Sunday, July 7th - Waties Island survived TS Chantal

 Sunday Volunteers did go out to the island this afternoon after the worst of the storm had passed to check if access to the island was clear and did our nests make it through the storm.  Thankfully this storm did not have a really high storm surge.

As we drove through the bluff area, several downed branches were removed from the road, and that was the worst of it - yeah!

Erin and her guest walked the long end of the island, and Leslie and Kim walked the short end of the island.  All nests were fine, all high and dry, no overwashes.  The nests did get the rain, and lots of sand either blown on the nest or blown off.  

The ocean was pushed up to the dunes on the lower end

The sand was blown off the cage and nest #05R, but high and 

dry

 

The wind was wicked out there today - even the pelican's were having issues with the wind.

They landed and had issues trying to take off

Finally all got in the air and in formation

The lower end of the island, Hog Inlet, the dunes were high and dry, no impact

Picture from the lower end looking up toward the beach road - surf came up to the dunes, but the dunes held - thankfully no high storm surge.

 Text and pictures by Leslie P

All sea turtle monitoring by Waties Island Sea Turtle Patrol is permitted and authorized by SCDNR MARINE Turtle Conservation Program under Permit MTP 500.