Sand dollars off West Gulf Drive
I was so surprised to find so many SAND DOLLARS on the beach around West Gulf Drive parking lot #7 (sorry, parking stickers only- but you can get there by bike if you aren’t staying nearby). The water was still pretty rough but I guess not rough enough to break all of the sand dollars. We even found a few more after I took this photo. So happy.
Joe (Ohio) with sand dollar
I saw Joe out on a sand bar looking like he was finding some good treasure. I was right….this afternoon he found a perfect ANGEL WING, some FIGHTING CONCHS, a FLAT SCALLOP, WHELKS and this pretty little sand dollar. Cute, huh?
Flat scallop
Clark has been on fire lately out-shelling me. Look at the color on this FLAT! It’s just perfect.
Fabulous flat scallop
Broken scotch bonnet
Darn! Too bad this SCOTCH BONNET was broken. GRRRR. Well, at least we know they are really out there somewhere. We’ve never found one here but we’re getting closer.
Ibis birds shelling
We ran down to Blind Pass too but didn’t find much. I’ll give Bind Pass another shot tomorrow but I still think this area around Blue Dolphin Inn on West Gulf will be even better tomorrow.
Wow,we’ve only seen 1 sand dollar visiting Sanibel. The scotch bonnet
is still pretty. I wish the blue dolphin had more units,they always seem booked,then again we call like 1 week in advance.
I have NEVER found a whole sand dollar….look as I may! At Treasure Cay in the Abacos Islands, a fellow snorkeler found as many as 30 but as soon as I went down….nada! So, I love to see people who have found whole ones!! Score!!!
I’ve found scotch bonnets further north at Gulf Shores, but probably not anymore with the oil. LOVE the sand dollars. We have found many near Haystack on the Oregon beach. Not so much on Sanibel. Still biding my time for our October trip. Hoping we can avoid the oil.
Those sand dollars are flawless, what a find! And that last shot is gorgeous!!!
The flat zigzags are one of my very favorite finds!! This one is a real beauty!!!
Yesterday evening at 7, there wasn’t much coming in. We used to find lots of great shells in that area, but not much anymore. A couple years ago, I always carried a shell bag with me; no more, I can carry them in my pocket. I used to see the flat scallops sliding up on the sand, with a wave, and hardly ever went home without four or five. Now it makes me sad when I walk the beach, I really miss that. :( I sure don’t want to wish for storms, but I suppose that’s what it’s going to take to stir things up. Didn’t mean to sound negative; now when I find a nice fan like the one you found, I get very excited! :)
Oh yea Pam! Keep looking for the scotch bonnet! I promise they are there and I know you’ll find one! I’m still hoping for a junonia! My husband found a small one in January, hopefully the next one will be MINE!
Do you have some tricks on finding those flat scallops? Would love to find one of those.
I find more of those flat scallops at Blind Pass but it’s just like those wentles, Linda, when I finally find a few, then it seems like I see more and more of them. Were they there the whole time and I just didn’t see them? Who knows! I’m still waiting to find the secret to the junonia too.
Now that I know the trick of wentles I intend to pick up a few more but have not seen a flat. I’ve got my granddaughter already memorizing what she needs to help me look for!! We have found 3 junonia’s but on Marco. Congrats on your new found fame! I’ve met so many ppl on the beach who mention your blog. It’s fun to say yes I do know about that great blog. Keep up the good work Pam, I look forward to your blog daily.
I HAVE found a scotch bonnet on Sanibel, it was in the late 80’s and it was my first visit to Sanibel, and it just rolled up on the beach onto my foot… I’ve been in love with Sanibel ever since!
My daughter found a live sand dollar on the sandbar off Surfrider this week. We took a picture and put it back (gently!). We saw one boy (about 10 y.o.) next to his mom throw his live sand dollar like a frisbee out into the water. We only found pieces of dead sand dollar. Do you have to dig on the sandbars to find shells? I didn’t see much of anything out there.
Hi Pam, I have shared your beautiful sand dollar photo on my FB page, credited to you. Hope that’s OK