Blind Pass from Captiva looking towards Sanibel
Yesterday evening at around 6:30 pm was a nice negative low tide at  Blind Pass of -0.2 . Look at all the people shelling on the sand bars all the way across the pass. Of course since Clark has found 2 JUNONIAS in the last couple of weeks (mind you, they aren’t perfect by far- I’m not complaining, just stating facts- ……I sound jealous, don’t I? grrrr- but if you really want to see them click HERE and HERE) I figured there’s no way I’d find one too but there’s always something else interesting to find out there.
No, I didn’t find one of those little JUNONIA buggers (I’m still sounding jealous, aren’t I.) but I was happy to find this sweet FLORIDA CONE right off the bat. I was especially happy when I found this cute family from North Carolina who found over 25 SAND DOLLARS! Lisa Marie called them the SAND DOLLAR whisperers.
Kim, Hannah and Abby with sand dollars
Abby's sand dollars
Speaking of  shelling sistah Lisa Marie, here she is with her son Jeff having a great time filling their shell bags with all sorts of goodies…
Jeff and Lisa Marie (NJ)
Jeff found the prettiest LACE MUREX Â I’ve seen in a long time….
I met a family from Brasil so excited to see live OLIVES and CONCHS but even happier to find empty shells to pluck in their shell bags.
Marisol, Renan and Enzo
Okay, I guess I have to fess up now……. YES! I am a little jealous of Clark’s JUNONIA finding ability. The man’s got the pattern down to find those stupid stinkin’ elusive SCHMANONIAS (yes, I made that word up). Would you believe me if I told you he found another one last night? I probably wouldn’t if I didn’t see it with my own eyes. But, he did. He found it on the Sanibel side down on the edge of the surf way passed the sand bar that sticks out almost to that huge house on the beach. And it’s in so much better shape than last week’s shell.
Really, I still can’t believe it and it’s just getting weird now. LOL  Like Julie commented last weekend “Ok, now he’s just showing off! But we love him anyway.” Ha! Look at his face in this picture, he even looks a little embarrassed- like he’s hoping nobody will “booo” him.
Alright, I was green with envy but I can’t help but be happy for him now that I’ve gotten the jealousy off my chest. Another congrats to you Clark! This will only make it sweeter when I find my perfect VOLUTE.
Love your pictures & stories so much, Pam!! Wish I could be there right now… The Lace Murex looks great.
Don’t blame you for being jealous, tell Clark to leave some Junonia’s for the rest of us! :)
Dangamighty! Stop finding all the junonias, Clark! I’ll be back in a few weeks, and you could at least give some of the rest of us a chance!
Clark, Clark, Clark…for the sanctity of your marriage, the next one you find can you please (please, please, please) toss back in the water right next to Pam and let her find it?!? It’ll be our little secret.
Anyway, I hear good things come in three’s so you’re officially at your limit. ;)
Does he give lessons?
Lol, sign me up if he does!
WAY TO GO CLARK !!! U DA MAN ….. lol !!! Never fear Pam , your day will come & it will out shine Clark’s ( sure not taking anything away from him !! ) . Please keep up your ” Labor ” of love for all of us shell nuts … we thank you !! Hope to get the pleasure of meeting you on them sandy beaches of Sanibel next week . 4 days & counting !!
So sorry we missed you at Blind Pass yesterday. However, we did find a lovely paper fig that washed up in the surf and a lovely banded tulip (unoccupied for once!) just off the shore line just down from the bridge.
He can redeem himself by buying something real sparkly for his trophy wife.
Where’s the “Like” button??
I’m with Donna- Where’s the “Like” button???!!!! I need them for all of these comments! Actually, I need a “like” button, I need a “LOL” button for comments like Lizbeth and I need a “So Sweet” button too. I gotta work on that- ;).
How are sand dollars found? Do you have to dig for them, if so, where? Are they on top of the sand? How do I find them?
The were finding the sand dollars exactly where they are standing in the water in the photo. Take a look over Amy’s left shoulder, that is the sand bar that juts out now on the Sanibel side. It was almost right where the path leads to the parking lot.
Sand dollars are usually on top of the sand if they are in the water and they can get moved around a lot by the waves. Most of the ones I’ve found in the water are on very flat places on the beach. Sandbars especially. If you see people finding them, just walk the flat area slowly and watch where you step. Once you find one, it gets easier to spot them.
