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These turtles were observed in the same bay as those previously seen but further to the south west.
1,
2,
&
3.
A turtle 16 inch straight carapace moving from the east to the south west
over a turtle grass pasture. This turtle was eating as it traveled taking
in wide blades of grass between air intake.
4
&
5.
A smaller turtle, approximately 12 to 14 inches straight carapace, with the
turtle observed in photographs #1,2, and 3. These turtles were eating on the
far side of a semi grassed area where the grass was thick. They grazed together,
which is an activity observed in 1997,98 and 99.
6,
7,
&
8.
Turtle 18 to 20 inch straight carapace, tagged, with a living mark on scute
L2 with a chip on marginal scute R3. This turtle was moving at a steady graceful
pace toward the deep water channel in the center of the bay.
9.
A 16 inch straight carapace turtle. The turtle was rapidly moving from the
north east to the south west and within minutes it was gone.
10.
A turtle with a 10 to 12 inch straight carapace grazing. This turtle selected
full length blades of wide grass and used it's front flipper nails to help
push the blade into the mouth. This eating behavior had been seen and noted
before.
11.
Turtle, straight carapace 18", no living tag. This turtle had moved in
quick circular motions toward the surface for air. It had been swimming in
a small tight circle selecting sparse wide blades of turtle grass from a field
of thin turtle grass. Eating behavior was typical of other turtles observed.
Head movements to the right or left ( this turtle did not favor a side) with
occasional use of the nail in the front left or right flipper ( depending
on which side the blade of grass was located.) Once again when the water was
quiet one could hear the turtle chewing.
12.
A turtle, 16 inches or more straight carapace, no tag or other marks. It's
color was gray and brown and it's overall shape was like a "heart."
13.
Near by another turtle with 14 to 16 inch carapace swimming over tense turtle
grass.
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