4-26-19 Hilton Head Island had a rare daytime nesting of a Kemps ridley.
Morning dawns on Hobcaw as another turtle season begins.
Shorebird eggs, nests and chicks easily blend in to the dune habitat.
SCDNR has posted 'No Dogs Allowed' signs near #8 mile marker on Hobcaw Beach. There is active shorebird nesting and dogs wandering in this area can destroy nests and chicks.
5-13 DEB01 was laid just north of WW#6 against the scarped dune.
Bob transfers 138 viable eggs to a bucket and then to a new nest.
5-13 Bob proudly shows protected DEB01!
5-16 Susan and Lourdes found a textbook crawl laid above the high tide line. Lourdes located the egg chamber easily for her first nest!
5-16 New volunteer, Lourdes, proudly shows her first nest, HOB01.
5-17 DEB02 was a textbook crawl laid around 11:00 p.m.
5-17 Pat and John probed the crawl of DEB02 with John locating the chamber. Go team!
5-19 DEB03 was a long meandering crawl but Maribeth probed and found the chamber!
5-19 Judy and Maribeth happily show protected DEB03 at Prince George.
5-19 DEB04 had a long area of nesting possibility. Mark got some good probing experience with Judy finally locating the chamber!
5-19 The DEB04 team of Buffie, Mark, Maribeth and Judy was happy to finally locate the nest!
5-20 This turtle wanted her nest to be high and dry but could not form a chamber in the soft sand.
5-20 Steven attempted probing the crawl but without finding a chamber.
5-21 Beth and Pat St. found this crawl just south of Prince George.
5-21 Kathy C. found a crawl north WW#6 with a big variation in lengths indicating the turtle spent time on the beach.
5-21 The DEB06 team: Kathy C. and helper, David.
5-21 The DEB05 team: Beth and Pat St.
5-21 Pat St. found her first turtle nest and shows an egg to prove it!
Bob got some good probing experience with Kathi A. as his instructor.
The turtle that laid HOB03 plowed along the base of the dunes for a while before nesting.
Bob surveys the crawl and body pit of HOB02
A beautiful crawl by a tidy turtle. Volunteers just love this kind of crawl!
Peggy was happy to locate the egg chamber of DEB07!
Former homeowner, Karen fetched supplies so she and Peggy could protect DEB07. Good teamwork:)
Buffie and Mark noticed fresh tracks around 6:00 p.m. near their house at Prince George.
This daytime nesting turtle came up without being noticed and successfully laid her nest at the base of the dunes.
Buffie located her first egg chamber, something she will never forget.
Buffie smiles with her first nest as the sun sets.
Bill had a false crawl on Hobcaw near #5mm and then found this textbook nest south #11mm.
5-26 Bob C. happily poses with protected HOB05.
5-26 Bob C. quickly located the egg chamber of HOB05. He and Brandie decided to relocated the nest of 115 to better habitat.
5-26 HOB05 was laid low on the beach in a flat area that slanted landward.
5-26 Pat St. and Maribeth worked well as a team on today's 2 natural nests.
5-26 DEB10 was a textbook crawl which is a volunteer's dream to probe!
5-26 Afer much probing, the DEB09 team is happy to show off and egg:)
5-26 DEB09 crossed over her incoming crawl as she exited.
5-26 A nest laid on the creekside of Hobcaw was reported by a boater around noon.
5-26 Bob B. was available to go by boat and work on the nest. He located the chamber in short order!
5-26 Boaters pose with Bob and protected HOB06.
5-27 There was another nest on the backside of Hobcaw Beach beside HOB06.
5-27 Martha located and protected HOB09 south of #9mm.
5-27 HOB10 crawled around some trees to lay her nest.
5-28 Bob and Martha were fortunate to see this turtle returning to the ocean after meandering for 300 yds,
5-28 This exhausted loggerhead makes a slow crawl to the ocean. After dousing her with sea water she still had to be lifted into the waves.
5-28 HOB13 crawled all over the beach and behind trying to find the ocean after she nested.
5-28 Bob B. examines what certainly seemed to be the nest of HOB13.
