This is how our weekend started off on Friday. A calm, coral sky at sunset with a few shells scattered along the beach.
Gulf Oyster Drill
This is the cute little shell in foreground of the first photo. Cute, huh? It’s called a GULF OYSTER DRILL and this is what the aperture looks like…..
Gulf Oyster Drill Aperture
We are starting to see lots of live COQUINAS right at the surf’s edge getting washed up then quickly  digging themselves back into the sand.
There were a few Sanibel Stoopers enjoying the warm evening and the semi low tide pools off Middle Gulf Drive.
I was so touched that Matt (OH) was collecting shells to make jewelry for his girlfriend. What a guy!
Matt (Ohio)
We got a chance to stop by Sanibel side of Blind Pass this weekend too but instead of shelling the sand bar, we walked the beach down to the bayou where I spotted this GREAT BLUE HERON in flight.
We were surprised to see so many shell piles!
There were lots of FIGHTING CONCHS and WHELKS but I didn’t see any SAND DOLLARS until I met Stephanie from Ft Myers. She found about 6 SAND DOLLARS in her shell bag.
Stephanie seashells
I havent had the chance to clean up the 14 inch HORSE CONCH Clark found this weekend (he’s still beaming) but tomorrow I’ll get that cleaned up and take a few photos then show the rest of the photos of our fabulous boating day.
surf shells sanibel
We looked towards the pass and saw the rain coming. Head for the hills!
Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend as we honored the memories of our fallen U.S. service men and women.
Thank You so much for generously sharing your slice of paradise with all of us! I can’t to come down and enjoy your beautiful island. I am landlocked in Iowa until October, but I’m counting down the days!
A treasured trip!! I love the scenery, The shells are wonderful beyond!
I am hosting A New very Exciting $250 Giveaway from Tracy Porter
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Cool to see those sand dollars. The only intact ones I have found have been greeny-colored & alive, just out by the buoy (in front of Holiday Inn) at low tide. I’d love to find one that could come home with me!
Your pictures have me chomping at the bit to be out there shelling! This coming weekend I will be! I won’t be in Sanibel this time, but the shelling is pretty good all along the Gulf Coast. I hope to find some shells I’ve never found before!
Can’t wait to see the horse conch cleaned up!
Hi Pam,
I read your blog religiously now and am missing the beach and shells so much. It seems like April was years ago and we NEED to come back soon. Thanks for sharing with all of us stuck without a beach close by :)
Such beautiful pictures! We’re in countdown mode now!!!!
We’re on a very short countdown right now. We’ll be there at Ocean’s Reach this Saturday. I am so ready to get out there and shell!
Lucky you! Enjoy.
I love your pics and your little stories so much, Pam! Especially, I’ve been back home in Germany now and the beach, the shells and Florida’s Gulf coast is so far away from me. Can’t wait to come back soon! I hope to meet you next time…
Lovely! Sorry we missed you near the Sundial! I would have liked to have met. We will be back…soon.
Pam, what beautiful pictures! the sky is sooo blue and waters sooo gorgeous! Thank you, again and again, for sharing Sanibel with those of us who don’t live nearby and don’t get to visit as often as we’d like! I vacation vicariously through your blog! Every day is a holiday for me @ iloveshelling.com!! ;-)
Hey! We just have just missed you on Friday night – we were shelling and swimming in front of Sundial. I looked for you everywhere we were!
this is a great website! we were over in the gulf during memorial day weekend (clearwater) and found a live Giant Atlantic Cockle. To find out what it was, I found your video on youtube, which led me here.