Phew...

Steve and I have been busy with the close of the nesting season, and especially because we just had two visits back to back.  Obviously, a lot has happened during the two week lapse.  I'll highlight the fun stuff.

Just after Hurricane Earl passed, Steve found a crab trap on the beach with live stone crabs.  Since we hadn't caught any yet, we decided they'd be a meal.  They were alright, maybe overcooked, and too much work.  The next day, after we'd decided that we would stick to blue crabs, we found three more traps full of live crabs.  By the end of the day, Steve and I rescued 14 stone crabs and 1 blue crab.

 

Sometimes, at low tide on South Beach, sea critters gather in the small pools of water. 

Two hermit crabs.  The one on the right started checking out the empty whelk, possibly for a new home.

Sea Star, still alive despite the missing limbs.

One morning, South Beach offered me more than just the tide pool.  Surf clams and juvenile invertebrates washed up by the thousands and provided a very pretty high tide line.  

Angel wing, razor clam, horseshoe crab molt, common cockle

Large Atlantic Cockle left behind at low tide.  It was still alive, sort of, so I took it to the water.

Over Labor Day weekend, Charlie and Clare came to visit again, this time to see the turtle hatchlings.  Lucky for us, we saw the last of an emergence on Bradley Beach, nest NB113.  They also got to see a few live hatchlings after a nest inventory.  This was also a great opportunity to see more of Ossabaw, as it's pretty hard to pack it in during a short trip.  We spent some time exploring the Boneyard on South Beach.  I finally got to take some photos down there, too.

Large alligator track leaving the beach.

 

Last Thursday, Steve and I welcomed Steve's parents.  By this time, we learned how to better tour the island.  Fortunately for everyone, there were less bumpy rides in the truck.  Over those four days, his parents were treated with most of what Ossabaw has to offer: beach combing, swimming, turtle hatchlings, Paul Mitchell and the donkeys, up close alligators big and small, fishing, hog hunting, and tours of North and South Beaches, Middle Place, the Main House, South End Hunt Camp, Tabby Houses, the Clubhouse and Boarding House.  They were even treated with an introduction to Ms. West.  It was a fast and tiresome visit, but I know they felt the magic of the island.  

Dad admiring the infinite marsh.

Tighes fishing.

Everyone loves rocking chairs on southern porches.

Donkeys LOVE corn husks.

Thanks for visiting!

Ossabaw is in bloom!  Morning glories, passion flowers, sweet peas, lantana, and more!  Even better is the migration of many species of butterflies.  While working on the dune, dozens of Gulf Fritillarys fly around heading south.  They cover all the flowering bushes.  I've also seen a Grey Hairstreak, Cloudless Sulphur, and a Pearl Crescent.  Lately I've been finding cicada molts.  We've also seen a Luna Moth and a couple Imperial

Moths around the house.

Luna Moth

Two days ago, Codey found three baby squirrels in the road.  He was on the tractor, so he moved them off the road.  Later that day, he showed me where he found them and we located one, as she came bouncing over to us.  We brought her home.  I did some research and learned that we should give the mom more time to find her, so Steve and I took her back.  Just as we were setting the box down with the squirrel, a second squirrel came hopping across the road toward us.  We left the two in the box and drove away, hoping mom would rescue her kids.  After a couple hours, as the sun was close to setting, we went back to the spot, both squirrels still there.  Since Codey said he found three, we attempted one last time to find more.  Soon, we found one, and hopefully the last.  I hate to think we left one behind.  We've since learned that they are two females, one male, about 6-7 weeks old.  I got to town yesterday to buy puppy formula, pedialyte, and other necessary things.  They are much improved since we first brought them home.  They love the formula and eat other soft fruits well.  Lucky for us there was a large bird cage in our shed that we saved during the cleaning.  Also, there is an old chicken coop in our yard that will be perfect for our soft release.  Lucky for the squirrels we're good at raising orphaned animals.  And we love squirrels.