Wednesday, June 17th - Nest 05

 I thought it was going to be a wet walk this morning, but we only had a few sprinkles.  We could see the rain showers over the ocean.

 

 

 

 Grey rainy skies.  The Sargassum wrack line was high on the beach this morning.

 

 

 

 

The Wednesday Volunteers were excited to find a crawl about mid way up the island. She had well defined in and out crawls, she crawled over her incoming crawl on her way out.  She crawled a little higher above this clump of vegetation, turned around slide down and nested at the bottom of the clump of vegetation.  There were some Ghost Crab holes in the area, so I probed in that area first.  

Moved toward the crescent shaped sand and found the nest chamber quickly.  The newbie Volunteers were thrilled when they uncovered the eggs.  Her nest was in a good high location, so we did not relocate.  Her crawl was 34 inches wide.

She crawled a long way  

She plowed through the Sargassum

Her nest . . .  but she 

First crawled above the vegetation, turned

Slid down to the place she finally nested

Her nest - classic signs - torn up vegetation, crescent shaped sand, thrown sand

We have eggs

The Wednesday Volunteers were thrilled.  There are several new members and we had a guest walking with us this morning.  Great start for the day.

 

Team work - getting our poles ready, and setting up our cage to protect the nest from coyotes.

 

Happy Volunteers

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text by Leslie and photos by Leslie, Pam and Jackie

All sea turtle monitoring by Waties Island Sea Turtle Patrol is permitted an authorized by SCDNR under permit MTP500.