Kemp Ridley's Turtles Take To The Gulf Waters

[Maestro]

In June while visiting South Padre, my family and I finally got lucky and were able to witness a Kemp Ridley's sea turtle release. Early one morning, volunteers and observers gathered on the north side of South Padre to help these little ones find their way back to the warm waters of the gulf. This same area was hit hard by the hurricane that hit South Padre in July so I hope the Sea Turtle rescue organization's place is still intact. Heck, for that matter, I hope the World Birding Center's new building under construction is still standing. And now since we are dealing with Ike, I took some time to finally finish processing these images. Let it hold. there are quite a few.

Just needing a little help from my friends.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/Kempridleys2.jpg

In the pile of newly hatched eggs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys31.jpg

Making it out of the pile.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/Kempridleys8.jpg

Still further along making their way to the open beach.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys34.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys32.jpg

Pushing forward
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys33.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys18.jpg

Have to watch out for obstacles. Even little bits of seaweed can cause a fair amount of stress to these newly born Kemp Ridley's.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys11.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys19.jpg

Obstacle averted, the dash to the water continues.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys30.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys10.jpg

Note the flipper prints from brother and sisters ahead of this one.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys22.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys24.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys28.jpg

The water is in sight.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys27.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/Kempridleys4.jpg

Here it comes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys13.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys16.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys17.jpg

Don't worry. The next wave took this little guy out to sea.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/Kempridleys5.jpg

[i_worship_the_King]

I've always wanted to witness one of these but the NC wildlife people are SUPER strict. No humans allowed within (If I remember) 50 yards of a hatching in progress. With dunes and even normal sand it makes getting a shot almost impossible, and violating it would be huge fines :cry.

Amazing work.

[Ric Grupe]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Turtles%20and%20tortoises/KempRidleys13.jpg

:clap********************************************* **************************************:clap

[Giphsub]

Awesome Stephen! I love #3 #5 and that last one in the water :thumb What a cool experience.

[Gale]

Wonderful images
God Speed Little Ones:>))

[Maestro]

I've always wanted to witness one of these but the NC wildlife people are SUPER strict. No humans allowed within (If I remember) 50 yards of a hatching in progress. With dunes and even normal sand it makes getting a shot almost impossible, and violating it would be huge fines :cry.

Amazing work.

Thank you. The volunteers for Sea Turtle, Inc. (http://www.seaturtleinc.com)did the same cordoning off the area with yellow tape, but they did not keep us as far away as the folks in NC. I still had to use my 100-400mm zoom lens though.

[Maestro]

:clap********************************************* **************************************:clap

Thanks Ric. I liked that one as well.

[Maestro]

Awesome Stephen! I love #3 #5 and that last one in the water :thumb What a cool experience.

Thanks Mike. It was a cool experience plus earlier in the week while on the jetties we saw wild green sea turtles and of course the dolphins. Really neat. My family loves that area. It needs protection though. There are way too many oil tankers nearby bringing in crude from the offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. And to top it off, it was hit by a hurricane in July as I mentioned.

[Maestro]

Wonderful images
God Speed Little Ones:>))

Thanks Gale. It was fun.

[evil eggplant]

I love it:barb

The story and the photos work so very well together. Really a nice job you did. :thumb

[dbaker1221]

:thumb really cool stephen....I hope you're doing well after "Ike"