Due to storms all around our proximity, we postponed our start time until 7am. On the ride out, the large mosquitoes were happy to show those riding in the back of the truck that they were in the area.
At the beach, we found a lot of ghost crab activity at many of our nests and filled each hole as we found them.
Nearing mid-island, we could see classic incoming and outgoing crawl tracks. She came in and veered left and slid over a crest of sand at the base of the dune. She crawled back over the crest and continued about another 25 feet further up the beach where she moved some sand around but there was no indication that she dug a nest. Her tracks then turned back to the ocean and she crossed back over part of her incoming tracks at the water's edge.
As we continued to Nest 1 we could see eggshell fragments outside the hole and a ghost crab was caught in the crab trap. The shell fragments were scooped up and discarded in the trash at the shed. The hole was covered back over and the nest is scheduled to be inventoried tomorrow. The crab managed to escape halfway between the nest and the water - I hope it finds something else for its meals today.
Feeling the heat of the day setting in as we finished our turtle duties and with the tide coming in, I snapped two pictures before we all headed back to the shed.
Text and pictures by Kim Pf
Waties Island performs research and management activities regarding sea turtle conservation in accordance with SCDNR permit number MTP500
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