Turtle Journal

Terrapin Nesting Tracks @ Aucoot Cove, Buzzards Bay

Diamondback terrapins began nesting on the SouthCoast of Massachusetts today on the afternoon high tide.  The Turtle Journal team scoured the Aucoot Cove barrier beach this morning for signs of terrapin nesting, such as tracks.  Nothing was found.  Yet, shortly after the PM high tide, we searched again and discovered tracks from two separate nesting runs … including several false nests.  We also received a report from Broadmoor Marsh in Wareham that a female terrapin had been observed returning to the bay after a nesting run.  Today’s start date is a full week earlier than last year’s start of the terrapin nesting season.

Twenty-One Snapper Eggs

Within the last 24 hours, Turtle Journal found three freshly laid snapper nests.  On Sunday, we followed snapper tracks to a large disturbed sandy area, roughly smoothed over.  Careful excavation revealed 49 ping-pong shaped eggs.   This morning, we discovered two additional snapping turtle nests.  One held 21 intact eggs (see above) that averaged 11.8 grams weight a piece.  Four additonal eggs had been broken by the mother as she tried to tuck them tightly into this steeply inclined nest. 

Snapping Turtle Eggs

The other nest held 29 perfectly shaped snapper eggs for a total of 99 snappers-in-waiting.

Rufus Discovers Nesting Painted Turtle

Painted turtles have been nesting on the SouthCoast for almost two weeks and they continue to do so.  And Rufus the Turtle Dog continues to find female painteds as they secretly and quietly tuck eggs into the ground.  Over the weekend, Rufus alerted us to three more nesting painted turtles.

Female Eastern Box Turtle on Nesting Run

On Saturday, during our local patrols, Turtle Journal found a female Eastern box turtle on a nesting run off Converse Road in Marion.  This beauty hit the scales at a whopping 649 grams.

Female Eastern Box Turtle Play Peek-A-Boo

After her release she played peek-a-boo with the camera before disappearing into the underbrush.

Spotted Turtle Aggregation — How Many Can You Spot?

Later than we usually observe, spotted turtles remain active in aggregation sites on the SouthCoast.  Turtle Journal discovered a new spotted turtle location this spring and has been following its activity for several weeks.  We have counted at least 20 spotted turtles ranging from tiny yearlings to mating adults basking  in this dense swampland.  How many basking spotted turtles can you find in the picture above.  Click on the image for an enlargement.  Hint:  Two is too few and three is never crowded enough.

Sue Wieber Nourse with Fourth Great Neck Box Turtle

This weekend the Turtle Journal team recorded the fourth Eastern box turtle at Mass Audubon’s Great Neck Sanctuary in Wareham, Massachusetts.  Above, Sue Wieber Nourse examines this very attractive male box turtle in front of the Great Neck sign.

Great Neck Sanctuary Male Eastern Box Turtle

Incredibly handsome, this male box turtle sports bright red eyes surrounded by deep orange skin with a tinge of yellow in his cowl.  His carapace is quite dark with golden highlights.  This fellow is marked #3 for future identification.

Four Eastern Box Turtles @ Great Neck Sanctuary

Since its opening last summer, we have identified four Eastern box turtles within the Great Neck Sanctuary.  Two, #2 and #1100, are females; two, #3 and C, are males.  All are mature adults.  No juveniles or hatchlings have yet to be found.  Click on the image above for an enlarged photograph of these turtles for easy identification.  If you encounter a box turtle during your walk along the trails of the Great Neck Sanctuary, don’t hesitate to call the Turtle Journal hotline at 508-274-5108 or email us at theturtleguy@comcast.net.

Male Eastern Box Turtle in MAS Great Neck Sanctuary

After an examination, a complete set of measurements, and after being marked with a triangular notch in his third right marginal scute for lifelong identification, this male Eastern box turtle was released deep inside the Huckleberry Loop of the Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary.  Keep a sharp eye out for him and his companions when you’re hiking through Wareham.

Turtle Journal Team Releases Female Terrapins

At noon on Sunday, Sue Wieber Nourse netted two large female  diamondback terrapins in Buzzards Bay’s Sippican Habor.  Both turtles had previously been captured by the Turtle Journal team and had been under study since 2005.  Terrapin #284, measuring nearly 21 centimeters long and weighing 1538 grams, was palpably gravid.  Eggs could be detected still fairly high in the duct.   Terrapins #79, measuring a little over 20 centimeters and weighing 1492 grams, was not papably gravid.  With detection of eggs in the oviduct, we anticpate nesting to commence on the SouthCoast within 15 to 18 days.

Eastern Box Turtle Couple (Female Rear, Male Front)

Rains drenched the SouthCoast of Massachusetts. Wonderful, springtime rains that soak woodlands and refresh wetlands. Days like these mark the moment when Eastern box turtles emerge from burrows and replenish loss hydration incurred during nearly seven months of slumber.  And this last winter and spring have witnessed considerable dryness and drought in Eastern Massachusetts.

Sue Wieber Nourse Re-Discovers Rescued New Bedford Turtle

With that in mind, the Turtle Journal team visited Great Neck Sanctuary in Wareham this morning.  Sue Wieber Nourse quickly found a gorgeous female box turtle crossing the path and luxuriating in a muddy puddle bath.  As luck would have it, we discovered this turtle was the one that had been rescued from the busy streets of New Bedford last summer.  We had placed her here in the Great Neck Sanctuary on October 3rd, hoping she would acclimate to the new habitat, survive the winter, and adopt Great Neck as her new home.  (See Homeless “Street Turtle” Finds a Sanctuary.)

Male Eastern Box Turtle

Clearly, she has been doing quite fine.  We weighed her at 675 grams when we released her in the fall.  Today she tipped the scales at 681 grams after seven months of brumation.  And just a few feet down the path, we found this handsome dude hanging around … obviously waiting for our attractive lady.  So, she has already found a beau in her new neighborhood.

Adorable Box Turtle Couple @ Great Neck Sanctuary

The male box turtle felt light compared to the female.  He weighed just 493 grams even though he measured only a little more than a 1/2 centimeter shorter in shell length.  Like most males, he sports bright red, “boodshot” eyes, while our attractive lady has the beautiful, tradional female brown eyes.

Sue Wieber Nourse with Adorable Box Turtle Couple

The adorable couple was brought back to Turtle Journal headquarters to be examined, weighed, measured and photographed.  Because this female is such an important specimen, we wanted to be sure that we identified her correctly and we compared her photographic and data records. 

Eastern Box Turtle Couple

We were delighted to confirm our field observations.  Eastern Box #2 is indeed the mature female turtle that was rescued from the busy streets of urban New Bedford, and brought to Great Neck Sanctuary at the onset of brumation time in October to try to reset her sense of territoriality when she emerged this spring.  All signs point to at least initial success.

Adorable Couple Released Back in Great Neck Sanctuary

After processing at headquarters, the two Eastern box turtles were immediately returned to the spot where they were discovered within the Great Neck Sanctuary.  Turtle Journal, in partnership with Mass Audubon’s Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, will continue to monitor this sanctuary for box turtle activity to determine the population density in this area of Wareham and to check on Eastern Box Turtle #2, our rescued female.