In the process of submitting the manuscript for my second book, Tracing the Cape Romain Archipelago, I had the unpleasant task of having to reduce the book’s length. Several of my trips did not make the final revision. The following is a sail to Cape Island on September 22, 2006. Unfortunately photos from that day […]
A once and future inlet Read More »
Venturing into the Santee Delta, I would neither be on Kingfisher or solo. I would again borrow a canoe, a Nova 17. from my friend Chris Crolley. After several years discussion, joining me on the trip was Ian Sanchez, a man of many talents
What do Horsehead Creek and Cataloochee Creek share? The same as Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge (CRNWR) and Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) – both are areas with an international designation as UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, indicating natural and cultural resources of global significance. I found myself in both places
Early morning at Garris Landing; you have to be early if you are heading out to Cape island with the loggerhead program crew. I was earlier than the rest of the crew, and found the automatic gate to the landing closed. I parked and walked in to take a look at the 5:30AM sky. In
Turning of the Tide Read More »
Once again, an annual ritual had arrived – the building of sea turtle hatcheries, sized for loggerhead turtle hatchlings, on Cape Island. I accompanied a mixed crew of US Fish and Wildlife staff and volunteers led by the manager of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Sarah Dawsey, on the “Pacman” through the marshes and bays
Puzzle of the Cape Islands Read More »
Dread, excitement, a mixed stew of anticipation – of what? I had heard the initial observations from Billy Shaw who had traveled over to Cape Island the previous day with Cape Romain’s refuge manager Sarah Dawsey. The report was staggering – perhaps 200 loggerhead nests lost. It was news feared by those associated with the
Flattening of an island Read More »
Bull Island, July 17, 2011. I took the Coastal Expeditions ferry Island Cat on the trip over to the Northeast Point of Bull Island, along with about forty others on the ferry and another ten on board a skiff. This trip was a special fundraiser for the Sewee Association. I went along to give
Tale of two islands Read More »
The building of hatcheries for loggerhead turtle nests on Cape Island has been an annual event in April that I have experienced since 2005. This year’s crew brought a number of years of experience, not just from the USFWS staff but also the volunteers. It was led again by wildlife biologist Sarah Dawsey, now in
Greeting on Cape Island Read More »
Cape Island called again, as it often has for me. Four nights were set aside for loggerhead program staff and volunteers to spend the night on the island monitoring the nighttime happenings of loggerheads: both females nesting, and nests hatching out. The daily daytime work of staff and volunteers misses the night action where turtles
Moments under a July moon Read More »
I was off my usual track to Bull Island for a trip out to Cape Island on July 4th. I am an irregular volunteer for the loggerhead program on Cape, mainly putting in time each year to build the hatcheries. Having been offered the opportunity to get out during the nesting season, I used my
Alert readers noted in the previous entry “Opening up” that I observed my first loggerhead turtle of the year sailing out into Bulls Bay on April 11. I had several more sightings this past Thursday, April 22, 2010, Earth Day. It was our first day of building hatcheries on Cape Island, led by Sarah Dawsey,
