Tuesday, September 23rd Nest 08 - Straggler tracks

 Another beautiful morning on Waties Island.

 

Even though Nest 08 has emerged, it is still checked daily until we do the inventory on Thursday morning.  The Tuesday Volunteers were excited to see that a single hatchling emerged over night.  It was a very determined little one, he had a long way to crawl to get to the ocean.  We tracked him from the nest, lost his tracks in the dry sand and discovered more tracks as we got closer to the wet sand and wrack line - he made it!

Good Luck little one!  

You can see the depression of the nest chamber, and the start of his tracks

The little one took the long way to the ocean.  Did not crawl directly, but a squiggly way

We did lose the tracks in the soft sand, but found them again in the wet sand

Very determined!

You can see how far the little one crawled.

  You can see the DNR post in the background 

 

Our major predator -- but this little one made it to the ocean!

 

Summary and photos by Leslie


All sea turtle monitoring by Waties Island Sea Turtle Patrol is permitted and authorized by SCDNR Marine Conservation Program under permit MTP500.