5-28 The nest of HOB13 was actually south of the area that appeared to be the body pit. The turtle began her wandering after she nested. Bill finally solved the mystery.
5-28 The orange circle indicates the area that appeared to be the nest of HOB13.
5-29 Kathi A., dressed for flies, is happy to have found and protected HOB15 in Ocean Green. She located the egg chamber in the heat of the day:(
5-31 DEB11 was a natural nest at Prince George that Judie E. easily located.
5-31 Carolyn and Judie were the DEB11 team!
5-31 Pat and John found where a turtle bumped along the seawall in the Middle for about 50 yds.
5-31 HOB16 crawled up the face of the dune and nested on the way down. Bob located the shallow egg chamber.
5-31 Bob located the shallow egg chamber of HOB16 and is proud to show the protected nest!
6-2 Jane and Donna found the crawl and body pit of DEB12. Notice the dark excavated sand.
6-2 Jane and Donna are happy to have located and protected DEB12 in the Middle.
6-2 One of 2 nests (plus 2 false crawls) Brandie found this morning. HOB17 was a textbook nest.
6-2 Brandie probed and found 2 nests this morning. Here she celebrates locating HOB18!
6-2 Bob put in a lot of time and effort into earning his certification. We sure need his skills for this amazing nesting season we are having...congratulations Bob!
6-3 DEB13 was laid at the base of the Beach Club Walkway. Jane did a good job locating the egg chamber.
6-3 Jane found and protected DEB13 in front of the Beach Club Walkway.
6-3 Jane also located the egg chamber of DEB14 in front of Pioneer Place Villas...big morning!
6-3 Betsy & Walter are proud of Jane for locating DEB13 & DEB14...big morning!
6-4-19 DEB15 was laid on the gentle slope of the dune at Prince George.
6-4-19 Pat located and protected DEB15 north #13mm.
6-4-19 Beth had Pat and Donna point to where they thought DEB16 would be located.
6-4-19 Donna puts up a sign on the protected nest of DEB17 in front of North Beach Villas.
6-4-19 3 happy volunteers hold up 3 fingers for the total number nests they located today!
6-5 Martha the egg chamber of HOB19 very close to the dead tree. She nested at the end of her incoming crawl...a bit unusual.
6-5 HOB20 nested at the base of the dunes. Wendy, who has been training new volunteers for the past 2 seasons, was happy to have a nest on her own!
6-5 Around 9:00 p.m. at Prince George, a turtle was observed emerging from the surf.
6-6 Frankie, Donna and Peggy found this false crawl which may have been the turtle from Prince George making another attempt at #8mm.
6-6 Bob, with Bill instructing, located the chamber of DEB18, a natural nest. Good job Bob!
6-6 This turtle made a U-turn when it hit the sea wall. Hard structures are nesting deterrents for sea turtles.
6-7 Judy K. found this classic crawl just north #13mm at Prince George. She located the eggs and it became DEB19.
6-7 Judy shows the nursery of 7 natural turtle nests located at Prince George!
6-8 Jackie had this crawl and quickly located the egg chamber. It became DEB21!
6-8 Wendy and Susan found this nesting attempt but after probing, felt the turtle encountered too much debris.
6-8 Wendy probed this textbook crawl searching for the softer sand of the egg chamber.
6-8 HOB21 was located and protected by Wendy.
6-9 Judy teaches Haden to follow the soft sand.
6-9 Haden discovered eggs in the false crawl from Saturday...way to go Haden!
6-9 Judy, Haden and Maribeth had an unexpected discovery as they turned a false crawl into DEB22!
6-9 This loopy false crawl on Hobcaw had 2 turnarounds in the dunes but no evidence of nesting.
6-9 HOB22 laid right beside HOB08 and could be the same turtle at 13 days apart. DNA will tell us!
6-10 Buffie and Mark look on as Haden digs where Walter located a soft area in the hard sand with his aluminum probe.
6-10 Buffie carefully transfers the eggs from the nest into the bucket for relocation north to better habitat.
6-10 Haden digs out the new nest chamber with a cockle shell. This area has much better habitat to incubate the nest of 116 eggs.
