Monday, July 26th - Interesting skies and patience for Nest #1

 The Monday Team had an interesting morning with changing skies and weather that gave us a good soaking right as we finished walking.  The King Tide did Overwash both Nest #4 and PN #4.  We picked up lots of trash today, many balloons.  Valerie picked a cluster of balloons that had confetti in them - DO NOT pop these, you will have confetti all over yourself and the beach.

The other news I wish to share is about Nest #1.  I spoke to DNR today and since we know the nest is still viable from our findings last Tuesday, we need to grab onto our patience, you can not rush Mother Nature.  Due to the cooler weather in May these first nests laid do take longer to hatch and emerge.  Per SCDNR they just had a nest on Botany Bay Beach that took 80 days to emerge.  This beach is close to Edisto, so much further south than Waties.  Along with the cool May, we had rain and per SCDNR when a nest gets wet from rain showers it takes a few days to get back up to the temperature for hatchlings to development. 

Nest #2 - had lots of GC traffic around
 the nest.  This nest was laid later in May
and could hatch and emerge
before our Nest #1

.

Those pesky Ghost Crabs attempting
to dig under the cage

Valerie with the cluster of balloons that
are filled with confetti along
with a boat flotation cushion

Oh my, mighty dark over Cherry Grove

It's getting closer . . .

Even after all got soaked, the Monday Team moved forward and placed a metal cage over nest #3R - day 46.  It was an "All Hands" effort.  Many thanks to Janice for taking pictures of us placing the cage over the nest.  

We don't look too bad for being all wet

Leslie

Sunday 7/25, Great Suprise!

 Beautiful morning, cool, cloudy, and low humidity.

Those pesky ghost crabs were at it again.  At Possible Nest #4 crab hole right at reed.  Could be indication of a nest, it is only 7 days old.  Our early nest #1 (laid 5/6)  is now 80 days old.  Had a huge Ghost crab hole  in the caged area. 

PN #4

 

Nest #1

We checked all around and  in holes, found no egg shells 

Biggest surprise of morning came on way back.  As we were driving out  the road, standing there looking right at us was a Bobcat and her baby.  Thanks to Karen - pictures. Mom left right away, but baby was in no hurry.   

We knew they were out there  - now we know  there should be at least three.

Sunday team

A New Nest Today!

And now we have nine! We were excited this morning to discover the first nest of the season that was laid on the lower end of the island. It was about as far down and around the bend as you could go. Since that section of the beach is high erosional, the decision was made to move it further up the beach.

The incoming tracks

A little squiggle in the tracks

 

 

There were a total of 82 eggs and one was taken for the DNA sample.

 

Getting them ready to move

 Up the beach they went!

Going to their new home

Nest 9R

 

Barb and Steve

Sunday July 18, 2021

 
Almost a repeat of yesterday, only at other end of beach - right after MM#3.

Turtle had same 32" track, came right up and went right back down.  There was a mound with  loose sand, looked very much like what was left at MM#9 yesterday.

We Probed and probed but could not find any eggs.

So we now have PN #4

Sunday team

Saturday and a New Crawl

 A nice walk up the beach this morning with a pleasant breeze to keep those bugs at bay. Nothing going on until we got all the way up to the jetty where we found a new crawl.

Way up by the jetty

Looked promising with a mound in the turn around area and some sand thrown around. But after much probing by the master and his helpers, we could not find a nest chamber.

The Master Prober in action

So we've marked it as PN #3 and will check it for any developments. We crossed out the tracks so others know it has been documented. Maybe she'll come back tonight!

First time Jackie got to see a crawl this summer

Barb and Steve

FRIDAY JULY 16 NEST 8

 Today the Friday walkers found a crawl at the top end of the island at marker 9. The body pit was on the slope of a low dune, so it was a good spot even though the beach is narrow at this location on the island. The eggs were down a foot deep in the sand. The crawl was 34-35 inches wide, so maybe this was the turtle that laid nest 7 twelve days ago.

Nest #1 did not emerge overnight, so today I sprayed the area with wolf urine in hopes of discouraging the coyote from coming around. Maybe tonight the hatchlings will make the run to the ocean.

A nice long crawl

A distinctive body pit 

Jingle found the eggs after digging
in two places 

DNA sample

DNR sign and secondary posts

Melissa, Jingle and Keela

Thursday, July 15th No hatchlings yet

The Thursday Team were hoping to find hatchling tracks in the sand at Nest #1.  No luck today, what we did find was evidence of a Coyote digging at the SCDNR pole.  Thankfully our metal cage, worked, so they did not get into the nest chamber.  Hoping to see hatchling tracks soon.

Nest #2, which is also protected by a metal cage, and there were lots of Ghost Crab tracks over this nest area.  Do they know something is happening under the sand?

Enjoy, Bill's and Leslie's pictures.

Nest #1, Evidence of Coyote digging at Nest #1, they dig and head back over the dune

Nest #2 - caged for protection from the Coyotes, does not stop the Ghost Crabs

Good morning from the marsh

Breakfast at low tide

Possibly a Royal Tern

Pesky Ghost Crab