Clark's Scotch Bonnet
Clark found another SCOTCH BONNET!!!! This is crazy! We both found one in December for the first time and now he found another one within a couple of months.
Clark's Scotch bonnet aperture
Wow…. pretty, huh? He said finding it was pure luck. We went to Sanibel side of Blind Pass yesterday and Clark took his shelling backhoe scoop out to the exposed sand bar at low tide. He just kept scooping blindly on the gulf side of the bar and one scoop pulled up this perfectly beautiful SCOTCH BONNET.
Sanibel Turner Beach sand bar
Sanibel sand bar Sunset
There weren’t many shells on the Captiva side but, as always, the sunset was spectacular.
Sunset Bind Pass jetty
There were so many things to show you from the Sanibel Shell Fair and Show over last weekend I didn’t have a chance to even talk about the shelling. Let me catch you up on a few people I met and what they found….
Mary Jo and daughter Michelle
Awww! Look at Mary Jo and Michelle with their dressed up i Love Shelling totes packed with tees, cards and a shelling scoop to celebrate Michelle’s wedding engagement. Michelle is getting married in April so this was just the start of her shelling bachelorette party.
Michelle's shells
Bride to be Michelle collected over 1000 ARK SHELLS at the lighthouse beach on Sanibel as decorations for her beach themed wedding. Smart girl!
Frannie and Eddie (MA)
Frannie and Eddie walked over the Blind Pass bridge to the Sanibel side to discover all kinds of shells but I couldn’t get over how pretty the bright purple CALICO SCALLOPS were.
seashells in bag
Carol and Connie from Kalamazoo also found some pretty CALICO SCALLOPS at Bind Pass on the Captiva side and were lucky enough to find a dried up STARFISH ( or “sea star”… I grew up calling them starfish so they will always be starfish to me) up on the beach.
Carol and Connie (MI)
Connie's bucket with starfish
Just a few more pictures from sunset last night…..
Stunning sunset photos tonight! And congrats on that scotch bonnet. I have yet to find one myself. Can I put in my order now?
Breath taking.
Clark rocks I mean shells the scoop :D
Saw school of what Brian Holaway thought would be cownosed rays on Middle Gulf Tuesday. They were swimming along the shore just a few feet from the shore line. Also saw some type of turtle. The head was black when he peaked above the surface and was about half the size of the rays.
Wednesday Morgan, Chad from Minnesota and Moralee from California joined my husband and I for a trip to Costa Caya with Brian Holaway. It was a wonderful experience. Found our first worm shells and baby ears. Saw manatees and dolphins and a variety of birds including a reddish egret. If you get the chance, book a trip with Brian. We were able to share the cost by linking in with others from this web site. He takes 6 people.
Oh Sally, I am so happy yall had such a good trip with Brian….and all met from here!!!! That is so much fun! I’m a little jealous I didn’t get to see you guys all together and meet. Wormies?? I havent been seeing them lately (other than a big daddy at Barefoot Beach) so glad you snagged a few!
Spectacular pics of the sunsets. I can’t believe how many shellers you meet!
Wow, Pam…that sunset is spectacular. Thank you for posting those gorgeous photos. Sigh, really want to be with y’all right now. NOT in Wisconsin with what’s going on. Anyone got a spare room? LOL
Beautiful sunset pics (and shells!)
Gorgeous sunset. The added bonus would be the shell finds. ~~Sherry~~
The weather looks beautiful! I would love to be on the beach collecting shells and watching sunsets.
Pam, do you mind sharing what type camera you use? I love your pictures. I use many of them for my home screen, or background for my computer. My Sams club special just isn’t cutting it, and want to buy a new one soon. Thanks!! Julie
Beautiful sunset–makes my heart ache for Sanibel.
Pam, how big is that bonnet? About the size of a nutmeg?
The bonnet was 1 3/4 inches long so about double the size of a large nutmeg.
Thanks, Clark, looks like a beauty. Guess I’ll have to give the metal baskets another try next time I’m down there—-looks like the results are worth the cut up legs.
Beautiful pics! Blind Pass is the beach I’ve been staying at when I visit Sanibel. I miss it! ~ Maria
Just a few more days and I’ll be walking that beautiful beach….!!!!!
xoxo laurie
We went Boating today around the total island of Antiqua! It was beautiful. Went snorkeling and saw so many kinds of live coral including staghorn, fan, brain and fire. That was in the very clear Atlantic. On the Mediterranean side the water was more the color of ours off Sanibel. Swam at two more beautiful beaches. Found lots of brain and other coral on the beach. One in our party found large lions paws. There were so many horse conchs, orange ones. What an incredible day. Just listening to the tree frogs and crickets now. Will send some shell pictures tomorrow.
I can’t wait to see Antigua shells!!!!!!
I love shelling too. (hard to do up here in Northern NY) but when I can be in florida Its like finding beautiful treasure. I am yet to find a scotch bonnet though. hopefully on my next trip to Sanibel! I wanted to share my creativity.(which you inspired on your blog!!) I have been making necklaces and charms for friends and decided to take it a step further . Check out my shell necklaces on etsy I named it “ANIMPERFECTSHELL” for all the fun stuff I find on the beaches in Palm Coast Fl. where I spend half my time. Your blog has been such an inspiration for me and got me moving on making shell necklaces!! thank you for your continued inspiration! Its like shelling when Im not!
That is one of the most beautiful Scotch Bonnets that I have seen!! A great find!! Love it!!! :)
So this is the weirdest thing. I have at least 8 intact scotch bonnets in my house this very moment. I’m not a SUPER active sheller (mostly weekends, when my husband isn’t cramming for exams) and I didn’t even know they were called “scotch bonnets” until a couple of months ago. Now come to realize they’re a rare find? I guess I’m just lucky, or my little island is a breeding ground, or something. Interesting! Maybe I need to post some pictures of them to my blog. Suddenly I feel like I have bragging rights ;-)
Hi Pam,
Just to let you know that I received my hat and t shirt. thank you for the fast delivery and the sweet shells. My sister was visiting when I opened the package and we both were delighted when we saw the baby murex and auger. How thoughtful of you! Hope to see you on the beach in April, I’ll be wearing my shirt. The hat was a gift for my shelling sister “B”.