South Walton Turtle Watch Group’s
2009 turtle nests
Nest 37, loggerhead, found by Bill Higgins. This is his first one this year....yeah! Just west of Mistral.
Nest No. 36, loggerhead was found by Charlie on Aug. 8 near Seacrest.
Nest #35 was found on Sunday 8/02/09 by John Andrews a loggerhead in Inlet Beach.
Anthony and Sherry Head of South Walton Turtle Watch Group witnessed a loggerhead nesting on Aug. 2, 2009. Nest No. 34 near Stallworth.
Sherry and Anthony Head at nest No. 34 near Stallworth.
Nest #33, loggerhead was found on July 31 by April and moved by Anthony and Sherry Head. Turtle came up between a towel and buckets/toys on the beach. The sand was saturated from a storm surf but the turtle nested anyway. 107 eggs were moved.
Nest #32, a loggerhead was found by Wayne July 28 in front of Point of View condos in Seacrest.
Nest #31 was found July 26 in Paradise by the Sea by Cathy it was low so it was moved.
Nest No. 1 hatches at Seacrest Beach. This is excited news as there were concerns when high tides washed over the nest in late May. Total hatched eggs: 17
South Walton Turtle Watch folks witnessed a loggerhead lay her eggs on broad daylight on July 23. Nest #30 is in Seacrest. Thank you for sharing Bobby, Kate and Beth of South Walton Turtle Watch. Thank you local Ray Combs for letting everyone know to give the mother turtle plenty of room to lay her eggs.
Nest #29 a loggerhead was found on July 19 by Cathy in front of Charlie Hilton's in Paradise by the Sea. It was very low and moved upward. 129 eggs, well done Val.
Nest #28, a loggerhead with beautiful distinct claw marks was found on July 15. Nest was right in the weed line at the high tide line as well as in the middle of the Draper Lake outfall. Moved to the East and up to the toe of the dune of The Retreat development. Kelley was approached by Mike and Melanie Hasse who were walking the beach prior to sunrise and had come across the tracks.
Nest #27 is a loggerhead, left in place at Sand Cliffs subdivision in Seacrest found by Al on July 14.
Nest #26, a loggerhead, was found by Cyndi and Art in front of Adagio in Blue Mountain Beach, she came all the way in and would have come further if it were not for the fence, nest that was left in place.
Nest No.25 was found July 13 by Angela, second house from the Stallworth walkover, loggerhead this nest was moved straight back with 89 eggs
Nest #24 was found by Mark in front of Beach Crest condos in Seagrove July 13. A loggerhead left in place beautiful nest.
Nest 23, a loggerhead, was found in front of Charlie Hilton's house by Al near Seacrest on July 8, and moved as it was only 25 feet from the surf. 132 eggs!
Nest No. 22. loggerhead, was found by Bobby, who on July 6 in front of Walton Dunes, this nest was just above the incoming tide and was moved straight back.
Nest No. 21, a loggerhead was found by Sharon Maxwell at 4 Mile Village. Tide line was close to nest, so it was moved.
Nest No. 20 a loggerhead, was found in Seagrove by the Villas by Carol on July 3. Too close to water and as you can see with the tracks and high tide yet to come, and moved by Joe.
Nest No. 19 a loggerhead, was found July 3 by Bobby Stuart in Watersound left in place and marked by Bobby. Notice the incoming track is much lighter than the outgoing, it appears it rained while she was nesting.
Nest No. 18, loggerhead was discovered by Bobby near WaterSound on July 1., left in place
Nest No. 17, loggerhead, was found near Ramsgate in Sea Crest by Joe and marked by Charlie and him on, 6/29/09, left in place.
Nest. #16, loggerhead found by Debbie June 23. This is her first year walking as a volunteer. This nest was left in place and was in Gulf Trace near Grayton Beach State Park.
Nest No. 15 was found by Bev, on left June 22, a loggerhead, moved because it was in the tide line and the bottom of the nest was already in water. This nest was west of the open area west of Pompano Joe’s
Nest No. 14 was found by Al June 21, a loggerhead, green street in Sand Cliffs in Sea Crest. Happy Fathers Day
Nest No. 13. loggerhead found by Anthony Head, between Ed Walline and Gulfview Heights access on June 19.
