Erin, Anna, and Malia are in El Pescadero, Mexico visiting relatives. The other day they swam near a whale shark in the Gulf of California. Today they watched baby olive ridley turtles get released to the Pacific Ocean. 🐢

Out in the woods again this afternoon with the chainsaw at the fallen hickory tree. This turtle crawled out of the way and under a cedar stump. 🐢

I haven’t seen many turtles this summer during my walks in our woods. This one turned up near our front door. 🐢

Box turtle crossing the driveway last night. 🐢

I get sad to my core when I come across a smashed box turtle on the gravel driveway.

Only found that one turtle on my slow walk through our woods. Now the rain is back so I am on the porch reading Sea of Tranquility: A novel by Emily St. John Mandel 📚

Heavy rainstorm just passed over so I came out to the woods to look for turtles. In five minutes I found the first. 🐢

Finally downloaded the images and videos from the GoPro camera we took to St. Croix in March. Here’s a green sea turtle that was in the shallow water near the Frederiksted pier. #turtle

Snorkeled F’sted pier: blue tang, cuttlefish, green sea turtles, pencil fish. Now at Dorsch Beach. Playing Hapa on the bluetooth speaker, drinking a Leatherback Brewing Island Life lager (in a coozy thats says Pau Hana). Vacation days in the Virgin Islands (echoes of Hawaii).

Back on Sandy Point for the final day of public swim. Turtle nesting season is starting.

Morning trip to Oahu’s Waianae Coast for boat ride: Hawaiian spinner dolphins, humpback whales - we jumped into water to listen to them sing - snorkeling with green sea turtles and coral reef, and the most dramatic of views. Now sitting on Makaha Beach. Great family day.

I’ve worked at Duke University since 2007 (and known the editor longer), but it’s only now in the Winter issue of Duke Magazine that I’ve been able to contribute an article. This one is about sea turtle research in the US Virgin Islands. Read it.🐢

I guess this must be how we get new turtles in our forest. 🐢

Erin just noticed this male box turtle eating a fallen pear in the backyard. 🐢

Glad to have finally discovered a way to use Micro.blog categories: I can now tag my turtle photos and posts and have them together on my site here.

Yesterday’s loud crash as winds picked up turns out to have been large hickory tree that fell out back, taking out a few southern red maple and a sourwood. Walked out to assess, looked down and saw this turtle.

I had neglected the garden and the weeds had overtaken the spaces between the boxes, so this morning I cleared and will soon be spreading a new layer of wood chips. This little box turtle was among the weeds and will get to stay.

Second day in a row, another female eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) at our doorstep - this one appearing to be much older.

More rains this morning and, yes, turtles. Usually I find them out in the woods or down the gravel drive. Erin found this one at the doorstep!

Found this box turtle hiding in one of the flower beds behind the back deck. Been a week of rainstorms so I suspect I’ll see other turtles hunting for worms.

At Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge; gates are opened for a brief time so locals can go for an afternoon of fishing. Good to see the nest counts. I was here 37 years ago to watch a leatherback turtle drop her eggs into the sand. Amazing animals.

Twice this weekend I stopped the car to get out and move this box turtle from the gravel driveway.

Out walking the land with the puppy, came across this turtle.

Box turtle near the carport.

Late afternoon thunderstorms are drenching Chapel Hill, and the box turtles are on the move. Found two on the gravel driveway.

Another big rain, another box turtle on the move, this one in my path as i walked to retrieve the Sunday NYTimes.

I was out walking woods again, checking on the fire ring we cleared Saturday and almost stepping on this turtle. Walked back to house and found good friends had stopped by to bring pickled sour cherries as consolation for my missing our annual road trip to pick cherries jn VA.

Discovered cool photo features of my new iPhone 8 Plus: profile mode with lighting options. Used it on a turtle shell my son and his friend found this afternoon in the woods out back.

Another big rain, another creature crawling across the yard. This an Eastern box turtle.

Box turtle near car wheel.

The box turtles are on the move today across the Triangle. Found this one in my neighborhood, and just passed over another 5 on way to work. Take care not to crunch them!

Was worried about that turtle and the ant, but should have been focused on what might be clamped on me. In the shower tonight, found a lone start tick on my hip. Must be vigilant this summer, and spray liberally.

Walked the land at my new house and came upon a box turtle with a black ant clamped to its eyelid. Later noticed this interesting plant. Also found many cedar trees that will make good posts for the garden we will plant soon.

Threatened: A Green-Haired Turtle That Can Breathe Through Its Genitals - The New York Times:

Take the green-haired turtle. It breathes through its genitals. Not all the time — but after a long time underwater, an alternative way to get oxygen really helps.