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In Search of... Carolina Diamondback Terrapins. Fernandina Beach to Flagler Beach
In 2005 I realized I had never seen a wild Diamondback Terrapin in the twelve years I have been in Florida. I haven't spent a lot of time in coastal areas, but I have spent some and always kept an eye out for them. So I set out to find and photograph some for this site. What follows is my search for Carolina Diamondbacks. |
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The early herper gets the Terrapin, or at least that is how it should go. |
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Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator female. |
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Cannonball Jelly Stomolophus meleagris, a favorite food item of Leatherback Sea Turtles. |
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After six hours of paddling and searching, I spotted a pair of Diamondbacks within 10 feet of each other. The male saw me and went down. The female was in water shallow enough for me to take a picture, but I decided to go for the grab and get better shots. By the time I got my camera safely in a dry bag the female had spotted me and fled. Neither came up while I waited and that was it for Diamondbacks this day. I did search for a few more hours and even returned to the spot where I saw the pair. It is not in my nature to give up and go home empty handed, but I had some help. In the course of my search I ended up at the Atlantic. I decided to take my kayak into the surf. Unfamiliar with surf kayaking, tired from earlier paddling, and in the wrong type of kayak I was ready for a lesson. I powered through the waves, which were more impressive than can be seen from the distance of this shot, until I was about 1/2 mile offshore in the flat featureless area beyond where waves are born. Then I began my return. Things were going well until the first large wave came up from behind, turned the kayak sideways and rolled it, ejecting me from the kayak. Aside from my pride the only other casualty was my cell phone, which was in an improperly sealed hatch. After draining the kayak and repeating my performance enough times to have a feel for what I should do if I wasn't so tired, I remembered I had 2-3 hours of paddling ahead of me to get back to my car. |
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Gopher Tortoise among Blanketflower Gaillardia pulchella spotted on my departure. I didn't get any Diamondback pictures this trip, but at least I can end this page with a turtle of some kind. |
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More to come. Also check out... |
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