IF you want to look for one on the shore, sometimes only the very center will be showing and you have to very carefully dig them out. I’ve only seen them on the shore at Cayo Costa though because the Sanibel/Captiva beaches have more visitors who find them before they make it that far. :)
Very helpful Pam. Thanks. Your site has been my primary encyclopedia on shells, shelling, how to and where. I love learning and you & those who post have made it so enjoyable.
Thank you Karen. I’ve heard some people say they’ve had to dig for sand dollars, but I didn’t understand how you found ‘where to dig’. Now I do. You’ve given me details and specifics and I appreciate that.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have this vast knowledge about shelling when we made our first & only visit to Sanibel in January. Hubby and I can’t wait to go back & enjoy the search for sea treasures.
Excellent Karen!!!
Donna, take a look at live sand dollars here… http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2010/05/25/the-gulf-is-alive-and-well/
He may be lucky to find a junonia, but even luckier to have found YOU! Remind him of that before he gets too high and mighty!!! I miss the beach, I miss the shells, I miss almond french toast from the sanibel cafe, and I miss you and Clark!!
Isn’t it crazy how a shell can be so elusive & then you find one and they start popping up all over…I think it is all about the eye..once you get that pattern in your brain, they pop out at you.
On another note, I think I met Jeff & Lisa Marie a couple of years ago at Little Talbot Island up here! If it wasn’t them, then they have twins that found a humongous olive!
We had the BEST time shelling with you at Blind Pass last night! Jeff is still talking about you and Clark and the Junonia!! Congrats Clark! We went back this evening (car keys secured!) Jeff and I found another banded tulip, apple murex, lots of cones and olives…and the cutest little crab (looked just like sebastion) that took residence in a fighting conch!
Tana, we have never been to Little Talbot Island but I do believe we all have a twin somewhere!
“SCHMANONIAS” LOL – hysterical!!! Ok, I am jealous too and I am not ashamed to whine about it a bit. It’s not fair! Why does HE get to keep finding them? When do I get to find one? Phew, I feel better now. That one actually looks pretty darn nice. Congrats!
Thank you for the gorgeous pics! And grrrrrrr at Clark for hogging the Schamonias! :-DD
Well, for me I think my reaction is best summed up by, “HOLY MOLY!!!” And then the family from NC finding that many sand dollars?! My goodness! I found one and thought I’d hit the jackpot! Oh gosh I can barely stand still being in NC and not living on Sanibel yet! I just keep reading your blog religiously and watching live webcams trying to keep my self simi sane until I can get down there!!!!
THANK YOU Pam for helping me through these slowly passing NC months :(
How can you tell if a Sand Dollar is dead or alive?
Congrats to Clark on his 3rd Junonia.
Pam, it is now your turn. That Junonia is looking for you!!
Lee & Bill
Clark, Clark, Clark you really are the Master. I bow to you. Now leave the rest of the Junonias around so “someone” else can find one. Pam are you sure he doesn’t “seed” the surf? I’d have him play the Lotto for a couple of weeks with the luck he’s been having.
Clark, I may need to change your name from Wentletrap Whisperer to Junionia Whisperer. Keep up the good work! Pam, I feel your pain. You are way overdue.
oh my gosh…………………………..Clark has become the best sheller of all……………im soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooimpressed………hurry home Pam………………i have been trying to get in touch with you Pam and will try again with the help of my daughter.
After years of coming to Sanibel and learning shelling from my parents during the 70’s and 80’s, we now have our own place on the island and love visiting this paradise. I was thrilled to find your website while verifying shell identification of heart urchins and bittersweet that we found when we were here for New Years. We found our first alphabet cones at Blind Pass too. I’ve spent hours looking at your information. It’s so exciting to find friends who are so passionate about shelling! And the website is fabulous – thank you, thank you! We’re on the island now and hope to cross paths on the beach!
I want to thank all of you for sending me your good wishes and prayers during my illness. I was really so grateful and amazed that you did all that! It was wonderful to have my darling daughter come and spend a whole week with me and take care of my every need. I am feeling much better now and feel that I will be back to normal before too long. I am so glad that you are enjoying her blog as much as I am. She and Clark are really special people and I feel really blessed with having all my children together for a time. Thanks so much for everything. Love. Mary
Mary – So glad to hear that you are doing so well! Moms and daughters share a special bond – you are so fortunate to have each other! We love Pam, too!!
I was going to try to come back down again yet this summer but now what’s the point? All the junonias are gone. Thanks a lot, Clark. Now I have to stay in Iowa.