Sunrise shelling on Sanibel
This is a rare photo. Â I can’t help it- I’m just not a morning gal so I rarely get to the beach to see sunrise. I know, I’m not your usual sheller but this isn’t your usual shelling day either. Colder temperatures (low fifties this morning), high winds, new moon and very low tide make for excellent shelling so I couldn’t resist being an early bird (ok, the time change helped). So check out all of the early bird specials!
Molly and Jill's shelling bucket of goodies
Molly and Jill's horse conch, moon snail and true tulip
Molly and Jill had to share a bucket since they were finding so many fantastic shells. I was so tickled that Molly told me that she follows my blog (!) and before they went to the lighthouse yesterday, she made Jill watch my WENTLETRAP VIDEO so she would know what to look for. She called it “Finding Wentletraps 101”. Â ;)
Molly and Jill (Michigan)
Heart Urchins found by Molly and Jill
Long-spined Urchin
Leisa's Alphabet cone
Leisa (Greenville, SC)
Another blog buddy, Leisa! She is another shelling sister that has contributed to iLoveShelling with her comments. She was filling up her bucket with TULIPS (BANDED and TRUE), LIGHTNING WHELKS, OLIVES, CONCHS and of course this shellicious ALPHABET CONE.
Live true tulip
This was the 4th huge live TRUE TULIP I saw this weekend. Leisa found one too.
Puffer Fish
I met a boy named Dale that showed me this PUFFER FISH. Thank you Mr. Puffer Fish for the pretty pose for my photo. Oh, and Happy Birthday, Dale!
Serpent Starfish
Look how long these arms are on this SERPENT STARFISH! Carol showed this starfish to me and also gave me one of her California SAND DOLLARS that she packages and gives away while she is in Sanibel. Thank you, Carol, I love it!
Beachcomber Carol
Low tide Sanibel beach at Sunrise near Holiday Inn
Sunrise on Sanibel
It sure was a beautiful morning to be shell collecting on the beach. Glad you made it up for the low tide.
Pam, I am NOT a morning person either, but these photos may have changed that!! I can’t believe how far out the sand goes in the Holiday Inn photo! I am amazed at some of the other shots of things I have yet to see for myself, like the Serpent Starfish, a LIVE Puffer Fish, the Heart Urchins, and the size of that True Tulip. You are so lucky to be there all the time! You are living my dream, and I can’t wait to return!
i want to be on sanibel soooo much that it hurts!
I may have to think about getting up earlier now after seeing what I’m missing in the morning.,…..
Judie- this is supposed to make you feel good…not hurt ;) ;) .
You know what they say…”Early bird gets the worm, I mean shells!” LOL
Not “Early bird gets the worm…” “Early bird gets the worm shell” :)
i am hoping to get there one day to do exactly what i like to do, go shelling. I usually go shelling in tropical places while i am on holidays. This past March I was in the Mayan Riviera and i couldn’t believe the huge shells i was finding- absolutely amazing.
Lynn- The Mayan Riviera! Sounds so romantic…and shells? Where is this place?????
What kind of shells? Got any pictures?
Thanks so much for showing the Heart Urchins, I found several YEARS ago in Jamaica, and never knew what they were called! Today is a happy day!
I couldn’t find a picture of the heart urchins in any of my books so I called friends of ours Dick and Mary who found them last year when we were with them. I couldn’t remember the name of them so I called them today. They deserve all the credit! Thanks Dick and Mary.
I found one last year in front of Sundial and I thought it was a sea biscuit until I looked it up in ‘Florida’s Living Beaches’ page 142.
Hey! That’s the book she said she found it in… Florida’s Living Beaches. Looks like I need that one. Thanks Mary Ann!
Great pics. wish I could be out there every day :)
I wish yall could be here too! Christine- maybe that’s why I haven’t found my junonia….. I can find the worm (wormies!) but junonia. :)
Great pics! Looks everything came together just right for some awesome shelling!
I think I need to do a road trip down there for Monday morning to find some of these great treasures you guys found this morning! We were at the Lighthouse Friday and I did find about 28 “Wentletraps”and my first (my goal for this year) Babys Ear. I had no idea how fragile they are. 2 were a little chipped and 1 perfect. So I’m in Heaven and it’s still only Nov 7 so maybe I need to set another shell goal for the rest of the year. Every day you find stuff worth keeping is a good day in my book.
Congrats on your Babys Ears!!! …and the wentles!
Today was My husband & I’s first day on the Island. We didn’t get the earliest of starts but I have to say that If I was only given one day to try shelling… I would be satisfied. :)
Fabulous shelling!! I’m jealous that I missed it by about 3 weeks. But I’ll be back!
Wow! What a fabulous morning to be out shelling! I can only hope there’s a day such as that the next time I’m down that way. Only 114 more days…..
Gorgeous photos, Pam. And the shelling was awesome. When I visit, I try to get out early to find more shells and variety. Thanks for getting up early for us!!
What a great shelling day. When we come down we shell full moon, low tide, no matter what the hour is. I hope to meet you on the beach in Feb. when I plan to come down and celebrate my birthday and full moon too.
Love your pictures and thank you.
Great pictures, wish I was there. Oh well, there is next year. In the meantime, I’ll just look at all those great shells everyone is finding. That one red tulip was spectacular!!
Lee
Awwww, cute puffer!
Love your website. Only 1 month until my next visit. My mother passed away in April. She had a lamp filled with shells she collected on Sanibel years ago. Took apart the lamp and brought shells back to Georgia from Massachusetts.
Seashells are the best way to share memories. What a beautiful memory for you.
Pam,
What great pictures!! Beautiful shells!! We will be coming in January and can’t wait. I’ll look for you on the beach….. we met last January on a COLD day.. think it was 33 degrees…we were all bundled up…. ..shelling….what else! (big smile).
Jane
Hi Pam,
Great finds on Sunday, it was chilly out there too!
I was wondering if you ever find any Purple Janthina over there. I hear they can be found here so I’ve been keeping my eye out, but so far I have not seen any.
Diana
Diana,
A purple janthina isn’t listed with the local shells at the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum so I’m not sure you can find any here or it’s very rare. I thought we had found one on my Janthina post – click on… http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2010/05/15/janthina/
Thanks for the info Pam. They seem pretty elusive! I have friends who have found them here on our beaches, so I’ll keep looking. I will let you know if I ever get blessed!
usually I’m at the lighthouse but I’m beginning to think I need to walk the other side! Next time instead of going left out of the parking lot, I’m taking a right!! Move over..I want some of these shells!! Of course I need more..I’m addicted like the rest of us!! Scary isn’t it??
Catching up on the site after 10 days vacation and absolutely LOVE the sunrise shots! I’m not a morning person either, so it’s great to see what I’ve been missing ;-)
Envy your 50 degree temps — got 8 inches of snow here last night. I know it’s MN, but I’m never really ready for winter! Thanks for the uplifting, warming sunrise shots — you made my day!!!