I can hear the rumbling of a summer storm nearing my house this very minute. My first thought  …. no beach for me in the next few hours. My second thought….unplug the laptop! I don’t want any power surges to fry my little coconut telegraph to the world.
In the past few days, I haven’t spent much time on the beach since we’ve had so much thunder and lightning with our rain showers and the wind has been coming from the east (not great for shelling). So instead of rambling on about what I’ve been up to the last few days….. oh wait, I will tell yall about my new purchase since yet another camera experienced a slow death on a salty beach of the islands.
It’s just a point and shoot type camera because obviously, I can’t be trusted with a really expensive high quality camera any where near sand- ugh. It’s another Panasonic (like I had before) I bought at Costco but it’s got a few new bells and whistles in this newer model DMC-ZS10.
We went to West Gulf Drive on Friday to try the new camera out and so Clark could inspect the area the Carla found her JUNONIA.
There were still a few small shell piles of SCALLOPS and CLAMS in the wrack lines but caught in some of the grasses, I found this fantastic old surf worn HORSE CONCH I’ll use for a yard shell.
We saw a few other shellers but not many buckets filled with goodies. I did see a lot of people with fishing poles.
I saw this one guy pull up a FIGHTING CONCH with his toes while he was fishing. Double duty!
Right after I took this picture, I heard a clap of thunder to let me know it was time to get off the beach.
I’m pretty happy with the new camera but I hope I didn’t whine ramble too much today about the isolated storms and about my bad luck with cameras wearing out too quickly (I’ll spare you from the other broken “appliances” stories from the weekend too).
But no worries! I was able to upgrade my camera and feel fortunate I could get it for a fair price. It’s also typical  that summer storms will happen on a tropical island. The good news is …. there is no doubt there will be sunshine and happy shelling right around the corner that I will be able to share with you through pictures on my new camera!
Just love this update x keep them coming xxx
Those summer storms often make for spectacular sunsets. Another way to put your new camera to work.
I like how your thinking Robin!
Oooh, you’re gonna love the little Panasonic! :D I’ve got an earlier one, & it’s been my go-to since my Sony drowned in a tidal pool, lol. A lot of these pics were taken with a Panasonic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/52546816@N02/
JoJo, What FABULOUS shots!!! Some of the most beautiful sunset pictures ever!!!
Awww thanks, Cindy! It’s the magic of the island – the light, reflection on the water, so much magic in the air. I’m grateful to be able to just sit there and try to grab a little piece of it. :)
Yes those summer storms were awful last week while we were at Fort Myers Beach. I came over to Sanibel 4 times and could find hardly any shells that were not clam type/bivalves! :( But found 100s of kitten paws and calico scallops. Back on Fort Myers Beach (in front of Pelican Watch) we got there Sat the 16th in time for a REALLY low tide that exposed LOTS of fighting conchs, whelks and sand dollars. But they were all alive! Still – that was extremely cool as I’d never seen that much stuff alive at the beach before. The whole week we were walking on sand dollar colonies and stepping on fighting conchs or whelks. I got to see a lightning whelk that was honestly 8 inches big. So cool! Also found LOTS of augers over the week. and we saw a live star fish that first night! And one day there was a pod (?) of manatees swimming/mating along the shore about 10 feet out. There was a crowd and patrol truck pacing them down the beach because apparently up the beach a ways some idiots had tried to ride them. She said (the nice patrol lady) that it was 1 female and about 10 males and she had swam around to the front (from the bay) to get away from them but they’d followed her. We walked with them for a ways. Saw LOTS of rays – I love them – stepped right into the path of two one evening without realizing it and looked down to see them flapping frantically to get around me. Oops! Then the last day was shuffling along back from the sandbar and knocked into something that I assumed was another conch shell, reached down and brought up a live urchin!
All in all – while I didn’t bring home nearly as much as I wanted to – I was not disappointed. It was an amazing week seeing all the living stuff. I’m sad to be back in Atlanta and not out at the beach seeing what came in today!!!
Oh Sherry, what a beautiful trip report!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing adventure- the sealife and wildlife are extraordinary, isn’t it! Sea World Uncensored!
Thank you so much for this website when I need to smile and get away from the day for a moment ….I just come here to look at shells and the ocean …Just got back and made a couple of boxes and frames with my shells…Told my husband I need to go back now to get more…..will be back soon..
When I was married I had a “shell” garden instead of a flower garden bordering my walkway. It was so cool. That horse conch would be perfect for it.
Beautiful pictures again, Miss Pam. Your new camera is working out great. I was wondering, have you ever gone scalloping?
Hey Pam,
Fantastic picture of the path! Sorry to bug you again, but I just wanted to ask if you were going to do any contests soon? It would be awesome to have a shot at a turtle light cover, a shell scooper, and everything else a pro sheller needs!Only 4 more days till South Carolina sunsets and relaxing shelling!