6-10 The relocation team of DEB23 poses for a group photo...good teamwork!
6-11- Kathy C. probed in the firm Middle sand and located DEB24.
6-11 Martha found the classic crawl of HOB23 which she left as a natural nest.
6-11 HOB25 was laid below the spring tide line and Martha decided to relocate it to better habitat.
6-11 116 eggs were relocated .
6-11 Kathy C. probed this Hobcaw crawl and found eggs...HOB26!
6-11 Kathy C. takes a rest after working on 3 nests and honing her nest-finding skills!
6-13 Susan and Pat found this crawl with the body pit in an ideal location with the possible nest on top of a low dune.
6-13 Pat, who is working on her certification, examines the crawl to decide incoming vs. outgoing tracks.
6-13 Pat located the egg chamber of HOB27 and protected the nest with Susan's guidance.
6-14 A turtle laid her nest exactly in the pathway of a beach house. The decision was made to relocate.
6-14 Marie, John and Pat took turns carefully transferring eggs out of the original nest and into the new one.
6-14 The DEB26 relocation team did a good job and proudly shows the new home site. 110 eggs will incubate for about 55 days before hatching.
6-15 Judie found this crawl north #8mm and turned it into natural DEB27!
6-15 Wendy and Duane found this body pit against the newly pushed up dune. Duane probed and easily located his first nest...HOB28!
6-15 A strong female loggerhead scaled the high dune in Ocean Green to lay her nest high & dry.
6-15 Duane and Wendy examine the long stretch of area where the nest could be located.
6-15 After much probing and digging, Duane happily uncovers an egg from his second nest!
6-15 Tired but glad to have found the egg chamber of HOB29, Wendy and Duane pause for a photo:)
6-15 This shows the strength of loggerheads to climb this tall dune. This female turtle made sure HOB29 was high & dry!
6-16 DEB28 was laid on a good slant of a Prince George dune.
6-16 Haden and Maribeth stand with DEB29 located between DeBordieu and Prince George.
6-16 Haden watches as Maribeth digs to find the egg chamber of DEB28 at Prince George.
6-16 Bill found this crawl north of #8, probed and turned it into HOB30!
6-16 HOB31 was laid near a dead tree on Hobcaw. Bill located the egg chamber quickly.
6-17 Tom found this crawl north #16mm and turned it into DEB31.
6-17 Walter and Haden had a crawl south WW#4. Kathi A. observed the turtle nesting around 10:30 last night!
6-17 Walter created a wooden T bar probe and let Haden try it out. He probed, found a soft area and Walter confirmed it as the egg chamber:)
6-18 Martha was greeted with a beautiful Hobcaw sunrise and turtle crawl.
6-18 HOB32 was in a good location so Martha left it natural.
6-18 HOB33 was laid on the gentle slant of the dune so Martha left it natural.
6-18 Congratulations to Jane Cooper who has earned her SCDNR certification!
6-19 Haden probes the crawl of DEB33.
6-19 The creekside nester returned to Hobcaw, Mark located the eggs and it became HOB34.
6-19 After much probing and digging, Mark located the egg chamber of HOB35 located north #2mm
6-19-19 Buffie digs in to locate the eggs of HOB36 north of #0mm in Ocean Green.
6-19-19 Congratulations to Buffie, Mark and Kathi A. on their 3 nest day!
6-20 Donna did a good job of locating DEB34 in a flat area on top of the vegetated dune!
6-21 DEB35 crawl at Prince George.
6-21 DEB35 team photo:)
6-21 Crawl south #5 in front of N. Beach Villas.
6-21 Bingo....Lourdes located the egg chamber and this nest became DEB36!
6-21 Lourdes probed and located the egg chamber and this became nest DEB36!
6-21 Congratulations to Lourdes for finding DEB36!
6-22 Judie E. found this crawl north #12mm.
6-22 Judie wasted no time locating the egg chamber of DEB37 as a severe storm approached!
6-22 Bob B., walking the Middle, captured this image of the eerie storm clouds of a surprise thunderstorm.
6-22 Wendy's panoramic photo from Hobcaw Beach shows the strange stratus clouds associated with the wicked storm that passed blew through the area.
