Friday, August 22nd Update on our Waties Island nests - Hurricane Erin moving on

 Now, that the worst of Hurricane Erin has passed our shores, I thought it would be informative to all to pass along what has been happening out on the island - our nests came through for the most part safe and sound.

On Wednesday, the wrack line was high but all nests and PN's were high and dry. 

 

The waves pushed the wrack behind the dunes

Wednesday High Tide mark

 

 

 

 

 

The biggest impact on Wednesday was at the Hog Inlet end of the island, more trees have come down,  two big gnarly trees have tumbled to join the others on the sand bank.

Treescape looks different

 

Another large tree down 

The fishing net we pulled out of the sand was still on the beach Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Volunteers reported that Nest 07 and PN02 had slight wash-overs.  Also for the last two days it seemed that the Ghost Crabs have left the beach.  We have not caught any, I wonder if they knew what was coming?

Nest 07 - Wash-over 

Nest 09 - High and Dry

 

 

PN02 -  Wash-over 

 

 

 

 Today, Friday had the most to report.  The higher tides did wash over the causeway road in a few places, passable but some big puddles on the road.  Last night's tide appeared to be very high on the short end and Kim reported that it was well behind the vegetation and dunes on the lower end.  Nest 08 still remains high and dry  Nest 06R had wrack piled up high on the front edge of the cage with water reaching just slightly inside the cage.  Nest 07 did not get over-washed again, however, both PN02 and PN 03 were both over washed.  

 

Nest 08 high and dry

Nest 06R

PN03 

Nest 06R - tide was close

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Nest 05R the tide came in within 8 to 10 inches.  There was signs of an emergence.  At this time, we are unsure if a full blown emergence of just a few hatchlings who left the nest.  This nest is on Day 56 so it is time for an emergence.  We have been watching this nest closely for the last several days.  Due to the high tide it was not totally clear how many hatchlings left the nest.  This nest had 120 eggs, and there did not appear there were that many tracks - but the high tide could of washed those away.  We are going to wait for Saturday before we call this nest emerged.  We already had one nest that we thought emerged, and when we went to do the inventory we found hatchlings right at the top of the nest and had to cover them up and wait another 3 days before performing the inventory, so we are going to wait to see what the Saturday volunteers report.

Nest 05R - Emergence hole

Hatchling Tracks - hopefully they caught the outgoing tide

Hatchling Tracks 

All of the volunteer teams who walked during Erin were walking either at high tide or close to an incoming or outgoing tide cycle.  In places there is not a lot of beach to walk on - kudos to those Leads and volunteers! 

 Pics by Leslie, Melissa, Kim T, and Kim P 

Summary by Leslie 

All sea turtle monitoring by WISTP is permitted and authorized by SCDNR Marine Conservation Program under MTP500.