Slowpoke Green Turtle
September 15, 2021 - A slowpoke Green Sea Turtle took her time to nest and return to the ocean at Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
 | Description | A beautiful stretch of beach almost untouched by houses and human presence, the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful beach for a sunrise walk and a visit with sea turtles. The 20-mile stretch of beach is the most significant area for loggerhead sea turtle nesting in the world, and the most significant area for green turtle nesting in North America. |
| Photography Advice | Turtle nesting season runs from June to September. Get to the beach before sunrise and take a walk. You might get lucky and find a turtle returning to the ocean after laying her eggs! An intermediate telephoto lens is perfect for photographing the turtles. I always take a wide angle for sunrise, too. The turtles are very tired after creating their nests and laying their eggs. Please do not get close to them, block their passage to the ocean, or stand in front of them. |
| When to Go | April through September |
| Species Photographed (5) | Green Sea Turtle, Herring Gull, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, White Ibis, sunrise |
| Website | https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Archie_Carr/ |
| eBird | None |
| Google Map | Click here to view Google Map |
| Trail Map | None |
Nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtle at Sunrise
September 8, 2021 - Photos of a nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtle as she finished laying her eggs at Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge and then returned to the ocean
July 4th Visit with a Nesting Sea Turtle
August 27, 2021 - A nesting sea turtle makes a sunrise walk on the beach very special. The Green Sea Turtle covered her eggs, then disappeared into the sunrise
Nesting Green Sea Turtle before Isaias
July 31, 2020 - A morning walk on the beach with a nesting Green Sea Turtle as Hurricane Isaias lurks on the horizon
Last Turtle Walk of 2019
September 20, 2019 - Our last turtle walk of 2019 yielded lots of hatchling tracks, including those of a Loggerhead hatchling who made his way home to the sea
Tagged Green Sea Turtle
September 4, 2019 - Morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge yields a tagged nesting Green Sea turtle
Nesting Green Sea Turtle at Sunrise
August 23, 2019 - Early morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge yielded a nesting Green Sea Turtle. Her sunrise crawl to the ocean was spectacular
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting Mother and Hatchlings
August 11, 2019 - Morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, where we found and photographed a nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtle and several hatchlings
Beach Sunrise with the Green Sea Turtles
August 8, 2019 - Morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge photographing turtle tracks against the sunrise. Plus a nesting Green Sea Turtle!
Loggerhead Turtle Hatchling Emergence!
August 5, 2019 - Photos and video of dozens of Loggerhead Turtle hatchlings during their emergence from their nest in the sand. They all made it to the water!
Independence Day Turtle Walk
August 2, 2019 - Early morning Independence Day beach walk yielded Loggerhead hatchlings and a nesting Green Sea turtle mother. Plus a great sunrise!
Lightning Never Strikes Twice at the Same Turtle Nesting Spot!
July 24, 2019 - A morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge during turtle nesting season - we found a Green Sea turtle returning to the ocean
Turtle Tracks but No Turtles
July 9, 2019 - We photographed lots of sea turtle tracks but no actual turtles during our walks at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
First of Summer Turtle!
June 30, 2018 - An early morning walk at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge yielded our first adult Loggerhead sea turtle. Plus beautiful sunrise photography!
Rich’s Turtle Hat Trick
August 7, 2017 - An early morning on the beach yielded three Green Sea turtles - a turtle hat trick for Rich!
Nesting Green Sea Turtle
July 14, 2017 - Rich and I photographed a nesting Green Sea turtle at the Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge in early July. The poor turtle was missing a flipper.
Happy World Turtle Day 2017!
May 23, 2017 - Happy World Turtle Day! Here are some ways to celebrate Rich's favorite flippered friends.
Sunrise and an Almost-Lifer
August 16, 2015 - A beautiful sunrise walk along the beach and a mystery bird :)
Return to the Sea – Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchlings!!
July 12, 2015 - Two tiny Loggerhead Sea Turtle hatchlings make their way to the water this morning at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Turtle Walk 2015
June 14, 2015 - Rich and I went on a turtle walk where we got to watch a Loggerhead Sea Turtle lay eggs and return to the ocean. How cool!