Clark and I parked at Fulgur Street (click on street name for a map) beach access this morning and took the advice of this PEN SHELL arrow pointing west to find shells. It gave us the right of way! We found shells…. lots of them.
We found so many different types of shells and this is just a sampling of what was on the beach. There were oodles of MUREXES, OLIVES, TULIPS, CONCHS and WHELKS that we didn’t even pick up. Most of these were found along Middle Gulf Drive…. including that FLORIDA CONE and that sweet baby TRUE TULIP nestled in the middle.
Chiton
I met Randy from Iowa who showed me this SHARK’S EYE that had a CHITON ( yes, it’s a mollusk) stuck to it. Okay, ya’ll know I love shelling and love everything marine (even SEA PORK!) but the chiton kind of …errrrr….. creeps me out. Maybe it looks like a bug or something? LOL I don’t know. Although, since reading about it , I didn’t realize that once the mollusk dies those individual plates (that look like armor) fall apart so when they wash up on the beach they can be recognized by their butterfly shape. I might like the shell plates- I’ll look for those.
Randy’s shark’s eye with chiton
The TIDES have been super low and will continue to get even lower this next week so there should be some awesome shelling. I’ll try to get out early tomorrow morning to catch the -0.7 ft low tide … and if you are in the area, you should too!
So what do you think… are these RING-BILLED GULLS Kissing or fighting?
Fighting for a shell?
I am completely jealous! Just beautiful! What great shelling!
You’re KILLIN’ me! I hardly found anything worth bringing home just last week – that’s me….a week late and a dollar short…..
Just curious, If you were to park at the free general parking near Fulgur st are you able to walk to that area where you found these shells? Where would you rent bikes and how easy is it to bike the island?
Rent bikes at Billy’s since you need a resident permit to park there OR better yet, park at Gulfside Park off Algiers on Middle Gulf ….go left as you face the water and you’ll be right there in a few minutes.
Sanibel is a perfect place to ride bikes- there are no hills and the bike paths are very well maintained. All of the beach accesses have areas to park bikes so you can shell any where you like- it’s great fun! It’s a pretty good hike all the way to Sundial from Gulfside City Park but it’s really nice. That whole beach is great shelling right now (in the mornings at low tide especially) but lots of live shells so make sure you look really good in side to make sure there’s no live critter claiming his home before you put it in your bag. Have fun!
What a fantastic haul…color me jealous. LOL Hope you have much luck tomorrow too. I love the photo of the birds!!
Nice Operculum!!!!! Love all the variety…reminds me of week between Christmas and New Years! The low tide shellings should be fabulous if this is any indication. GO SHELLING I say!
They creep me out too….I totally agree…sea lover or not :)
Is it because it look like an insect? I can’t figure out why they make my skin crawl. eeek!
Yes, total willies for me as well, I can imagine it moving…insect-ish Pam…segmented like a millipede or a low-rider silverfish!! Icky poo. ;)
Is that pile of shells….a pile you found or did you pile them….I can’t believe you would just come across a pile of treasurers all piled up!! I want to be there! I want that Lace and the Horse’s!!! I’m jealous! That would be just too much fun!
Lol I wish they had been laying there all together. These our best finds dumped out of our shell bag and pockets. I have to admit, most of them were found by Clark in the cold water with his backhoe. Brrrrr
We were out early this morning, like 3 a.m. (old people can’t eat onion rings in the evening) and we saw at least 2 dozen horse conchs. The brilliant orange foot just glowed in the water. Didn’t find any other shells but the early walk was worth it just to see the horse conchs. Then we slept in, the water was COLD.
What luck finding that arrow! Somehow I think you would have found shells without it. :) Good to see what good shelling luck everyone has been having lately.
Great shells!!
Lee
I love to look at your updates…..live near Tybee Island, Georgia. My husband and I go out to the Barrier Islands every weekend from April to October. We love to go shelling. Now we are being transferred to Seattle, Wa. I am excited about walking the beaches of the west coast. Thanks for sharing.
We took a boat around the San Juan Islands several years ago and looooved it out there. The coast is beautiful and the starfish are bright purple, orange and blue.
Thanks to all of yall for your wonderful feedback- wish you were here too!
What a haul!
I love your updates, and thrill at the pictures. Even though we were just in Sanibel for the holidays, I am already planning out April trip under the guise of comparing shelling in the Spring vs. Winter!!! Thank you for videos and photos. They are amazing.
Beautiful find. We will go shelling on Sanibel early Wednesday. Hope to see you there!
Pam, what is that black thing at the top of thje photo?
Went out to the dredge site up here yesterday afternoon and had a pretty good day with a lot of olives, murex, whelks,couple of candy corns and a beautiful true tulip. Lost a big true tulip in the surf – never even got to see if it was live or not. Do you think the cold in December and the last couple of weeks is why we’re finding all these dead perfect shells? Do they just die in the sand from such cold water temps?
Hi Pam, I was so sorry to leave Sanibel yesterday and come back to 10 degree weather. I too was finally having lots of luck finding shells. The couple next door to me actually found two junonias dredging in the surf near Mitchell’s Sand Castles. I hope to finish unpacking and doing laundry this afternoon then tonight I’ll e-mail a photo I took of Peggy and Charlie and their junonias. It was great meeting you!!! Keep up the good work with your website. This way I can pretend I’m still on Sanibel and shelling. Sue Bunkin
Hi, I love your site!!
My daughter (10) & I got back from Sanibel a couple of weeks ago and we hopped on your site to take a virtual vacation, and were we surprised and delighted to see that you found our arrow!!! We made it to show her Grammy which way we had gone shelling on the beach so she could catch up with us later. I’m so glad that it brought you good shells too! I wish we could have met you in person to tell you how much we love your website, but maybe we will run into you next year.
Thanks for sharing your pics & videos!
Amy & Kathleen