6-22 Duane looks apprehensively as the dark storm clouds approach remote Hobcaw Beach!
6-24 This turtle left a perfect imprint of her head at the nest she laid in Ocean Green (HOB37).
6-24 Maribeth wasted no time using her probe to locate the egg chamber of natural HOB37.
6-24 These vials are headed to SCDNR and contain eggshells collected from nests laid at DEB/HOB/NTH. The DNA they contain gives us a lot of information about the travels of these turtles this season.
6-25 HOB38 was a textbook nest and Martha knew right where to find the egg chamber!
6-25 HOB38 had a large body pit area. Martha found the nest under the fluffy piled up sand.
6-25 HOB39 had an outgoing crawl that went exactly over her incoming crawl.
6-26 Please take your beach debris OFF the beach at night!
6-26 Bob B. found this crawl south WW#7 in front of the Beach Villas.
6-26 Assisted by Buffie and Mark, Bob is happy to have completed his second relocated nest...a lot of work!
6-26 Donna located the egg chamber of natural HOB40.
6-26 HOB41 was laid in a beautiful area on the gentle rise of the dune.
6-26 Donna was happy to find the egg chamber of HOB41!
6-27 HOB42 was a remote nest with a long crawl south #16.
6-27 The body pit of HOB42 is considered 'textbook' and a volunteer's dream to probe!
6-27 Susan made quick work of locating the chamber of HOB43 north #4mm.
6-28 This is what late-risers miss...a beautiful Hobcaw sunrise!
6-28 HOB44 body pit located north #1mm.
6-28 Mark and Buffie are getting the feel for locating nest egg chambers...go Mark!
6-28 Mark and Buffie were a good team in finding and protecting HOB44.
6-29 Vacationers look on as Jackie carefully transfers eggs from the original nest.
6-29 Donna gets experience relocating her first nest.
6-30 We are calling this turtle 'Barnacle Betty' because she has a line up the left side of her crawl, likely a barnacle on her belly. This was her 4th false crawl in 3 days:(
6-30 This turtle crawled right over DEB36 and nested on top of the dune in front of N. Beach Villas.
6-30 DEB41, located in front of N. Beach Villas, was located by Donna.
6-30 We are proud of Donna for earning her SCDNR certification!
7-1 Ingrid and Tom found Barnacle Betty's 5th crawl since Friday. This time it was a nest!
7-1 Kathi A. found this textbook crawl south #4mm and turned it into natural HOB47!
7-1 HOB46 nested right behind HOB33 and could be the same turtle returning...if so, DNA will tell us.
7-2 HOB48 was laid low on the beach but was above the wrack line of the King tide. Martha left it natural.
7-2 HOB49 was just south #1mm and located by Martha.
7-2 Martha said HOB50 was a tidy turtle and laid her nest right at the #1mm.
7-2 Judy found the egg chamber of DEB43 high on a dune north #13mm at Prince George.
7-3 Buffie and Mark walked out their front door at Prince George to find this crawl.
7-3 The body pit of DEB44 has lots of thrown sand indicating a nest!
7-3 Mark and Buffie both probed the nest and found a soft spot but Pat had to use her metal probe to locate the eggs 20 in. deep.
7-4 Pat St. located this nest 30 yds. south #0mm...congratulations!
7-4 At 9:00 last night a lady watched a turtle try to climb the pushed up dune in Ocean Green. She couldn't make it up or dig her chamber and returned to the ocean.
7-5 Bob B. found this beautiful crawl south #15mm at Prince George.
7-5 Bob B. was able to locate the egg chamber of DEB45 and saved one eggshell for DNA.
7-5 This turtle likes to climb high dunes and is likely the same one that tried in Ocean Green yesterday.
7-5 Uprooted vegetation, thrown sand and a body pit are all evidence that the turtle laid a nest.
7-5 Mark stands high atop the Ocean Green dune with HOB53.
7-6 This turtle crawled right up to HOB12 just north #3mm.
7-6 Likely the same turtle, she crawled up beside HOB35 and did a tight turnaround without nesting.
7-6 The wide crawl of this turtle indicates she is large. Hopefully, she will try again tonight.
