An early tropical storm. Hurricane season starts on June 1st. Tropical Storm Beryl blew through on May 30th, wind and rain starting in the early morning hours and continuing through to the early afternoon. Beach was empty but still needed to be checked for sea turtle activity.
Lone child's bucket rolling around in the wind.
Dark clouds. Rain was heavy at times, other times light or non-existent.
Sargassum seaweed brought in by the strong currents.
Lull in the rain, low clouds over the ocean, sun trying to peek through.
No Turtles, but the strong currents brought in one of nature's prettiest but deadly marine creatures.
Lots of Portuguese Man-of-Wars, a jelly-fish-like invertebrate, stranded on the beach.
Beautiful to look at, but don't touch!
Long venomous tentacles can deliver a powerful sting.
Stings usually cause severe pain to humans, leaving whip-like, red welts on the skin that normally last 2 or 3 days after the initial sting, though the pain should subside after about an hour.
Source: Portuguese Man O'War---- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The loggerhead sea turtle feeds on the Portuguese man o' war, a common part of the loggerhead's diet. The turtle's skin is too thick for the sting to penetrate.
Source: Portuguese Man O'War---- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
We saw the nest and Portuguese Man of War in the surf near the nest on the shores of Briarcliff!
ReplyDeletevacationers from Maryland!