2017 Briarcliffe, relocated nest, False Crawl

On June 19,   Call came in SC DNR, reported crawl and nest on Arcadian Shore Beach near swash just past Sand Beach Club.  NMB STP volunteer Larry from Braircliffe went down to investiage.  Sure although any tracks had been earased by the heavy beach traffic, area thought to be the body pit had been roped off by Horry Count Police.   Quick probe, eggs found.   Decision was made to relocate nest to the Briarcliffe Beach for protection.  Nest recorded as MB10

On September 8th, Larry discovered that some type of canine had dug into the egg cavity, with two empty eggshells on top of the sand.  Not sure if dog or coyote.  Coyotes have been seen on the beach but residents of Briarcliffe also walk with their dogs off leash.  Larry felt it was a dog.  

We dug down into egg chamber and found whole eggs so recovered the chamber and put a cage around the nest.  

Major depression with hatchling tracks was found on Sunday morning, Sept 17th.  All tracks went to the ocean.  Larry inventoried the nest 4 days later,  Sept 20th.  We found 57 hatched egg shells, 11 whole eggs of which 10 were collapsed and discolored, appeared to die in early development, 1 egg died in late development, fully formed large hatchling inside of the shell, 2 eggs were pipped, hatchling died half in and half out of the shell.  

23 eggs were missing, unaccounted for.  We do not know if taken by canine on Sept. 8 or if some were later pulled out by ghost crabs.  Briarcliffe Beach does have large ghost crabs and several large ghost crab holes we

 57 hatched egg shells, 11 whole eggs of which 10 were collapsed and discolored, appeared to die in early development, 1 egg died in late development, fully formed large hatchling inside of the shell, 2 eggs were pipped, hatchling died half in and half out of the shell.   23 eggs were missing, unaccounted for

Strange False Crawl.....On July 14th, Braircliffe STP Patrol came acorss a very large and long crawl.

Large possible body pit, probed for over 2 hours, no eggs found in the extremely soft sand.

This area was marked as a possible nest but unfortunaely extreme high tides from Hurricane Irma overwashed and laid on the beach so no emergence was ever seen.