7-7 This crawl and body pit just north of the Beach Club had all the classic signs of a nest.
7-7 Maribeth worked on her probing technique and easily located DEB46.
7-7 DEB46 located and marked by Maribeth!
7-7 Brandie and Ryan found this crawl south#12mm on Hobcaw.
7-7 Brandie, with help from Ryan, located HOB54. It was the 100th nest for DeBordieu & Hobcaw!
7-7 Brandie located the egg chamber of HOB55, just south #3mm.
7-7 This turtle left an open chamber maybe due to roots or she could have been scared off by coyotes. Tracks wee seen nearby.
7-9 Pat located DEB47 just south #16mm at Prince George.
7-9 A turtle laid her nest at the foot of the middle steps at the Beach Villas. Mark located the egg chamber. The nest was moved north to better habitat.
7-9 This large loggerhead crawled up and behind 2 side by side nests.
7-9 HOB57 located her nest just behind HOB08 on the right. Could be a trio of nests by the same female. DNA will tell us if so!
7-10 DEB49 was just north #10mm on the North.
7-10 Lourdes and Mark worked on and located DEB50 with Pat's guidance.
7-10 Kathi A. found this textbook crawl which became HOB58.
7-11 Bob C. found the crawl of DEB51 south WW#7.
7-11 DEB51 had to be relocated to south WW#5 Bill instructed Donna and Bob C.
7-11 Lourdes located the egg chamber of HOB59 north #13mm.
7-11 Lourdes systematically probed and did well locating DEB59 north #13mm.
7-11 Excited to have done the record-breaking nest, Bob and Donna are all smiles!
7-11 The crawl and body pit of DEB60 indicated another textbook nest.
7-12 The crawl of HOB61 was just north #1mm.
7-12 Buffie studied the body pit area and decided where the egg chamber would likely be and then began probing.
7-12 Buffie's hunch paid off and she found the deep egg chamber of HOB61!
7-12 Having run out of supplies during this amazing season, Buffie and Mark used a new marking system on HOB61.
7-13 This turtle crawled up to the low dune and nested in vegetation (DEB52).
7-13 Judie E. located DEB52 in dune vegetation.
7-13 DEB53 was found north #5mm in front of N. Beach Villas. Judie's find was DeBordieu & Hobcaw's 114th nest!
7-14 Haden probed and located the egg chamber of 'Barnacle Betty', the turtle with a distinctive scrape up her crawl. Go Haden!
7-14 Buffie probed this crawl, found a soft area and located the eggs of HOB52!
7-14 The nest of HOB63 first appeared to be a false crawl but Mark turned it into a nest!
7-15 DEB55 was laid around 11:00 p.m. 7/14 and obseved by Buffie and Mark as she returned to the ocean. Bob C., walking with Tom this morning, located the egg chamber.
7-15 The current edition of Garden & Gun has a great article about the SC Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital. Their patients are sick/injured loggerheads that they rehab with the goal of returning them to the ocean.
7-15 Volunteers gathered to celebrate the record breaking nesting season:)
7-16 This was the concise crawl/body pit of DEB56 laid north #14mm at Prince George.
7-16 Lourdes quickly located the chamber then Anita dug down to find the eggs!
7-16 HOB64 laid her nest a bit too low on the beach. Martha, Buffie and Mark decided to relocate to safer habitat.
7-16 Mark watches Buffie carefully remove the eggs from the nest of HOB64 laid too low on the beach.
7-16 Buffie replaces the eggs of HOB64 in the newly dug chamber, a safer habitat for the nest to incubate.
7-16 Certified Buffie and Mark!
7-17 This turtle nested low on the beach so Pat O., Buffie and Mark relocated the clutch to safer incubating habitat (DEB58)
7-17 The major hatch of natural DEB03 south #14mm at Prince George!
7-17 This tidy turtle laid her nest out of harm's way. Donna easily located the chamber of DEB57!
7-17 A crowd gathered for one of the first nest inventories of the season, DEB01 south WW#4.
7-17 A turtle just hatching out of its shell drew many interested onlookers. It eventually wiggled out of the shell and crawled around in the sand-filled bucket.
