Turtle report Skinningrove today

[Derickp]

At Skinningrove early morning. Gentleman on the beach with Badge and member of Turtle Exploration just come back from the continent and he said He was qualified in I D of Turtles / tracks etc. He was on phone and contacted relevent office who informed him they were on the way. He stood guard over the supposed Egg deposit so that they could not be disturbed until Wildlife officials came to site. I took photos of the tracks so that perhaps they could be identified. I am not qualified to say correct or not. However thought perhaps they might have been a seal but HE declared they were not. I thought better to photograph them rather than not just in case.

[Derickp]

A couple more

[chahoua]

Interesting! Did he (the turtle expert) get back to you with an answer? I would've thought if it was a turtle there would have been more obvious tracks in the middle (from their back flippers).

* Peter (RSPB) introduced you to my Dad and me in the coffee shop at Saltholme this afternoon.

[A McLee]

https://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+marine+turtle+tracks&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB820GB820&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=vqlw3u6XY2dChM%253A%252CpkQTm8DjxB-wIM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSIpdZ74V0K89vQrKXmehbCCYLLNw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirqdrI0pHhAhUBShUIHWKiAhEQ9QEwAHoECAkQBA#imgrc=vqlw3u6XY2dChM:

Google  "marine turtle tracks pictures" and see some other examples for comparison
Any turtle this far north at this time of the year is going to be found virtually moribund on the strand with no energy to crawl up a beach.

[Derickp]

Chahoua, We did not wait for the team to come, or from further info from the expert as we had appointment with friend to go to Salthoime as you know because you saw me there. I have inquired tonight to a friend who was there at Skinningrove as well, as to what the outcome was and he said they (the team that came) were unsure as to what species it was that made those tracks.  I did not know as it is not something i have knowledge about but thought it best to take photos and report it. In the light of what Alistair has pointed too, the tracks dont resemble any of them. So what is/was it?

Alistair Thanks for the lead to the Google pics. i did not have the opportunity to check earlier as we had our day planned and did not persue it until I got home. Having seen those tracks i haven't a clue as to what it was. I am now wondering who exactly the man with the badge was. I perhaps should have taken a photograph of him. I have since been told that there was through the course of the morning many people who went along to Cattersty side to see for themselves. I will post as i find out anything more. Sorry if what I reported was spurious.

[Ian Bond]

They do look remarkably like seal prints.

Thanks for posting these;  I heard it on the radio this morning and it sounded like an April fool, so good to get to the bottom of it.  Shame it wasn't a turtle though; that would have been amazing.

Incidentally if Turtle Exploration did have UK staff, then that is probably the least busy profession in Britain

[chahoua]

I missed it on the radio - what was decided please?

[Ian Bond]

It was a seal.  You can see the claw marks in one of the photos and others show the typical "sculling" pattern

[Derickp]

Thank goodness thats sorted. I have (and a lot more from the Grove) been well and truly had. Anyone know who the man was who was running about with the Phone and with Turtle badges on? Telling everyone to keep clear of this important site. Sincerely sorry if I caused others concern. I will hopefully be more cautious in future and not take people at thier word. Sad that we have to be like that.

[Ian Bond]

I'm really glad you did post it, otherwise I'd always have that radio report at the back on my mind.

I seem to get most of my mammal, reptile and amphibian information from bird club members.