The Sunrise Tellin shell has to be one of the most beautiful you'll ever see with pink, yellow and white radiating stripes.
Marta
Sunrise Tellin Shell
Reply
Monthly Archives: April 2010
French Cay
A magnificent stretch of beach with the clearest turquoise water at French Cay
French Cay is a small uninhabited island about 15 miles due south of Providenciales. It was once the hideout of a pirate called Nau L’Ollonais also known as Francois L’Ollonais in the 17th century. He would ambush and capture passing sailing vessels and was a ruthless and cruel buccaneer.
Floating in the water was the only way to cool off......it was so hot
The boat's shadow is reflected in the water and note the starfish.
The day of our trip to French Cay was certainly one of the best ever for weather. All the way there and back we could see the ocean floor as clear as day. One of the highlights was seeing so many orange cushion stars strewn along the sandy bottom.
Marta
Birds at French Cay
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.
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.
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
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.
Enjoy the Turks and Caicos Islands and I hope you will get to see many of our birds during your stay here.
Marta
Birds on French Cay
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.
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???? 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
Look at the clear water and the spectacular colours.....unbelieveable.
There were more birds but that’s for another time.
Happy bird watching.
Marta
French Cay adventure
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.
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.
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
Flowers for you
The beautiful Bay Bean grows and flowers along the shoreline
A big THANKYOU to my wonderfully caring family and friends that have supported me these past few months.
I love you all !!!
My experience these last few months with breast cancer has really thrown me for a loop and been a true wake up call. It showed me the strength in having a loving family and just how lucky I am. All those tough days back and forth from Provo to Miami……tests and more tests and my breasts feeling like pin cushions. Barry was unable to come with me but kept a great sense of humour by reminding me that I was getting a two for one deal. He coped so brilliantly here at Harbour Club although it was really rough going and very busy with guests. My sister Eve and our three kids Tina, Mike and Ania rallied around and took turns staying with me in the hotel so I wouldn’t have to face things alone. They sat in on every appointment, asked questions and absorbed all the information so that they could explain things to me as well as to Barry and they waited patiently while I went through all the tests, surgery and radiation. My sister Anna (a breast cancer survivor) sent me encouraging emails every day and suffered along with me having been through it all herself.
It is soooooooo good to be back home and everyone now realizes that we all need to make the most of every day…..enjoy life to the fullest and worry less.
SO, TO ALL THE LADIES OUT THERE ……… PLEASE GO AND HAVE THAT MAMMOGRAM DONE TODAY.
Marta