7-17 The lone hatchling found in the nest of DEB02 was extra small and very light in color.
7-17 The crowd of about 75 people formed 2 lines to give the lone hatchling a runway to the ocean...its new watery home!
7-18 Peggy located the chamber of DEB59 and marked the spot!
7-18 Carolyn gives the Turtle Talk for the inventory of DEB06.
7-18 One of 2 healthy, frisky hatchlings released from the inventory of nest DEB06.
7-18 Hatchlings instinctively head for the ocean when put on the beach.
7-18 The crowd gives the 2 hatchlings a proper send off into the blue Atlantic. Their destination is the Gulf Stream, a frantic 60 mile swim!
7-19 Bob B. was able to count 50+ tracks from the hatch of DEB05 just south of Prince George!
7-20 The turtle that laid HOB65 pulled up the screen of another nest and covered her chamber for about 5 feet!
7-20 Wendy and Duane both probed trying to locate the soft area indicating the egg chamber.
7-20 About 45 tracks were counted from the hatch of HOB05.
7-21 This nest was laid low on the beach. Judy and Maribeth decided to relocate it.
7-21 Maribeth probed, located and relocated the nest of DEB60 solo!
7-21 Brandie did the morning inventory of HOB02 which had a n 85% success rate:)
7-21 Judy K. took this photo of a hatchling from the inventory last night of DEB07.
7-22 A coyote dug into the hatched nest of DEB05 just south of Prince George.
7-22 One of 3 hatchlings released from the morning inventory of DEB05 just south of Prince George.
7-23 DEB10 in front of N. Beach Villas had a big hatch. Beth and Pat St counted 40 tracks. We will inventory this nest Friday at 6:00 p.m.!
7-23 Kathi A., out for a bike ride, found Robin doing the inventory of HOB05. It had a good hatch success of 90%!
7-23 The DNA of HOB05 shows she is a traveler. In 2016 she nested at Cape Hatteras and then swam 167 miles to the SC lowcountry for her remaining nests.
7-24 A coyote dug up the contents of inventoried HOB05 just north of #7mm on Hobcaw.
7-24 Duane did his first solo inventory of HOB11. It had a great hatch success of 96% with one live hatchling to release.
7-25 Coyote(s) dug into the hatching or hatched nest of DEB09 at Prince George.
7-25 This hatchling was released from the inventory of the coyote-depredated nest of DEB09 at Prince George.
7-25 Frankie and Peggy found a fresh crawl just north #13mm at Prince George and turned it into natural DEB61!
7-25 About 60 hatchlings emerged from HOB10 last night and made it safely to the ocean!
7-26 Duane engages the crowd with his turtle knowledge as the contents of DEB10 are excavated.
7-26 As Maribeth digs up the contents of DEB10, Lourdes and Donna await shells to count.
7-26 Nine hatchlings were found in the chamber of hatched DEB10. They were put in a bucket for release onto the beach.
7-26 Volunteers asked everyone to form 2 lines for the safe release of the 9 hatchlings from DEB10.
7-26 Volunteers paused for a commemorative photo of the inventory of DEB10...a 93% hatch success!
7-28 Maribeth easily located the chamber of DEB62 as Bill observed.
7-29 A crowd gathered for the inventory of HOB10 on Hobcaw Beach.
7-29 The HOB10 inventory team dug out the contents of the nest and found 21 hatchlings that had not made it out on their own.
7-29 21 turtles found in the nest were passed around for all to see.
7-29 Martha passed the bucket for all to be amazed at the 21 hatchlings found in HOB10.
7-29 2 hatchlings crawled side by side into their new watery home...the Atlantic Ocean!
7-29 One hatchling had a gimpy flipper so Martha gave it a little boost past the breakers and sent it on to the Gulf Stream.
7-30 Kathi A. speaks above the encroaching high tide at the inventory of HOB15. She did a good job educating the crowd of 40-50.
7-30 An avid crowd of turtle enthusiasts gathered for the inventory of HOB15 in Ocean Green.
7-30 2 of the 3 turtles were released onto the short stretch of beach to crawl to the ocean.