Nest No. 11 and No. 12, loggerhead, found by Wayne on 6/17/09 were below wrack line and moved by Wayne, Val, and Tobias. West of Pompano Street in Inlet Beach.
Nest No. 10 was found by Charlie Lofton at Sunrise Beach June 17.
Nest No. 9 was found June 14, a loggerhead, left in place in front of Adagio in Blue Mountain Beach by Mike.
Nest No.8 was found by Julie and Lee Wilcox by the Pelican Circle walkover in Seacrest a loggerhead, left in place.
Nest No. 7 was found 6/14/09 by Anthony a loggerhead it was below high tide line and moved. This nest is by the last house in Stallworth Preserve. Note in this picture of #7 that it looks as if someone watched her nest and then put seaweed around the nest so the Turtle Watch Group would not miss it.
Nest No. 6, loggerhead was found by Mark and left in place and marked by Joe and Mark in front of Campbell St. in Seagrove. Turtle stumbled through a hole and items left by inconsiderate beach goers.
Turtle nest No. 5, loggerhead was found by Charlie Lofton June 3. The nest was moved back due to being too close to the tide line. 102 eggs were moved (see inset)
Tutle nest No. 4, a loggerhead, found by Charlie Lofton at the Paradise By The Sea area of Seacrest June 2.
Nest No. 2 found by Tobias and Val Lofton May 30.
Turtle Nest No. 3 found by Anthony Head May 30.
On May 30, South Walton Turtle Watch group found two loggerhead turtle nests. Nest 2 was found by Tobias and his Mom, Val Lofton at Rams Gate in Seacrest. Nest 3 found by Anthony Head, just east of Bishop Road in the Stallworth Area.
For more information about our local turtle watch group, CLICK HERE
Photo courtesy South Walton Turtle Watch Group
Loggerhead turtle nest washed over by high surf
The first turtle nest of the season in Seacrest has been compromised due to high surf conditions May 23.
According to Sharon Maxwell from South Walton Turtle Watch, a turtle nest stops development if it is washed over more than three times. With high surf conditions, the Gulf waters have been up to the sand dunes.
Time will tell, and the group will monitor and dig when it reaches full development at 80 days.
For more information about our local turtle watch group, go to: www.seaturtlewatch.com
Turtle Watch volunteers taped off nest area of loggerhead turtle. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors
Turtle Watch Group volunteers find first loggerhead nest May 17
The first loggerhead turtle nest of the 2009 season was found in Seacrest Beach in Walton County on May 17. The nest was found by Turtle Watch Group volunteers Wayne Lofton and marked by Valerie and Wayne Lofton early Sunday morning. It appears the turtle scaled a man-made mound to find her place.
For more information, go to http://www.seaturtlewatch.com or
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To: Bobby Stuart
Looks like you and your associates are doing a masterful job on the beach.
I would like to know more about joining this fine organization. See you in about 6 weeks. My wife Geri says hello.
Larry Smith
Cassine Gardens / Unit #130
The South Walton Turtle Watch needs walkers for the upcoming Sea Turtle Season, which begins in May. Walkers are asked to commit to one day a week in the area of your choice. Training is being done on April 8 in Panama City Beach and also by area coordinators. Turtle watch is responsible for all non state park beach areas in Walton County. For more information please contact Sharon Maxwell (850) 897-5228 or email: swturtlewh@cox.net.
For more information about our local sea turtles visit: http://www.seaturtlewatch.com
This is wonderful! Congrats to all of the new mothers and the special people that helped them and their babies!
The work you guys are doing down there is much appreciated by all of us inlanders. Wish we could be down there helping with the watch. Maybe we can help in our own way with a donation to your group? Where do we send $ for this important cause.
Let us know…
Steve
Thank you for your interest in the South Walton Turtle Watch Group. You may contact Sharon Maxwell via email at: swturtlewh@cox.net