Every morning before dawn a biologist and two volunteers sweep the beach from one end to the other to find out if any turtles came in after the middle-of-the-night patrols have gone to bed.

We start at 5:30 AM, just as it’s starting to get light.

A giant leatherback turtle had come in and evidently did a couple of 360 degree loops on her way to her nesting spot.

She laid 68 eggs before returning.

I missed all that, but saw the tracks in the early morning light

Tonight I will be back on North Beach.