South West Bluff and Osprey Rock

Posted on January 14, 2022 by marta

Bonefish Point is the most beautiful spot on Providenciales

A perfectly beautiful Sunday and a trip is planned to head down to the southern most tip of the island at South West Bluff, Osprey Rock and Bonefish Point. I always enjoy this excursion and make sure all my camera batteries are fully charged. There’s always so many plants, birds, views and our extraordinary clear ocean with its’ marine life to photograph.

View of the Pirates cave and Osprey Rock

Please don’t forget to bring lots of water and some shade as it does get really hot.

A Black Legged Stilt was very vocal as he tried to scare me away.

There’s a beautiful pond area as you get closer to the little beach by Osprey Rock. There seems to always be salt foam looking much like snow. This Sunday there were several Black Legged Stilts and they really didn’t like my being there. Perhaps there were nests as they tried to ward me off.

A large patch of wild sea island cotton

Sea island cotton has such pretty yellow blossoms

The view looking towards Bonefish Point from on top just above the beach.

The wide cove from Osprey Rock to Bonefish Pont is a wonderful place to see cruising or resting rays, turtles, juvenile sharks crabs and other marine life.

This is one of my favourite places to go by boat or road. It’s a little piece of heaven that often is yours alone to enjoy but getting busier so now it becomes more difficult to find these treasures

Love to snorkel between the rocks and see all the little fish.

The pirate’s cave is easier to access through the water and make sure to take some water shoes as the rocks can be sharp ……. no flip flops! Climb the ladder in the little cave through the rock opening and onto the top of the cliffs where shipwrecked sailors came ashore in the early 1800’s. In the rocks on top of the cliffs there are carvings with the names of the sailors.

The ocean looking from the pirate’s cave

Lone fisherman stand on top looking towards Osprey Rock or Split Rock

There are always ospreys out there and sometimes you’ll luck out and see the babies

Inscription of the St. Louis burnt at sea in 1840 carved into the rock by shipwrecked sailors

This inscription is found up on the bluff along with others. A newspaper in Nova Scotia indicates that the St. Louis burned on Aug 30th, 1842 and was lost. A brig called the Impulse rescued some of the people but apparently she also wrecked on the Caicos Reef on Sept. 3rd and was still carrying the crew of the St. Louis. All this history and it all can be seen if you climb the ladder to the top and look down in the rocks.

Climb up the ladder in the cave to the top of the bluff and see the view……that’s a sting ray in the water below.

A stunning osprey with extended wings dries in the bright sunshine.

The shallows with a southern sting ray cruising through

Pretty beaded periwinkle shells line the jagged rocks as you wade through the shallow waters.

Sand ripples and Osprey Rock in the background

A pin cushion star fish in the shallows of the sandbar at Bonefish Point

A sea star in the shallows of the sandbar at Bonefish Point

Chitons are found attached to the rocks

Interesting rock formations

The waters are so very clear …….. you can see everything!

An osprey stands in the water and he knows I’m there.

Bonefish Point from the air

Bonefish Point on Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

A walk down to Bonefish Point and this awesome view

Such an amazing area for a picnic lunch with friends and do take a walk down to Bonefish Point. I can assure you that you will see so many interesting things as you walk along the beaches and rocks. It is one of Provo’s gems and one of my favourites.

Sighting Flamingos on the way home. I’ve never seen so many!

WOW, what a gorgeous sight, a flamboyance of flamingos flying past.

And on the way home after a perfect day, we sighted a huge flamboyance of flamingos.

What a treat as I’ve never seen so many in all my years here on Providenciales

Enjoy your day,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

South West Harbour Bluff

Posted on January 27, 2015 by marta

Glorious wild sea island cotton along one stretch of the road to South West Bluff and Osprey Rock

A hot sunny day and a trip out to South West Harbour Bluff with visiting friends and some guests staying at Harbour Club Villas. On the road out, we came across some sea island cotton growing wild alongside the road. The cotton had popped and was waving in the wind. We spotted some flowers too…………yellow and delicate.

A beautiful cotton flower amongst all the white cotton pods

On top of the bluff looking towards Bonefish Point

Some of us waded through the water to the cave and climbed up the ladder and out onto the bluff. What a view. Others stayed on the beach enjoying a cold beer.

Perfect day for a cold beer and looking out over the ocean.

