Those enjoying the stunning local scenery from Forster Tuncurry bridge on Australia Day were treated to a special sight when a sea turtle made a surprise appearance.
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Mike Downey and his girlfriend Natalie Hodges, who were in the area visiting family, were crossing the bridge around 10am when they spotted the creature and snapped the lucky pic.
“We were observing the turtle for approximately 15 minutes on and off as it surfaced for air,” Mr Downey said.
Although the turtle doesn’t appear very large in the photos taken from Mr. Downey’s iPhone, he said it was in fact quite big.
“I’m guessing it was one metre in width and over one metre in length.”
The Great Lakes Advocate contacted the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in an attempt to verify the species of the turtle, but a spokesperson from the organisation said it was difficult to confirm from the photo.
“It’s difficult to give an accurate identification because we’re unable to see the scale pattern on the turtle’s head, but it’s most likely a green turtle because they’re common in the area.”
Matt Coombe, skipper of local whale watching boat, The Amaroo, agreed that it was more than likely a green turtle.
“We see quite a few of them,” he said.
“Probably a couple a week.”
It’s difficult to give an accurate identification because we’re unable to see the scale pattern on the turtle’s head, but it’s most likely a green turtle because they’re common in the area.
- Department of Primary Industries
But while Mr Coombe said the creatures were by no means rare around the area, he admitted it was less likely to see them from land and even more uncommon to observe them for as long as Mr Downey and Miss Hodges were able to.
“They’re quite shy creatures in my experience. Usually they come up for a quick breath of air and then once they sense you’re there they’re gone again.”
According to Mr Coombe, what also makes the appearance less than common was the fact that the turtle was spotted in the harbour.
“They definitely come in there, but we see them a lot more along the beaches and the cliffs around Bennetts Head.”
Regardless of whether the particulars of the Australia Day sighting were rare or not, Mr Coombe said peoples’ reactions to seeing the beautiful creatures were invariably the same.
“They get pretty excited,” he said.
“They love them.”
That was certainly the case for Mr Downey and Miss Hodges as they crossed over the bridge.
“We were amazed, so much so we were stopping other passers-by to enjoy the spectacle too.”
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