldn’t believe how many crabs were scrambling on the part of the log closest to the water. The birds weren’t at all bothered by my approach and continued perching on the drift wood.

This Brown Noddy seems to be scolding "her" mate????

This Brown Noddy seems to be scolding "her" mate???? He's turning a deaf ear to her anyways!

The Brown Noddy is the largest of the Terns with a white forehead blending to gray nape, and small white (lower) half-eye ring. Noddies range throughout the world where the seas are warm. They breed on land in large colonies usually remote islands such as French Cay. 

Here's a close up of this beautiful seabird...the Brown Noddy

Here's a close up of this beautiful seabird...the Brown Noddy

Sea birds on French Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Look at the clear water and the spectacular colours.....unbelieveable.

 There were more birds but that’s for another time.

Happy bird watching.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

French Cay adventure

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Stunning day and crystal clear water out at French Cay today

Stunning day and crystal clear water out at French Cay today. The white speck to the right of the photo is The Turks and Caicos Aggressor liveaboard dive boat.

Our first time out to French Cay and we couldn’t have picked a better day. The weather has been flat calm with no wind for the past few days. We decided it was time to head to French Cay as none of us had ever been there except Barry who went out with FiFi of Caicos Adventures a few years ago.

Approaching the beach at French Cay in about eight feet of water. We could see everything so clearly.

Approaching the beach at French Cay in about eight feet of water. We could see everything so clearly.

We moored just off the beach in about two feet of water and went ashore to explore and of course my camera was constantly taking photos. So many birds and in a future post, I will show you some of  the bird photos I took.

French Cay is an amazing dive area……..divers come to the Turks and Caicos Islands to experience the dive sites out at French Cay. Take a look at my website at www.diving.tc where you will find some photos and information on dive sites out at French Cay.

A sun bleached piece of coral washes up on shore with that turquoise blue ocean as a backdrop.

A sun bleached piece of coral washes up on shore with that turquoise blue ocean as a backdrop.

We loved being able to see and experience this spectacular little island and its abundant bird life and hope to return again soon for more photos.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Ruddy Turnstones at Sharkbite

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This little Ruddy Turnstone dropped by for tidbits while we were having lunch at the Sharkbite.

This little Ruddy Turnstone dropped by for tidbits while we were having lunch at the Sharkbite.

Lunch at the Sharkbite in Turtle Cove Marina is always interesting……….the Ruddy Turnstones create quite a show as they vie for the choicest bits from the lunch time crowd and at night, you’ll be lucky to catch sight of the “resident” bull shark that hangs out looking for food.

Lined up all in a row along the ledge of the Sharkbite Restaurant's deck.

Lined up all in a row along the ledge of the Sharkbite Restaurant's deck.

Ruddy Turnstones are a common visitor to our shores and some are even year round residents. They seem to love the Turtle Cove area but then you can hardly blame them especially with such a variety of great restaurants with an easy food supply. They become habituated and really, we shoudn’t be feeding them but it happens everywhere……..ie. the gophers or ground squirrels at the buffalo paddocks in Banff were always such roly poly fat little things from all the visitors feeding them.

Birdwatchers can see the Ruddy Turnstone almost anywhere especially in Turtle Cove.

Birdwatchers can see the Ruddy Turnstone almost anywhere especially in Turtle Cove.

Drop by the restaurants in Turtle Cove on your next holiday on Provo. Lunch was great at the Sharkbite……..some of the best conch chowder I’ve ever tasted!!

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hummingbirds

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A male Bahama Woodstar Hummingbird perches for a while as I took his picture

A male Bahama Woodstar Hummingbird perches for a while as I took his picture

The pool area at Harbour Club Villas is the place to birdwatch and frequently we see these beautiful tiny creatures as they hover from flower to flower especially liking the flowers on my firecracker bushes.  The Bahama Woodstar is the only hummingbird that is found regularily in the Turks and Caicos. They are generally green on the top of the body with a brown underbody. The female is rather dowdy and drab where as the male has that magnificent irridiscent purple throat which shimmers and glints as the sun catches it.

This tiny female takes a rest on a vine under our palm tree.

This tiny female looked like a baby not quite used to flying as she takes a rest on a vine under our palm tree.

 The only time I manage to snap a photo is when they perch and rest for a while. These little guys can fly every which way…up, down, left, right and backwards too. When they hover their wings flap at about 50 times per second. Humming birds have a very fast heart and breathing rate and therefore they need to feed every ten minutes or so throughout the day.

A humming bird sits on her small nest built on a forked branch.

A humming bird sits on her small nest built on a forked branch.

One of our guests at the villas was an avid bird watcher and she discovered a nest with only one egg in it. I can’t believe how tiny hummingbird nests are. This one was precariously built in the fork of a three foot tree which was more like a twig. The cup shaped nest is built out of plant fragments and silk from spiders’ webs which is all glued together with her own saliva.

A female sits on her eggs.

A female sits on her eggs.

A female hummingbird will usually lay two white eggs which take about two weeks to hatch. A further three weeks in the nest and then the young are ready to fly. Unfortunately this twig like branch was bent over in a strong wind and the egg flew out and broke. I would have loved to have seen the young but this was not to be.

 

Enjoy nature around you and watch for the colourful Bahama Woodstar hummingbirds while you enjoy your vacation here on Provo.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com