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AdrienneM | profile | all galleries >> Sea Turtle, Inc >> Nesting Turtles tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Nesting Turtles

*5/4/11 - New photos added of our first 2011 nesting Kemp's ridleys.


The Kemp's ridley sea turtles in this gallery were photographed on the South Padre Island and Boca Chica beaches in Texas and the Rancho Nuevo and Tepehuejes beaches in Mexico. It is a spectacular event to watch a sea turtle lay her eggs. Sea Turtle, Inc is part of the recovery project for the Kemp's ridley sea turtle. This species of sea turtle only nests from Galveston, Texas to Tampico, Mexico. The Kemp's ridley was close to extinction in the 1980s, but is now on the road to recovery. Visit www.seaturtleinc.org for more information.


All Photos are Copyrighted. Please contact Adrienne McCracken for usage information. adriennemccracken@gmail.com

IMG_0447e.jpg IMG_0429e.jpg IMG_0435e.jpg IMG_0439e.jpg Nester # 12 in 2011
Nester # 12 Nest # 12 covering her nest Nester # 12 in 2011 Nester # 12 laying eggs Nester # 12 in 2011
Nester # 12 laying eggs Sea Turtle Tracks Kemp's ridley sea turtle tracks Kemp's ridley sea turtle tracks Kemp's ridley sea turtle tracks
Kemp's ridley sea turtle tracks Nester # 10's metal flipper tag Nester # 10 in 2011 covering her nest Nester # 10 in 2011 covering her nest Nester # 10
Nester # 10 returning to the Gulf of Mexico Nester # 10 returning to the Gulf of Mexico Nester # 10 returning to the Gulf of Mexico Nest 29 - laying eggs Nest 29 in 2010
Nest 29 Nest 29 Nest 29 - starting to cover her nest Nest 29 Nest 29
Nest 29 Nest 29 - Small amount of the public watched her nest Nest 29 - 2010 Nest 29 in 2010 Nest 29 - Almost back in the Gulf
Nest 29 - 2010 Nest 29 - Nice set of tracks Nest 29 Nest 29 Nest 29
Nester # 19 laying eggs Nester # 19 laying eggs. She was a new mama for South Padre! Nester # 19 laying eggs Nester # 19 covering her nest Nester # 19 covering her nest
Nester # 19 flippering sand around Nester # 19 posing for the camera Nester # 19 about to walk back to sea Nester # 19 returning to sea Nester # 19
Nester # 19 about to return home Nest # 18 -- 133 eggs! Biggest this year!! Nester # 13, 2010 laying eggs Nester # 13, 2010 Nester # 13 walking back to sea
Nester # 13,2010 Nester # 13 Nester # 13 on sargassum seaweed Nester # 13 getting close to the water Nester # 13, 2010
Nester # 13, 2010 hitting the cool water Nester # 13, 2010 - Finally cooling off! Nester # 13, 2010 - Back to Sea Again Nester # 13 is back at home Nester # 10, 2010
Nester # 10, 2010 laying eggs. She layed a total of 105 eggs. Nester # 10 2010 Nester # 10 laying her eggs Nester # 10 covering the nest Nester # 10, 2010
Nester # 10, 2010 walking back to sea Nester # 10, 2010 Walking back with both track sets visible Nester # 10, 2010 Nester # 10 Nester # 10 close-up
Nester # 10 Nester # 10, 2010 Nester # 10 with Merle & Sherrie Nester # 10 climbing over the sargassum Nester # 10, 2010
Nester # 10,2010 incoming and outgoing tracks. We wish all the Kemp's tracks were this easy to see! Nest 7 - 2010 New nesting ridley! She is laying eggs. Nest 7 - 2010 Covering her nest. Nest 7 - 2010 Mama starting back to the water Nest 7 - 2010
Nest 7 - 2010 Nest 7 - 2010 Nest 7 - 2010 Future conservationist Nest 7 - 2010 Nest 7 - 2010 Close up over sargassum
Nest 7 - 2010 Nest 7 - 2010 Nest 7 - 2010 Nest 7 - 2010 Almost back home Nest 1 - 2010 - previously tagged turtle
Nest 1 - 2010 Nest 1 - 2010 Nest 1 - 2010 Nest 5 - 2010 - Newly tagged nesting turtle Nest 5 - 2010
Nest 5 - 2010 Nest 5 - 2010 Nest 5 - 2010 Nest 5 - 2010 Summer 2009 Arribada
:: Summer 2009 Arribada ::
Nest 3 2009 Nest 3 2009 This is how the ridley turtle covers her nest. She will rock from side to side on top of the nesting site. Nest 9 2009 Nest 9 2009
Nest 9 2009 Nest 25 2009 Nest 25 2009 Nest 25 2009 Nest 25 2009
Nest 27 2009 Nest 27 2009 The classic ridley shot t5%2f23%2f801623%2f4%2f101203774.t4Kkk6f5.jpg A Kemp's ridley laying eggs into the freshly dug chamber
View from above Barnacle beak In the nesting trance Turtle Grass Covering the nest
Sleep like trance Return to Sea The mama ridley mambo Sand in the eyes Tracks in the sand
t5%2f23%2f801623%2f4%2f101203824.SaT7AUNv.jpg Covering her nest t5%2f23%2f801623%2f4%2f101203830.qAF6YfgY.jpg t3%2f23%2f801623%2f4%2f101203834.OVkPMVSW.jpg Nesting turtle with many observers
Kemp's ridley sea turtle tracks Kemp's ridley sea turtle tracks

