Day 6: Storm clouds at Marley Beach

Local birds take refuge on the beach as the storm clouds gather...

Chitons, a type of marine mollusc, tighten their grip on the rocks...

Yellow billed, white-tailed tropic bird, known locally as the Bermuda Longtail, native to Bermuda and a national symbol. Their acrobatic flight makes for difficult photography; they rarely land unless on remote rocks and cliffs, where they nest in holes and crevices.

Until about 1978, at least 3,000 nesting pairs were known to breed along the coastline. The numbers have declined steadily due to coastal development, increased disturbance from an expanding population, and predation by dogs, cats and other birds. Other factors include global warming, pollution and destruction of nest sites by hurricanes.

In order to counteract the decline "Longtail Igloos" were invented  as an emergency measure to provide alternative nesting sites. They are made from roofing material and provide good insulation and shelter from the sun. They are light but strong with a concrete covering that provides camouflage and holds the nest in place.

Longtails feed by plummeting into the sea like gannets, they are believed to sleep on the wing as well as on the open ocean.

Heavy rain, thunder and lightning put on a dramatic display, out to sea.

The sun slowly breaks through the clouds...

Five minutes later, the sun beats down, the flags blow gently in the breeze and the last few raindrops evaporate from the flowers.

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Day 3 - Part 1: Marley Beach

Another beautiful sunrise prompted an early morning walk on the beach. Our new friend tagged along to keep us company.

Geologically, Bermuda is comprised of a limestone cap on an extinct, undersea volcanic mountain chain. The surrounding reefs protect the shoreline from erosion to some extent; however the relentless effects of wind, rain and tide are clearly visible along the coastal cliffs.

After a lovely stroll down the beach as far as we could walk it was back to the cottage for breakfast, 

with just a couple of stops to snap some local flora…

The Bay Grape Tree is highly tolerant of salt, so it is often planted to stabilise beach edges and prevent erosion; it is also planted as an ornamental shrub. The fruit can be used for jam. Oleander flowers are beautifully perfumed, but the plant is highly toxic.

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Day 2 – Marley Beach

Woke up early to this beautiful sunrise from the patio.

Compared with the UK, Bermuda is refreshingly slightly old fashioned in that Sunday is still regarded as a day of rest. Supermarkets are open for limited hours, but most businesses apart from restaurants, bars etc., are closed. We decided to chill out and recover from our journey, so spent the day swimming and exploring Marley Beach, which was literally steps away from our cottage.

 There are hundreds of beaches in Bermuda, some tiny, some long and windswept; all beautiful. They are famed for their pink sand, which is created by shells of microscopic ocean organisms called foraminifera. These tiny creatures live on the underside of the surrounding reefs. When the organisms die, their shells are broken by sea currents and the fragments are washed ashore.











 

Bermuda is home to one of the northernmost coral reef ecosystems in the world. The islands themselves were formed as a result of a volcanic eruption, but the upper layer that is visible is limestone. The surrounding reefs have been the cause of hundreds of shipwrecks, many of which have become popular dive sites.

While we were down on the beach the peace and quiet was suddenly shattered by the noise of power boat engines. Suddenly we were watching the 2013 Round The Island Powerboat Race. Exciting!















Then followed a much quieter and more relaxed type of boat…

Our constant companions from day one were the many lizards sunning themselves on walls, fences and rocks, the crashing of waves on the beach, the beeping of thousands of tree frogs at night and Bermuda Cat, who “adopted” us from the moment we arrived until the moment we left!


Oh! I almost forgot to mention the colourful flowers, such as…

                                                 ...oleander and hibiscus.

 
Not forgetting the multi-coloured white roofed houses which make Bermuda so picturesque.

More photos of the powerboat race here... 
Trip Advisor Reviews of Sand Dollar here... 

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