Emma
From a South Carolina girl……. I hear ya!!
We go in September to the coast!
Awesome! Have a fun trip! You probably know this being from South Carolina, but watch for little baby turtles in September, that is usually the time nesting ends and they crawl to the ocean if the eggs were buried about 2 months before! They are led to the ocean by moonlight, but are sometimes confused with artificial light so be careful! If I see any good shelling spots or turtles I will tell you!
Love your pictures, love, love, love this sight! Sanibel is such a special place. I wish I could be there more often! But, your sight keeps me in touch with this beautiful island and I look forward to everyones finds.
I feel your pain about the camera with salt and sand!! I have had this happen in only a one week trip to the beach(was very windy& took too many pics laying camera on sand!)duh!
In the next to last picture :What is the blue-ish looking item on beach … could not zoom in to tell.
Just wondering….
Pam, we are making a visit to Sanibel (special trip as we usually only come in November or spring break) tomorrow through Friday. Is there a place on the island where we can purchase the scoop that comes apart? My husband wants one, but we need to be able to fit it in our suitcase when we leave. We will really only have one full day to shell and will be staying on West Gulf at West Wind, any suggestions for quality shelling in a short time? I am hoping we will be able to do some between storms :o) Thanks so much and keep those reports coming!
Bailey’s to the rescue and some pretty good shell loot in a three hour span! Woohoo!
We also stayed at the WWI when we visited Sanibel in May. We bought our shell scoop at the souvenier shop near Jerry’s – the name escapes me now. When I realized I couldn’t fit it in the suitcase, I contemplated just leaving it there. But hubby took apart the basket and the maintenance man for the inn loaned him a hacksaw. He cut a few inches off the handle where it fits into the basket, and we were able to fit it diagonally in the suitcase. Alot of work, but now I’ll have it for my next trip!
Love your pics from the new camera. Do you use any kind of photo enhancement software? The colors are just fabulous!
Your photos are just beautiful Pam!
Marcia- never have been scalloping but would love to! You can do that around Clearwater, right?
Emma- well you put a bug in my ear about another giveaway a couple of weeks ago so I have another one coming up the middle of August. Thank you! It won’t be the lighted cap this time but it will be something else that will help with shelling. I’ve got to keep it under wraps right now but I’ll announce it soon!
Stephanie- I had to go back and look at it again too- it’s a pen shell with the inside showing the beautiful iridescent colors from the reflection of the sun. I actually picked up a few of them this weekend along with some mussel shells with that same iridescent-ness (okay I’m making up words now- ha) on the inside. Wow! It really shows up in the picture doesnt it??? When I bring them home, I have a hard time getting them to show those brilliant colors in a photo. Good eye!
Lisa- The lighthouse has some minis but the Middle Gulf beaches dont seem to have much on them right now—of course that could change but I think lighthouse or Blind Pass Sanibel is best bet. The shell shop on Fitzhugh has those scoops and I have a few new blue scoops for sale too.
Jane K- It’s just basic editing. I load my pictures to iphoto to crop and edit them before they come on the blog. I love my mac! but I’d love a fun fancy program to add words in a breeze. Know of one?
Thanks yall for your feedback! Oh, and Roxanne, my yard shells line my walkway too.;)
Dear Pamalea
Might I recommend the Olympus waterproof camera for you! I love mine-:)
Love ya
LuAnn-:)
This post has made me feel so much better about not finding much in the way of shells this trip! Last June during my family’s first visit I feel like I could find something interesting with every glance. This time, lots of calico scallops, and nothing but live guys at the lighthouse (including the cutest tiny tulip and tiny shark’s eye with hermit crabs inside). The one saving grace is a mini sand dollar that I found on West Gulf on Monday, and the amazing double rainbow yesterday morning (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5979142015/).
Congrats on the camera! My whole family enjoys your blog; the boys and I recently had a great time watching your stingray video. :o)
See I think I found your problem. Clark is doing the shelling and you’re taking all the pictures. Now that’s Clark’s met his quota it’s time he starts getting behind the lens!!!!
PS–the pictures are beautiful.
Great pix Pam… it’s such a great break in my day to take a peek at your website. Thanks again for keeping us posted on the goings on in your neck of paradise. :)
Awesome pictures, Pam… quiet & peaceful… love it!!!!! Have fun with your new camera {and show us more FUNtastic pics} ;-)
There is nothing Better than a Florida thunderstorm,the sounds, the clouds before the sky opens up, the feeling of the rain (if your somewhere safe of course) “Natures air conditioning” at its Best!! Ohhh… how I miss florida…:(
Pam, I bought my Panasonic DMC-ZS6 at Costco this past winter, and I’m very happy with it. Your pics are wonderful!!!!
When/if this camera bites the dust(or sand in your case) try the Olympus Tough. It is water resistant & drop resistant. I took all of my Sanibel pics with them & it lasted 2 years being banged up & abused at the beach by my family.