My family and I had the rare experience of watching a Loggerhead lay her eggs our last night of vacation at Edisto. We have spent many summer vacations on the island, but have never encountered a turtle before!
Kevin and I decided to talk a final stroll on the beach our last night in town. We walked up the beach a little ways and then turned around to head back. The moon was not up, so the beach was pretty dark. Kevin pointed out a dark object in the surf. I shined my flashlight towards the area and let out a gasp - "It's a Turtle!"
I quickly turned off my light and we stood still as we watched to see what she would do. Slowly, the Loggerhead crawled out the of surf and made her way up the beach. We could only make out her shadow most of the time, but she would stop every few feet as if to rest and ensure her surrounding were safe.
Kevin went and called my parents to come down as I continued to watch our flippered friend drag herself up the sand. She did a couple of test digs before she settled on the perfect spot for her eggs. Her flippers were flinging sand in all directions and then she sat perfectly still while she laid her eggs. The sand flinging continued as the turtle worked to carefully coverup her future offspring for safe keeping. Once she was happy with her nest construction, she turned around and headed back towards the sea. Daddy snapped a picture of the turtle as she moved her way back down the beach before she disappeared into the waves.
The encounter was truly amazing. In about 60 days, the eggs will hatch into little Loggerheads and begin their journey to the ocean.
I quickly turned off my light and we stood still as we watched to see what she would do. Slowly, the Loggerhead crawled out the of surf and made her way up the beach. We could only make out her shadow most of the time, but she would stop every few feet as if to rest and ensure her surrounding were safe.
Kevin went and called my parents to come down as I continued to watch our flippered friend drag herself up the sand. She did a couple of test digs before she settled on the perfect spot for her eggs. Her flippers were flinging sand in all directions and then she sat perfectly still while she laid her eggs. The sand flinging continued as the turtle worked to carefully coverup her future offspring for safe keeping. Once she was happy with her nest construction, she turned around and headed back towards the sea. Daddy snapped a picture of the turtle as she moved her way back down the beach before she disappeared into the waves.
The encounter was truly amazing. In about 60 days, the eggs will hatch into little Loggerheads and begin their journey to the ocean.
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