WATIES THURSDAY 5/27/21 KING TIDE

 

The moon was beautiful this morning as we entered the beach.  It was cloudy, slightly humid and breezy which we were thankful for later in the morning.

Due to the King Tide last night the tide line was up to the dunes on the lower end around the corner.  The boat rail was still visible this morning

Tide line from MM #3

Nest #1 fared well.  No wash over.

Tide Line from the upper end.

Unfortunately, Nest #2 had two very large Ghost Crab holes.  The reed was laying on the ground.  I checked to see if I could see any crabs.  I found no egg shells on the surface. Filled in the holes, measured 24" from the pole and replaced the reed.  Of course, the 2nd crab hole was right at the top of the nest. From past experience, when we have a problem with Ghost Crabs getting into a nest this early, it is not a good sign. 

Even though the tide was high on the upper end, it did not come too close to the nest.

Bill found what looks like it might be a spider crab checking out the Jelly Fish on the lower end

NEST #2 WEDNESDAY 5/26/21 OUR LUNAR ECLIPSE TURTLE

The partial Lunar Eclipse was just starting as we got to the bridge so we stopped to watch it.  It was a good thing we stopped when we did because as we entered the beach the trees were in the way.

As we turned around the sun was just coming up.  We were witnessing the sun, earth and the moon coming into alignment.  

Due to the King Tides the last couple of nights the only thing visible on the boat was the railing.  All that work, and that boat is going no where!

Crab tracks running across nest #1

Past M7 and before M8 Leslie spotted the turtle tracks in the distance.  It has been 20 days since nest #1 was laid.

This mother turtle new what she was doing.  She went in, laid her nest at the foot of the dune and came right back out.

Text book nest sight!

Her crawl was 32" with drag marks.

Picture of the body pit from the dune.

Placed the secondary poles just below the top of the dunes, but still visible from the beach.

 

Tuesday, May 25th - No sea turtle news, King Tides

 Well, same story, no sea turtle action and no trash today.  Bill got a really nice football.  It started out with funky skies, it looked like rain, but it was not in the forecast.  It did look like it was raining in North Carolina.  The May King Tide was very apparent on the beach, lots of wrack left on the beach, along with Cannonball Jellies.

I was hoping the King Tide took care of the digging project of the sailboat, and someone was listening, because it was just about covered up again - YEAH!

Enjoy the pictures, compliments of Bill and Leslie

Funky looking skies this morning, warm with humidity

The sailboat dig after a King Tide

Monday, May 24th No Sea Turtle Action today

 Well, a beautiful morning for the Monday Team.  Nice temps this morning, light breeze, little trash and no sea turtle action.  Where are they?  There are lots of Cannonball Jellies on the beach, so food is plentiful.

Along with the evidence of a lot of foot traffic, the deer have been having fun on the beach, lots of tracks.  Would love to see them playing in the surf.

The scuttled sailboat continues to have digging going on, hoping the King Tides coming in will take care of the digging progress - we can hope.

Enjoy the pictures - Leslie and Sharon

Beautiful morning - Causeway

The Marsh 

The Beach

Here comes the sun

The digging project
by the sailboat

THURSDAY 5/20/2021

 Our nest is quietly incubating under the sand and all is quiet above.  As Bill put it, "Just a beautiful, enjoyable, soul soothing morning."  

"And a lot of effort trying to dig out that boat".

We watched as the Egret below had breakfast.  The tide caught some minnows in the tidal pool.

AHHH!  The beauty of nature!

WEDNESDAY 5/19/2021

 No additional nest activity again today. The one we have remains quiet. The morning was cloudy and cool.  We walked down to the lower end and saw that someone is still trying to dig out the boat.  There is no way they are going to get that boat out.  They start digging, get just so far, leave, the tide comes in and buries the boat back up. ☺

Looked like rain coming in as we entered the beach.

A male Mallard Duck walking around on the upper end.  He doesn't look injured.  Just kinda "lost".

Leslie got a picture of the sun coming up through the clouds, reflecting in the pools on the beach.  Great shot for a cloudy grey morning.

On the way back down the beach, we could see that the rain had come in over Cherry Grove.  When we got back to the truck, we noticed that it had rained.  Glad we walked on the lower end first.

Monday, May 17th - Beautiful morning

 Hi All - the Monday team sends their regards.  Started the day with a beautiful sunrise over the marsh.  It was cool on the beach to start, a jacket felt good.  Sorry, no sea turtle news today, lots of jelly fish on the beach, so you know they are coming, they follow the food.

Today was a light trash day, and we continue to pick up balloons.  Its that time of year!

Enjoy the pictures, compliments of Sharon T.

Start of a beautiful morning

Low, low tide in the marsh

Sunrise over the dunes

Up at the jetty

We are finishing up our walk,
and dark clouds moved in 

Here come the dark clouds