A Turtle in the Blackwater?

[DavidofMersea]

In the local paper last week there was a picture of a Turtle that was reputably taken in the Blackwater, from the beach next to the Monkey Steps in Mersea. I think this was a hoax, I have never heard of Turtles in the Blackwater. Also it did not look like the Blackwater to me, you could see the bottom, and it is not called the Blackwater for nothing.

Has anybody else ever heard or seen a Turtle in the Blackwater, or thereabouts?

 

[alant]

In the local paper last week there was a picture of a Turtle that was reputably taken in the Blackwater, from the beach next to the Monkey Steps in Mersea. I think this was a hoax, I have never heard of Turtles in the Blackwater. Also it did not look like the Blackwater to me, you could see the bottom, and it is not called the Blackwater for nothing.

Has anybody else ever heard or seen a Turtle in the Blackwater, or thereabouts?

Been reading the Mail then David?

 

[Burnham Bob]

Don't tell BANNG they'll claim it's a mutant plaice.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Surely a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle...


... I'll get my coat and close the door behind me....

 

[sailorman]

well sharks have been seen on the Deben so i assume anything is possible with global warmimg

 

[Malish]

Suffolk Gazette?

 

[DavidofMersea]

Suffolk Gazette?

No, it was Estuary News. I wrote to the editor and suggested this was hoax and he said the photograph had been handed in by a Cleric, and who was he to doubt the word of the Lord?

 

[Marmalade]

Has someone drowned an unwanted tortoise?

 

[Concerto]

This thread reminds me of the massive crab off Whistable that made the newspapers.

 

[DavidofMersea]

Has someone drowned an unwanted tortoise?

No, it was a turtle

 

[Stork_III]

No, it was a turtle

whoosh.

 

[johnalison]

Turtle soup is very good. I don't think I've had it since ca 1960.

 

[rgarside]

One of the racing boats at the club lost their turtle a while ago, perhaps it has turned up?

 

[Hydrozoan]

Reported sightings of marine turtles at http://www.mcsuk.org/sightings/map/index.php are in the South West and Wales. (A basking shark off the N Kent coast, though.) 75% of sightings are of the leatherback turtle. Might freshwater snapping turtles survive in saline water for a time?

 

[DavidofMersea]

Reported sightings of marine turtles at http://www.mcsuk.org/sightings/map/index.php are in the South West and Wales. (A basking shark off the N Kent coast, though.) 75% of sightings are of the leatherback turtle. Might freshwater snapping turtles survive in saline water for a time?

Thanks for that, that was interesting. As you say those sightings were in South Wales, Devon and Cornwall, so maybe one has come around the South East coast, although I don't believe the photo in the paper was the Blackwater, you could see the bottom !!!

 

[alant]

Thanks for that, that was interesting. As you say those sightings were in South Wales, Devon and Cornwall, so maybe one has come around the South East coast, although I don't believe the photo in the paper was the Blackwater, you could see the bottom !!!

Turtles often get carried by the Gulf Stream & end up in North Wales in Cardigan Bay near Porthmadog.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Turtle soup is very good. I don't think I've had it since ca 1960.

Was that aldermanically? http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/21506439

 

[Hydrozoan]

Thanks for that, that was interesting. …

My pleasure.

Surely a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle...

... I'll get my coat and close the door behind me....

No, no – pray do not leave on that account : ‘There are new concerns about potential increases in dumping of terrapins and snapping turtles in UK lakes during late 2014-2015, due to the release of the new Mutant Ninja Turtles film this year ...’ http://wildlifearticles.co.uk/britains-secret-wildlife/

That also refers to this 25kg snapping turtle caught in a Solihull reservoir: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10576657

I do wonder if they could survive, and even thrive, in brackish water. Perhaps David can find, and post or link to, a photograph of this Beast of the Blackwater?

 

[DavidofMersea]

Perhaps David can find, and post or link to, a photograph of this Beast of the Blackwater?

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?EID=cadeefe4-3f45-4f11-91b5-6ed6ad201923

The turtle is on the 5th page

 

[Hydrozoan]

Thanks. I’m no expert but it looks to me more like some sort of terrapin than a marine turtle or a snapping turtle (http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/snappers.htm - if snappers are not themselves a type of terrapin, which they may be FAIK). Unfortunately the Rev’s photo includes no idea of scale, and there is no accompanying text. I don’t know the Monkey Steps, but I see there are some (freshwater?) lakes or ponds near the shore, so perhaps it came from one of those.

In passing, I found some interesting old photos here - I’m sure you know about them but others may not: http://www.merseamuseum.org.uk/mmimages.php?typ=name&wds=