7-30 3 hatchlings were found in the chamber of HOB15 3 days after the hatch.
7-30 Inventory attendees and volunteers lined up to give the hatchlings a proper send off into the Great Atlantic...their new watery home!
7-31 A coyote(s) dug into DEB16 during hatching.
7-31 3 of 6 hatchlings were released that survived the coyote break in of DEB16!
7-31- Donna found the hatch of DEB23 with an estimated 30-40 tracks out of the nest!
7-31 The Coastal Observer had a front page article about the hatching season and also a nice editorial.
7-31 Walter gave his interesting turtle talk and did a good job educating the crowd.
7-31 Susan dug out the nest contents as Pat S. and Bob C. sorted/counted the shells.
7-31 The crowd gives a send off to the lone turtle from the inventory of DEB12.
7-31 Buffie could only watch as the King Tide rolled in and covered many of the North nests with ocean.
8-1 Bob C. found the hatch of DEB18 north WW#4. The inventory is Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
8-1 Nesting has slowed to a trickle so Susan was surprised to see this crawl on Hobcaw just north #13mm.
8-1 This smart mom laid her nest just above the King Tide line. Susan said the tide turtle made it easy to locate the egg chamber!
8-2 Bob B. found the hatch of DEB15 at Prince George.
8-2 HOB17 had a good hatch with 20-30 tracks counted by Buffie and Mark.
8-2 Buffie and Mark estimated 25-30 tracks out of HOB19.
8-3 Wendy found this crawl just north #3mm on Hobcaw Beach.
8-3 HOB67 made a large body pit but Wendy easily located the egg chamber!
8-3 A crowd gathers for the inventory of relocated DEB23 just south WW#5.
8-3 Two hatchlings were excavated from the chamber of DEB23 and put in a bucket. They were later released onto the beach to crawl to the ocean.
8-3 Pat St. got to pass around the bucket with 2 hatchlings for all to see!
8-3 One hatchling was a little weak and had to be carried closer to the ocean.
8-5 The inventory team of DEB15 dug out the nest contents.
8-5 Mark educated the Prince George crowd about loggerheads.
8-5 Buffie showed the turtle enthusiasts an unhatched egg, about the size of a ping pong ball.
8-5 A hatchling was brought out of the nest of DEB13 at the DeBordieu Beach Club Walkway. Donna passed the bucket around for all to see.
8-5 One hatchling was found in the nest chamber that did not make it out on it's own.
8-5 The crowd gathered at the water line to see the small turtle off to his first swim in the Atlantic!
8-6 Turtle fans gathered in Ocean Green to watch the inventory of HOB29 laid high atop the pushed up dune.
8-6 One live hatchling was found in the nest that did not make it out on it's own. Because it had a deformed belly, it couldn't crawl very well. Haden gave it a lift past the first breakers where it swam free!
8-7 Prior to the morning inventory of DEB17, Haden took down the black screening that protected the hatchlings from going landward. Turtles are attracted to the brightest horizon. We want it to be the white foam of the waves and not flood lights on a house!
8-6 Volunteer Haden, a friend and cousin watch with wonder as a hatchling makes it's way to the ocean. They found the turtle on the beach and it likely came from DEB17.
8-7 Anita, Buffie and Haden were the inventory team for DEB22 at Prince George.
8-7 10 lively hatchlings were brought out of the DEB22 nest chamber.
8-7 This turtle seems to be waving goodbye as he/she heads for home...the Great Atlantic Ocean!
8-7 One of 4 turtles released from the nest of DEB25 at DeBordieu makes tracks to the ocean.
8-9 Lourdes studied the crawl of DEB63 before probing and locating the chamber.
8-9 One egg from each nest is taken for a 9 year DNA study. Lourdes located the chamber and brought out an egg.
8-9 One of 7 hatchlings was brought out of DEB26 at inventory. John, Marie and Beth put the turtles on the beach to crawl to the ocean.
8-9 Buffie and Mark found 4 nests that had hatched on Hobcaw this morning. This is one of the 4 that will be inventoried Monday morning.
8-9 The inventory team for DEB24 was Haden, Anita and Kathy C.
