Nest 9R Inventory and Sea Wasps!

 It was dry this morning, thankfully, making our walk up to Nest 9R for the inventory an easy one. This was one of two nests laid on June 22 (a double header). The original nest contained 109 eggs - one was used for the genetic sample and one other egg was lost to a ghost crab in early August.

Everyone was reminded of the proper way to excavate the chamber and what to expect. They had to dig pretty far down before reaching the first of the eggshells.

 

Dig with the side of your hand

Starting the dig

 We did eventually find four hatchlings further down in the chamber. All were released on the beach to make their way into the ocean.

Four live ones!

On the way...

The eggshells were sorted into four categories: hatched, unhatched, live and dead hatchlings. Final count was 100 hatched, 7 unhatched, 4 live and no dead hatchlings. A very good outcome with almost a 92% hatch success.

The beach always seems to have something interesting for us to see and today was no exception. We found lots of sea wasps (they sting; don't touch), a ghost shrimp partially out of the sand and some small brownish jellies.

Sea wasp aka box jellyfish

 

Ghost shrimp

 

Only about as big as a silver dollar

Thanks to Erin for sharing her photos today!

Barb and Steve

Monday, August 22nd - Rainy, windy morning, Nest #10 Emerged

 When we first got out to the beach, we sat in the truck for a few waiting for the rain band to stop. We got our rain gear on and was ready to go and the rain started again - the rain was not so bad, but the wind was wicked.  We had to take turns opening the truck doors.  We elected to drive slowly and carefully up the beach, my list of nests by location on the island was very handy this morning.

Our first planned stop was at Nest #10, located above Marker 5, at the base of the dune and it has emerged day 59.  Next stop was checking on Nest 9R, all was well.  This nest gets inventoried tomorrow morning.  Next stop was Nest #8R and no action, this nest is 61 days old today, so it has plenty of time to emerge.  We also stopped and checked both PN#02 and PN#03 carefully.

All other nests are fine, no Ghost Crab issues and no predator tracks in the sand today.

An email will be sent out giving information on the inventory for Nest #10.

 

 

 The rain bands just kept coming.

 

 

 

Nest #10 Emerged

Nice Emergence Hole, no tracks due to the rain and the wind.

No action at Nest #8R

Heading back down the beach, more rain coming.

We did check nests #16 and Nest #11R at the entrance last - no action there.

Inventory of Nest 6

We had a nice cloudy start, but the bugs on the beach were brutal.  By the time we were done it was hot.

 Today this nest was 71 days old.  Because we had no indication at all that this nest had emerged (very smooth at reed, not even an indentation, and no hatchling tracks) we can inventory it at day 70.  We did it today so Saturday's group did not have to do two inventories in one day. None of  us expected a good outcome.

As Kim and Karen  were digging into  the nest there was no bad odor and finally Karen found an eggshell. Turns out it was a wonderful out come.  Total eggs laid  on 6/11 - 105, minus one taken for DNA sample when nest was found. So out of 104 eggs laid, today's inventory was 95 hatched and 9 unhatched.  With a hatch and emergence success both of 90.4.

This turtle has been laying nests on Waties since 2011.  She lays at least 4 nests almost every two years. So far this year this is her second nest,  first one Nest #2 on May 29th.

Very smooth 

Sunday team all pitching in.

All done

Nest was about 18" deep.

Leslie got to ride today!

Inventory of Nest 7R and a Newly Emerged Nest!

Saturday morning inventory and we are all glad it isn't pouring rain like yesterday! A group of volunteers and a guest were with us today to check all the nests and inventory the contents of Nest 7R. Nice morning walk up the island :)

Heading up the beach

On our way up, we came across a hole dug by a coyote and two hatchlings on the surface.

We could see the tracks of these hatchlings coming out of Nest 9R on their way to the ocean but they didn't quite make it. Looks like lots of other hatchlings did make it though (see all the tracks?).

Nest 9R emergence hole

On up the beach to inventory Nest 7R. This was a relocated nest with 111 eggs laid by the mother turtle. One was taken for the DNA sample and 110 reburied nearby. A very successful nest: 106 hatched and only four were unhatched. To everyone's delight, a live hatchling was found near the bottom and released near the ocean.

Erin and her brother sorting eggshells

Jean and Jackie excavating the eggshells

Sorting...

One straggler was left in the nest but its on its way now!

All sorted now

Thank to Betsy for allowing us to share some of her photos.

Barb and Steve

Friday, August 19 Nest 9R Depression

 It's always exciting when we see a nest getting ready to emerge. Today we found Nest 9R, located between m.6 and m.7 with a classic depression. This nest is 58 days old today. A depression indicates that the hatchlings are coming out of their shells and moving around underground, thus changing the sand chamber above them. After they have rested a bit and straightened out their flippers and shells, they will climb out of that chamber.  And head to the ocean.

This nest has 108 eggs in it.

It was moved up closer to the dunes on June 22,
58 days ago

Wednesday 8/17/22 Nest #7R Emerged

 Due to the cloud cover, we never got to see the sun come up this morning.  When we entered the beach, there was a soft blowing wind which kept us cool and the bugs at bay. Beautiful morning for a walk.  

Out nests are starting to hatch and due to all the wind we've been having this summer, the three of us walked the length of the island, covering the swash, high tide line and the dunes keeping a sharp eye out for any signs of an emergence from any of our nests, possible nests or even a crawl labeled as a false crawl that could turn out to be a nest.

Nest 7R had two holes.  One was definitely a Ghost Crab hole.  The other was different. 

 Knowing that a depression is not always visible before a nest hatches, especially with all the wind and driving rain we have been having, I checked around for any signs of an emergence.  It wasn't until I walked around to the back of the nest and looked out that I saw the faintest hint of lots of tracks leading toward the ocean.  Nest #7R had emerged at day 58.

The tracks were so faint that I had to zoom in on the picture when I got home in order to see the many tracks leading to the water.

Monday, August 15th, Nest 22 ravaged by Canines, surprise find

 The day started with a beautiful sunrise.

 

 

And went south fast, our new Nest 22, which was to be inventoried tomorrow was dug up by a canine, probably Coyote, but we did not see who did the deed.  Since the egg shells were all on the surface of the beach, an inventory was done by the Monday Volunteers.

Canine damage to Nest 22

You can see the canine claw marks

Deep Nest

Sandy and Janice working the inventory

62 Hatched, and lots of eggshell pieces

 

 

While checking the other nests, we found lots of animal tracks around our nests, several of our nests had more Ghost Crab activity, so we may have more nests hatch and emerge this week.  

We also found some evidence between Marker 7 and Marker 8 of a possible nest - wild or possibly one of our False Crawls - there were two FC#3 and FC#4 in this area.  Sandy and I noted this GC hole with a sea turtle shell on the surface.  A white pole was placed  in this area, so volunteers need to check carefully in this area.

Also has some interesting animal tracks.

It certainly has been an interesting season.  Look at all of the animal tracks around our nests - both canine and cat.