P.S. One Big Mama . . . How BIG is that Sea Turtle?

how tall are you?

Just in case you are wondering how big these sea turtles are, we found this great exhibit at the Loggerhead Marine Center in Juno.

The loggerhead, our west coast turtle, is about 4.5 feet in length and weighs 250-300 pounds.  The leatherback, found on Florida's east coast, is about 7 feet long and weighs in the region of 600 to 1,500 pounds.

The density of turtles is so great Juno Beach also has different protocols for stranded hatchlings.

Turtle Ambulance

On the west coast of Florida, sadly predation has been a problem this year - raccoon, coyotes, dogs and yes even humans as turtle and turtle eggs are a delicacy in coastal/Caribbean cultures.

Cooler for overnighting hatchlings

Back on our own beach, our resident Great Blue Heron is being challenged by a juvenile who has appeared this summer.  Fun to watch them stalk one another and the mature one to chase the persistent juvenile a ways down the beach. If there's a fisherman about, the Heron will hang out with him hoping for an easy morsel. Here's one who's just caught a fish which they swallow whole, head first.

A solitary American Black Duck made his first appearance (for me) on the beach Sunday morning and just hung out for awhile, before the human conga line of early morning walkers gave him cause to find a more secluded spot.  We learn something new everyday - mini me didn't appreciate there are saltwater ducks!

It's been very muggy here (dripping sweat hot I call it) and we were laughing about the British Heat Wave described on the BBC Andrew Marr show Sunday morning, thinking it is always a heat wave in Florida by British standards. Then watched the forecast for 33 C (91 F) in London this week and this made us appreciate our air conditioning!!