September 2007

Copyright 2007 Jo O'Keefe All Rights Reserved

Beach Find, Sunset Beach, NC, 09/29/07	Fisherman throwing cast net with smoke from the Lakewood Estates brush fire in the background, Sunset Beach, NC, 09/19/07
Migrating Black Skimmers, Sunset Beach, NC, 09/19/07
A friend holding a live Sand Dollar, Sunset Beach, NC, 09/28/07	A live Striped Hermit Crab in a Banded Tulip shell being released after five weeks in an aquarium, Sunset Beach, NC, 09/28/07. It was not acclimated to the natural environment and afraid to move.
Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes,Pontederiaceae, an invasive weed, East Twin Lake, Sunset Beach, NC, 09/19/07
The dark shell, thick tail and the length of the visible from claw indicate that this is an old male Yellow-bellied Slider. Males use those long claws to tap the female's head during courtship. East Twin Lake, Sunset Beach, NC, 09/19/07.	An old tobacco barn on Hwy. 17 South
Striped Hermit Crab in Banded Tulip Shell inspecting empty Knobbed Whelk Shell, 09/15/07
In the left photo the hermit crab is now in the Knobbed Whelk shell. On the right, it is emerging. 09/15/07
This is another Striped Hermit Crab that switched from an Atlantic Moon Snail shell to this empty Channeled Whelk shell, 09/17/07	A different Striped Hermit crab has left an Atlantic Moon Snail shell to live in the Banded Tulip shell abandoned earlier, and is examining the other Striped Hermit Crab in the Channeled Whelk shell, 09/17/07
Wood Storks, East Twin Lake, Sunset Beach, NC, 09/16/07 and 09/19/07
Here are more Ruby-throated Hummingbird photos taken in mid-September. The hummer on the right has his first red gorget feather.
09/02/07
09/02/07 -- note his tongue on the right and the band on his right ankle
09/02/07