Something of a feel-good story. At least as far as it goes. My wife and I had a chance to visit Punalu’u Black Sands beach in Hawaii. This is one of the last refuges of the endangered Green Sea Turtle. Even though it’s a very popular beach, for the rural Big Island, it is a sea turtle preserve. The turtles who aren’t laying eggs play in the surf, occasionally coming up for a breath (see the title image). They’re more than a little harder to capture than Hummingbirds as they play in the surf. (I used a telephoto for these closeups and did NOT bother the animals. In other words I kept my distance and let them be turtles.)
They seem to be enjoying themselves as they surf. I’m sure, however, that at least some of the time they’re feeding.
The other turtles, those on the beach, are a little less happy. This one is making her way upland.
Another is waiting for high tide to get back to sea.