Inscriptions from shipwrecked sailors are found on top of the bluff.

Osprey nest with two young is perched on top of Osprey Rock

Chitons attached to the rocks are impossible to pry off

View after climbing up the ladder at Pirates Cave and out on top of the bluff.

Sweet little hummingbird nestlings overlooking the beach.

The mama bird kept buzzing us and we found this nest in the overhanging bush.

Lovely day, wonderful company and so many sights to see. One of the most beautiful parts of Provo that is great for taking photos and walking along the beach out to Bonefish Point.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Leave Only Footprints

Posted on November 15, 2010 by marta

A little piece of heaven out on the beach by Osprey Rock

Two calm days in a row and we just had to take advantage of the great weather we’ve been having………..two boating and beaching days in a row. Today we went off to Osprey Rock at South West Bluff. A few locals were line fishing out at Bonefish Point so we selected to moor off the pirate’s cave.

I wandered inland from the beach and WOW! the surf was high breaking on the reef line. You can just make out the white line of breakers in the photo.

The views were spectacular as I wandered over the rocks and it looks like lots of roads have been bulldozed there now. We haven’t been out here for a while and I was disturbed by the amount of garbage strewn around. Please bring garbage bags with you and let’s all do our part to keep these fabulous areas clean for everyone to enjoy. I know I will next time!

A beach playground all to herself as Malaika plays with her sand toys.

Malaika was entranced by making prints in the sand with her toys.

A great day today! We ended up as usual at Taylor Bay and my next post will be of photos from Saturday and today.

Please help by taking all your trash or garbage with you and LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS.

LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS in the sand!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Pirate’s Cave at Osprey Rock

Posted on February 6, 2010 by marta

Beautiful spider's web catches the light at the pirate's cave at Osprey Rock.

We headed out early today towards Osprey Rock as we knew it would be sheltered a little from the wind. We anchored the boat just off the pirate’s cave and since I hadn’t been up ontop of the bluff for a while, I decided to climb up the ladder to get some photos. Just inside the cave were some beautiful spiders’ webs.

Spider's web with the ladder in the background to climb up ontop of the bluff.

What a view from the top as the water was a little churned up and showed off that amazing turquoise colour.

I took a photo of the boat anchored below me just off the cave

This beautiful ground cover with little white flowers was growing out of a small pocket of dirt in the rocks

We were in about two feet of water so it was easy to wade back to the boat

Malaika is just starting to walk and loves playing in the sand.

Here she is on the beach at South West Bluff close to Osprey Rock

Make sure you have a rental vehicle ( Scooter and Amos at Scooter Bob’s will be happy to help you out) and then you can explore the whole island which is full of unique and wonderful more remote places to see.

See you there!!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

A Day on the Water

Posted on October 16, 2009 by marta

This beautiful pink tipped sea anemone looked like it was growing out of an old conch shell.

Another great day spent with friends on the water. As we waded to our little cay with the iguanas, I came across a pink tipped sea anemone. It appeared to be growing out of an old conch shell encrusted with marine life.

This iguana was ready to hide under the sea grape bush if we came any closer.

We saw many iguanas on the little cay and they were probably introduced some years ago.

The iguanas scurried away as we approached and this one was almost ready to put up a fight. He positioned himself so that he could hide in the brush under a sea grape bush if he needed to.

Three pelicans all in a row were feasting on a large school of little fish

As we anchored off the pirate’s cave and Osprey Rock, we were treated to a pelican show…………..three Brown Pelicans and their synchronized dive bombing for fish show. It was spectacular to watch as I positioned myself in the water in the hopes that they would feed close beside me.

Look at the huge stretch of this pelican's gullet.

Little fish were jumping all around as the pelicans swooped time and time again.

I love the way they skip along the water trying to get enough lift to launch into flight.

And finally, front row seats for the best view in the world and a grande finale to the day. The sun sets over Turtle Rock, and we head back to Harbour Club’s Marina.

We watched the sun go down from the waters of Taylor Bay.

A perfect ending to another Provo day filled with sun, fun, good friends and alot of laughter. We wish the same for you as you make plans to visit soon.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Taylor Bay beach afternoon

Posted on September 27, 2009 by marta

Here we are once again floating around at Taylor Bay........those noodles are quite the invention.

