turtles seem to have excellent eyesight, and it makes sense
 

We enlarged our pond about a month ago, it was bone dry. (it's just a hole in a creek that only runs in heavy storms). About a week later, we got a couple of inches of rain in about an hour which caused the creek to run and our pond filled up. I think in that event, a pretty big turtle washed into our pond. I'd guess that he's a slider, and maybe 8-10" from the front of his carapace to the back. It's hard to say for sure. I've seen him sunning on the edge of the pond many times, but if a car pulls into the drive or anyone gets within 50-60' of him, he's back in the water fast.

I'd never thought about it much, but it makes sense from a defensive/self preservation point of view, an animal that is mostly predisposed to moving slow, they should have as much awareness/warning as possible when something is approaching them.

Yes they do...and it's surprising what they remember.

I can walk out to the turtle pond 10 times in a day and they will not budge from their spot on the ramp where they are basking.

If I go out carrying something, like a plastic bag, they are in the water before I'm close to the pond.
When friends are over...they won't show. They stay on the bottom.

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tell that to the one I pancaked at NTC in a fmtv...

Carried one to the other side of the road yesterday. You always take them in the direction they were going.

That's very cool.

The city I worked for muni golf course has a number of ponds, water hazards on their full 18 hole track. There were a bunch of turtles in the 2 or 3 separate ponds there that you could see them in the AM sunning at the shore...

When a new head grounds keeper came on board he built floating wooden decks that were like 3x3 feet and low enough for them to get up on. He used pool noodles for floating them and anchored them in the middle of the pond. He underestimated the number of turtles and 3x3 deck was waaay too small. It was like WWE on them! They would get too many on one side and half of them would slide off back into the drink...

Was quite entertaining, and there were two different species of them that was quite obvious.

Yep. I did the same earlier this year.

^ Ditto - "my" turtle was only halfway into the opposing lane of traffic. I air-lifted it over the road.

I wish they had better memory. I've nearly squished the same soft shell crossing the creek to get to our farm. Three days in a row I drive down towards the creek, looking closely to make sure I don't run it over, just to see the stupid thing sitting there. I stop, honk the horn, it stands there a while so I inch closer, and it finally takes off... INTO THE WATER in front of me where is sits with its head above water.

The turtle is undoubtedly looking for a snack. Next time bring some freeze-dried shrimp along to feed him. Be careful though...when they grab it from your fingers, they sometimes mistake a finger for the shrimp. Once they bite it, they don't like to let go. :D

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My guess is that the turtle is thinking "damn, this guys got a bad memory. Doesn't he know that this is my spot? We just went through this yesterday!" LOL

Both are a possibility. My friend thinks it has eggs somewhere nearby.

Next time I'm over there, I'll post a pic of all my lil turtle friends. The creek along our farm is LOADED with turtles.

Turtles are way cool.
Besides sight, they can also feel vibrations through their belly which alerts them to movement.