What a day, what a day!

I knew today was going to be a great day as the first light of dawn was stunning, even a little later the sunrise was even more incredible — it almost looked like a Rorschach test. 

THAT wasn't the best part... Check back to July for the posting called "Turtle Thrill" when I spotted a rare green turtle making her nest in the dunes. Well, right on schedule, unscathed by Irene's high tides, those eggs hatched today and the baby turtles headed to sea. Alas, it was not without struggle. 
Someone in a nearby condo left their porch light on and since baby turtles are steered by light, many of the hatchlings headed deeper into the dunes instead of out to sea. I found one little guy on his back tangled up in a bush, I set him upright in the sand and watched him go... camera with video in hand. The whole process took close to an hour, I've edited his trek for you to see.

I was not being mean by not taking him directly to the ocean. They need to strengthen their muscles by crossing the sand, and they need the time to imprint this beach on their DNA so that they will return here to nest again... in 30 years. 
Before long the turtle patrol arrived and more hatchlings were found in the brush and sent on their way. We could tell from the many, many tracks that most hatchlings made their way around the bushes in the dunes and eventually crossed the sand in the right direction. All in all five were saved and headed back to the sea just like the little fellow I got the opportunity to film. 
Hard to believe he was smaller than the palm of my hand, hopefully you'll notice the shoe print in the sand in the video and see just how tiny he is. 
Good luck little guy, you had a beautiful day to start your life. You also started my day off just perfectly. Thanks.