8-9 Duane educated the crowd about loggerheads and DeBordieu & Hobcaw SCUTE's efforts to protect their nests.
8-9 Jane passed the bucket with 2 hatchlings found in the chamber of DEB24 that had not made it out on their own. These are thought to be the 'runts' and sometimes have deformities. We give them all an equal chance for survival!
8-9 The crowd was asked to form 2 lines to allow the 2 hatchlings to crawl to the ocean. They will make 3 day swim to the Gulf Stream where they will hide, rest and feed in the cover of the sargassum rafts. Here, they catch the current of the mighty Gulf Stream that carries them around the North Atlantic Gyre.
8-11 DEB33 hatched last night and the turtles headed south toward the waxing moon in the southern sky. Please remember LIGHTS OUT FOR LOGGERHEADS...they dig the DARK!
8-11 A group gathered at Prince George for the inventories of DEB19 and DEB20.
8-11 Haden dug out the nest contents of DEB19. There were no live hatchlings to release.
8-11 Jane holds one of 3 hatchlings found in the chamber of DEB34.
8-11 A hatchling's viewpoint is quite different at ground level. With the curve of the beach it is difficult for it to hear the ocean and orient properly.
8-12-19 This hatchling was released from an early morning inventory down on Hobcaw Beach.
8-12 A small group gathered for the inventory of DEB32 south of Walkway #4.
8-12 Kathy C. gave folks the lowdown on loggerheads and answered questions.
8-12 The inventory had to really search for the egg chamber. It was not where the reed and depression were. They finally found it and completed the inventory. There were no live hatchlings left in the nest.
8-14 Pat O. and Pat St. brought out 2 lively hatchling from the inventory of DEB29. They put them on the beach where they made a beeline to the ocean!
8-14 Kathi A. sent this photo from her Hobcaw survey this morning of storms offshore.
8-15 The sunrise inventory of DEB33 just south of the N. Access Rd. brought out 3 hatchlings from the chamber that would not have made it out on their own.
8-15 Susan found the major hatch of HOB38 on Hobcaw Beach with 50+ tracks counted!
8-16 Bob B. did the inventory of DEB31 and had 6 hatchlings to release with a small group watching!
8-16 Bill was surprised to have a nest on Hobcaw this late in the season...HOB68!
8-16 Bob B. talks turtles to a group gathered for the inventory of DEB39 north of WW#6. Unfortunately for those who came, there were no live hatchlings to release. That means all that could make it out on their own were able to!
8-19 One of 13 hatchlings found in the inventory of HOB38 crawls to it's new watery home, the Atlantic Ocean!
8-18 HOB42 south #16mm on Hobcaw Beach had a major hatch with all 70+ tracks going straight to the ocean!
8-19 The major hatch of DEB40 south of WW#5 occurred at sunset last night. About 52 turtles made their way straight to the ocean!
8-20 Wendy, walking Hobcaw, found the hatch of HOB48 north #8mm. She counted 75+ tracks!
8-20 Wendy witnessed a big display of 25-30 sharks feeding at North Inlet.
8-21 DEB38 had a great hatch with 60+ tracks counted!
8-21 DEB41 also had a good hatch with 50+ tracks heading straight to the ocean!
9-4 Perhaps sensing the arrival of H. Dorian, about 20 hatchlings exited HOB64!
9-4 A little humor is a good thing when a hurricane is bearing down:)
9-10 Demonstrating how resilient they are, this nest DEB59 went through the wrath of Dorian and still managed to hatch! Buffie and Mark observed a total of 17 hatchlings make their way out of this shallow nest around 9:30 Monday night.
9-11 A few of the 11 hatchlings found in DEB58 made their way to the ocean but some were drawn landward to the setting sun.
9-11 Being a turtle volunteer means seeing the good with the bad/sad. It is always rewarding to see hatchlings in a nest that has been through such severe weather and still make it through. Turtles are a symbol of strength, endurance and long life.
TURTLESTRONG is our motto!
9-13 The inventory of DEB59 at Prince George drew a good group of residents. There were no live hatchlings but Mark did a good job of education about loggerheads and our efforts to protect them.