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earlisha 22-Aug-2011 17:24
i like the big one they so pretty and cute
Hank 17-May-2011 19:44
We experienced nesting #17 (2011)...unfortunately we did not have a camera that morning. Anyone have pictures posted to the web of that nest?
valeria gracia nicole 06-May-2011 22:01
i hope all the number of sea turtles incres
Guest 18-Apr-2011 17:23
this is cute.
Imani 04-Nov-2010 21:07
I wish that they were not endanger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Imani 04-Nov-2010 21:07
I wish that they were not endanger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guest 04-Nov-2010 21:07
thank you for saving the poor little baby turtles
Destiny 04-Nov-2010 21:02
they are so cute,i love sea turtles
Gail 16-Jun-2010 13:52
The work you are doing is so important to the survival of these wonderful animals...educating all of us about them is really crucial to their improving their numbers especially with what is happening in the Gulf.
Ashley Hockenberry 15-Jun-2010 18:54
Awesome !
Marissa 12-Jun-2010 14:58
So cool!
I have NEVER seen a sea turtle lay its eggs but my friend has-shes from hawaii
valerie 04-Jun-2010 03:26
awe i love sea animals!! i think they are the best creations on earth
Rhonda 18-May-2010 00:11
Last year we missed out. My family will be vacationing yet again at South Padre June 12-19th and we are excited to see if we will be able to witness any hatchlings this time. I know my nine year old would love it, she would have a great story to share when she goes back to school in August. With so many nests I think we have a good chance.
Wish us luck!
Guest 10-May-2010 02:31
wow! it would be an awesome expierence to be able to witness these events. now that i have moved back to texas i will see what events i can take part in with my family..
Guest 03-Jun-2009 02:46
she was at least a 150lb sea turtle and it was amazing!
Guest 03-Jun-2009 02:45
I have almost the exact same photos of a different turtle laying eggs, but looks almost the same!! It was taken and filmed in free port tx 2 weeks ago! milissalea1974@yahoo.com
Kees Terberg 28-Oct-2008 19:41
Superb. A well covered documentary series. It is good to see that there are other things in life than the economic crisis or the elections. This made me smile.
Guest 26-Oct-2008 03:08
I wonder what that turtle must be thinking with all the people around her.
She must be like: "What's this?"
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