Since my workplace is located right on the Atlantic Ocean, I tend to spend a lot of time on the beach. Lately, this sight has been pretty common...
Yep, the central depression with the numerous tracks running toward the water is a sea turtle nest that exploded during the night. Here are more photos of the tracks left behind by the hatchlings. The little depression in the sand is the result of the hatchlings all working to the surface together. As they work the sand trickles back down into the nest behind them leaving the depression.
Mixed in with the various marks in the sand are fox tracks. Foxes are very common on Palm Beach and they patrol the beach every night. Sometimes they even are out during the day.
If you look closely, you will see that some of the hatchling turtles don't exactly head straight for the water...
I have seen countless mass escapes from the sand to the water and regardless of where the nest is located, some of the hatchlings take longer to figure out which way to head than others. But their tracks almost always do lead to the water eventually.
Most likely this was a loggerhead nest as this is our most common species. But we also get green sea turtles and even leatherbacks from time to time.
Yep, the central depression with the numerous tracks running toward the water is a sea turtle nest that exploded during the night. Here are more photos of the tracks left behind by the hatchlings. The little depression in the sand is the result of the hatchlings all working to the surface together. As they work the sand trickles back down into the nest behind them leaving the depression.
Mixed in with the various marks in the sand are fox tracks. Foxes are very common on Palm Beach and they patrol the beach every night. Sometimes they even are out during the day.
If you look closely, you will see that some of the hatchling turtles don't exactly head straight for the water...
I have seen countless mass escapes from the sand to the water and regardless of where the nest is located, some of the hatchlings take longer to figure out which way to head than others. But their tracks almost always do lead to the water eventually.
Most likely this was a loggerhead nest as this is our most common species. But we also get green sea turtles and even leatherbacks from time to time.