We got a little later start than usual today and it was just perfect. The water was calm and made for a smooth ride as we pulled into Taylor Bay. The baby just loves being in the water here as it’s so warm. We introduced her to the soft sand and she just couldn’t get enough!

Sand and more sand everywhere as munchkin plays at the water's edge.

The sand was so soft that she just couldn’t get enough of it and as you can see, it almost covered all of her. So much sand all over and then it was time to rinse off and cool off in the late afternoon.

Rinsing off all that sand.

Yes, this was the last beer as the sun started getting lower in the sky.

: We were treated to a spectacular sunset off Osprey Rock in the distance.

Time to get onboard and head for home before dusk. We just made it in time, pulling into Harbour Club Marina just as it was getting quite dark.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

End of the day

Posted on August 30, 2009 by marta

Coming home this evening we were treated to a spectacular sunset

The end of a relaxing day on the water and another island sunset. This one had some amazing cloud formations over the southern shoreline from Osprey Rock, Taylor Bay and Sapodilla Bay.

The sun dancing on the water of the canal that runs past the Marine Biology School.

We had a lovely afternoon on the water and as we turned into Harbour Club’s marina , the sun was just disappearing over Cooper Jack hills. The photo is taken just by the Marine Biology School where the canal leads off towards Turtle Lake. A great place to watch the sun go down into the ocean and perhaps see “the green flash” is at Sapodilla Bay.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Southern Stingray

Posted on July 11, 2009 by marta

Same place but on a different day............a Southern Stingray lies partially buried in the sand

It was low tide in the shallows quite close to the beach at South West Harbour Bluff just off Osprey Rock. I’m not sure if you can see, but a Southern Stingray was lying in the sand and it was really huge.

You can see the distinct triangular shape of the stingray

Rays are fairly docile with eyes and gill slits ontop of a grey to dark brown body. A stingray eats constantly day and night and this one seemed to be resting while covered with sand. Only its eyes were exposed. As soon as I got too close (I was really careful not to agitate it) it turned and moved away.

You can see the cloud of sand in the foreground of the photo as the stingray moved away

A ray is a cartilagenous fish closely related to the shark and its natural predator is the hammerhead shark.

I hope you get a chance to see these graceful creatures as you vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Water Spout

Posted on July 10, 2009 by marta

Here's Eva in the shallow waters off Osprey Rock with ominous black clouds rolling in

Yet again we hit a perfect day even with the thunderclouds hovering over the ocean and creating such colours in the water.

Eva got out of the water as this stingray came towards us and if you look carefully on the horizon, a water spout was forming

Eva got out of the water as this stingray (see the shadow?) came towards us and if you look carefully on the horizon, a water spout was forming

First we sighted the stingray and Eva quickly got up on her feet as we grabbed cameras. We were busy snapping photos of the ray when we noticed a water spout forming. Water spouts are basically a tornado that forms over water and is only the second one that I’ve ever seen.

Here's a closer view and Wow, look at the water colour due to the dark clouds

Meanwhile, the stingray was still gliding along in the shallows and I managed to get several really good photos.

The stingray was cruising along in the shallow waters by Osprey Rock

The Southern Stingray usually lies hidden under a thin dusting of sand and feeds on crabs, small fish and worms. It does have a long poisonous spine but it usually takes off at the first signs of someone getting nearer.

Look at this beauty!!

I can’t believe that we were so lucky to see and watch two incredible sights and both in one day. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to have such an abundance of subjects to photograph so make sure you have your camera ready at all times. The South West Bluff area and Osprey Rock are both full of interesting sea creatures so take a look once you’re on island.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Barry’s Birthday

Posted on June 21, 2009 by marta

We spent a great afternoon on and in the water to celebrate Barry's birthday today along with visiting friends from Banff.

The water today was like a bathtub and we spent hours out at Osprey Rock and stopped at Taylor Bay on the way back.

Pelicans kept dive bombing right infront of us at Osprey Rock. What a show they put on!

A beautiful sunset at the entrance to Discovery Bay canals and Harbour Club's Marina

Another beautiful day on the water spent with good friends……….you just can’t beat it!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

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Tag Archives: Osprey Rock

South West Bluff and Osprey Rock

South West Harbour Bluff

Leave Only Footprints

Pirate’s Cave at Osprey Rock

A Day on the Water

Taylor Bay beach afternoon

End of the day

Southern Stingray

Water Spout

Barry’s Birthday