The Last One...

 On this cold, blustery and damp morning after Ophelia skirted us, the Saturday team headed out to check the last nest remaining on Waties. The beach was windswept and flat with the wind at our backs. 

Nest 9R was 56 days old today, and look what we saw!!

Looks like the hatchlings made their escape overnight

 

There were faint tracks heading toward the ocean. The storm overnight made them hard to see and harder yet to photograph. But we did see a straggler hatchling just making its journey toward the ocean.

Faint tracks

The lone straggler

The tide was very low and the distance this turtle had yet to cover was huge so we gave him a helping hand.

We got the turtle close to the water but once the water washed over it the first time, it was off and going. The water temperature was warmer than the air this morning. Bet it felt good to be in the water.

Miserable for us humans but pleasant for those turtles.

Mr (or Mrs?) fox heading to Tidewater today

Thanks for Cherie and Betsy for sharing their photos today.

Barb

Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance under SCDNR Permit Number: MTP500.