On Top of Shell Mountain
The shells are still rolling in on Captiva at Blind Pass!
Lace Murex on shell pile
The shells are beauties. This little LACE MUREX was just perfect.
Seashell beach on Captiva Island, Florida
I didn’t have long to hang out on the beach but it was enough time to see that we might be able to enjoy this shell mound for weeks digging through every inch.
Blogger Maria from Endless Sunner
I was tickled to meet seaglass jewelry artist / blogger Maria from Endless Sunner. She was snatching up WHELKS, TULIPS and CONCHS. Hmmmm. I wonder if we’ll see some of her found shells in her jewelry pieces soon. I bet we do!
seashells gulf waters Captiva
Shelling for horse conchs
This guy (I didn’t even get his name! Sorry Dude, I was too overwhelmed) is holding a bright orange HORSE CONCH he just picked up. This is only one of five horsies that he found along with several CONES (ALPHABET and FLORIDA). I found two horsies too.
Shell lines with water
Shells water jetty
Junonia seashell part
Awwww. Only a piece of a JUNONIA. I heard that someone found TWO yesterday.
Seashells line the beach
You get a better idea of what this shell mound piling up looks like on this video. I didn’t do any fancy editing or music… it’s raw excitement of seeing so many shells. I almost dropped the camera going after this ZIGZAG FLAT SCALLOP . Hope you enjoy, wish you were here!
PS- I’m so looking forward to the golf cart parade and luminary this weekend! I’m still working on my “float”. If you haven’t heard what going on this weekend, CLICK HERE or the picture below.
This is just insane! Just crazy! Does this happen a lot? I’m just tickled to find a perfect agate or sand dollar at our beaches — this is amazing.
~Amanda
i just watched the video, i am really hoping that someone can tell me the best time to shell there? is there some kind of stuff i can read on this? I love collecting shells, but this i have never seen this much in one place. oh gosh, i need to go there!!!!
Over dozens of trips, I’ve been there (only) twice for a shell mound, it’s where I found my (only) junonia and tons of the flat zig zags, which were flying up like frisbees. Fingers crossed for another mound the next time I visit!
Amanda and Lynn- This just doesnt happen every day. We have shells most of the time on the beaches. We haven’t had shells piled up at Blind Pass in months….. and it hasn’t been like this in a while. That’s why we are soooo excited! It’s like a gift of the sea. If youclick on any link in the categories section on the left ( you can click on Blind Pass under Captiva header- to see pictures of how it changes), you’ll see different things wash up with the tides at any given time. Also look at the FAQ up top http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/faqs/ this will help too.
I was thrilled to be there to experience this shell mound. Amazing! Good to meet you, Pam! (and you’re right, some of the shells will make their way into jewelry designs…) ~ Maria :)
Wow Pam, that is really amazing! Where on Captiva was this? on which side of Blind Pass? Near the jetty? Sanibel side, Captiva side? near the Mucky Duck? the bayside? Looks like one could just plunk themselves down with a shovel and have at it for quite awhile. I got a kick out of the video especially when you got so excited by finding that flat scallop, LOL, looked like you almost dropped the camera! Have a great time exploring all the possibiities.
You’re killing me!
I’ll be there in mid January and I sure hope I find a mountain of shells waiting for me! I’m counting down the days……
Really enjoyed that video, Pam, especially the part where you were so excited to find the zigzag!
In all my visits I’ve never been lucky enough to experience a shell mound like that at Blind Pass. It’s killing me!!! Enjoy it!!!
Wow, I was “shelling” in your video!! That zig zag is perfect – Great find. That piece of Junonia is saver.
Wish we were there!
Lee & Bill
Oh man, if I were there it would be like I died and went to heaven !!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your video and some more pictures – loved them. I could easily see spending most of the day on that shell pile! If I got too tired from the stoop, It looks like I would be happy to plop myself down anywhere on that shell pile for awhile. Wish I was there. So glad you and others are finding great shells.
Wish I was there! I could spend an entire day just sitting in the middle of the shell pile sifting through! Maybe next year I will be able to get back to Sanibel. Until them keep the pictures and videos coming!
OMG!!!! What FUN!!!! (all I can say!)
This is cool. I wish I could be there. I would love to collect some of those shells. This is unique, we have nothing like this on Northeast near New York. We only have huge clam shells, oysters and mussel shells. Your video is very informative.
Oh my goodness!!!!! I’ve been vacationing on Sanibel/Captiva for 20 years and have never ever seen this amount of beautiful shells! Unfortunately, it’s always in March, so I’m sure they’re all picked over by the time I get there. :) What a fun day you all must’ave had! I envy you!!!!!
I’m your newest follower – not only because I love shells, but I LOVE seeing photos of my beloved Sanibel/Captiva! :)
xoxo laurie
Ok….my hubby and I just sat here together on the sofa watching your video………………with our chins on the floor! We could NOT believe what we were seeing! I wouldn’t have wanted to move my feet for fear of crushing some perfect junonia!!!!! lol! Thanks for the awesome footage, Pam!
xoxo laurie
But are all those sea urchins and sea starts dead? Will they revive during high tide? I know that people are collecting them, but how do they make sure they aren’t accidentally (illegally) taking living creatures?
I think you were referring to my post on Dec 16 http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2010/12/16/beached-seashells-starfish-and-crabs/. Most of the urchins were dead… they lost all their spines. The sea stars (starfish) were a mixed bag. Some I think will make it but there were ones that were stiff as a board, dried and no movement in their feet (the little “hairs” on the bottom). Most people seemed overwhelmed and didn’t know what to take so didn’t take anything.
LOVE your videos and website from frigid NE Massachusetts. Brings back many fond memories of family vacations on Sanibel in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s BEFORE they built the bridge (took a car ferry to the island)! Our family spent a weekend there one February after a large storm at low tide. I was very young then, but will never ever forget that experience. The beaches were covered with shells all the way to the high water mark, and very few people on the beach, or on the island for that matter. Those shells have been in my living room for more than 50 years, including an enormous alphabet cone in pristine condition!. Your web site has prompted my wife and I to plan a shelling vacation on Sanibel this year, perhaps in the off season now that we are retired. Thanks again for your lovely pictures.
I’ve shelled here so many times! It just amazes me. I can do the stoop for hours and do!! This is my favorite shelling area, here at blind pass. And like you’ve shown, you can different ones on Lighthouse Beach. We’ve loved it so much in this whole area, we bought a place in Ft. Myers! The swimming is pretty good here too once you come up out of the “trench” just off the beach and get up onto flat sand. Love to bob around out there on my noodle!! But after the first year, I found you DO need swim shoes of some kind to walk across these shells!!!!
I’m coming down in a few days for 6 weeks! I CANNOT wait! The weather has got to be warmer than Maine!
What months seem to be the best to come to Sanibel, Captiva and Blind Pass. I live 24 hour drive from there so, I just do want to come and be totally disappointed. Is it possible to find a marbled cone shell? or even leopard shell.
I was on this email site before, and got notifications all the time, but somehow, stopped getting them.
I remember sitting on those mountains of shells! Mostly found them to the right, a fairly long walk (but worth it) down Bowman’s beach. Found my best shell ever there, a pure,, perfect yellow scallop shell
video not working
I fixed it Wesley :) Thank you so much for the heads up!!!