We have been so fortunate to have had absolutely gorgeous, unseasonably warm weather for weeks on end now. Yes, it’s usually “shorts” weather in SouthWest Florida in January most years but we’ve had “shorts-n-bathing suit” weather here lately. So a walk on the beach ends up turning into a dip in the water to cool off. It’s soooo nice! What could make that sound even better? Shells! There are still shells rolling up at Blind Pass… but it seems like they are on the Sanibel side now. Both Clark and I found the shells in the top photo but I have to admit Clark found the “ALPHIE” and the awesome brown LACE MUREX…
It looked perfectly clean when I got home so I quickly snapped these photos without giving it another thought. Hmmmm. Now I wish I had spent some time to clean it up since the sand shows up so much…. but just look beyond that. It’s beauuuteeeful! We don’t find the brown “LACIES” very often.
We met Lido from Orlando (he’s an actor!) having a great time filling his pockets with some excellent shells…
He found an ALPHABET CONE aaaand a FLORIDA CONE! Not so bad, right? He found that unusual color of CALICO SCALLOP as well…. so I have to admit… I spied it with all of his other shells (FIGHTING CONCHS, WHELKS etc) and liked it so much I’m the one who chose it to put in his picture with his 2 favorites. I get so tickled when I see someone else get so intrigued by the different color variations of those SCALLOPS!
Soul Sister Susan found a COLORFUL MOON shell!
Her favorites of the day were of course the spectacular MOON but she also found a double ROSE PETAL TELLIN too (top right on her hand).
Take a look at this PURPLISH SEMELE that Rosalie from Michigan found.
Not so “purplish”, right?
We find more of these shells up at Cayo Costa but she found this orangish PURPLISH right in front of the Island Inn.
The inside of that shell reminds me of something but I can’t think of what it is…. hmmmmm…… maybe it will come to me soon.
Don’t forget to reserve your spot on a shelling cruise with me! If you missed it on my last post, here’s the info…
These are the dates for the iLoveShelling ShellingAdventure!
- February 17- morning cruise from 9am-12 (Sunday)
- March 16- morning cruise from 9am-12 (Saturday)
- April 13 – Morning cruise from 9am-12 (Saturday)
- May 19- afternoon cruise from 1pm-4 (Sunday)
Call Captiva Cruises for reservations at 239-472-5300 and tell them you want to join the iLoveShelling group on one of these dates!
For more information about reservations CLICK HERE
Yippee! Can you believe it? Tickets are only $50 for this shellacious get together so book soon to save your spot on one of the iLoveShelling ShellingAdventures to Cayo Costa! Come join me!
;) Always fun seeing what’s coming in!
love the beautiful shells!!! Thanks, Pam!
Hi Pam! My family and I are avid readers of your blog. We used your helpful tips to shell in Sanibel last August. We managed to bring 40 pounds of lovely shells from Sanibel (Bowman’s Beach is our favorite), Juno beach, and Pompano Beach back home in Chicago. Before we left we probably gave away or put back 10 pounds of turkey wings and olives. There is so much that we are having trouble displaying it all! We are coming back again early in August and we hope you have another shelling event around that time. There’s still so many shells we haven’t found like the colorful moon shell, angel wing, wentletrap, alphabet cone, and of course a junonia too!
Amanda, Yall might be in luck! We may be having another Shellabaloo the end of August but the plans are still in the works. As soon as I know the dates, I will post! :)
My brother and I will be back in college by late August. Hope the dates work out in our favor. Glad to hear another Shellabaloo is in the works : )
Thanks for making so many opportunities for all us shellers to get together!!
Darn, Pam… we’ll just miss the May 19th cruise! We leave on the 18th after a week on Sanibel. Maybe this year I’ll catch you on the beach somewhere! ;)
Wow, what a great orange-colored purplish semele! really nice! Well done Rosalie! Not to mention the brown lace murex that Clark found! Well done to Super Sheller Clark too!
Ah Pam, I meant to ask you, do you (or anyone else) find the real sundial shell on Sanibel? Because it’s not on Jose’s BMSM list for SWFL… So, if people find one they should take it in to show Jose.
I’ve wondered the same thing myself…I have found a smaller shell that I call a sundial but it in no way resembles the pictures of the real sundial. Also – what is BMSM and who is Jose?
Thanks.
LInda, BMSM is the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel and Jose is Dr. Jose Leal the director of the museum. If you ever get the chance to go it’s worth it!
Hey Susan… I have found sundials. I’m pretty sure they are sundials and not buttons. Do you look at the facebook page ever? I can post a picture of them there. :)
Sure Leah, thanks! Go ahead and post an image there. I can look at the page there, but I will reply here, as I am not on Facebook.
Hey Leah, when I say “here” I should say on whatever is the most recent of Pam’s blog posts. If you post a quick message on the most recent one to let me know your image is up on Facebook, then I will tell you what I think your shell is. :)
Sorry it’s taken me a while to get the picture out there on ILS FB page… I sometimes forget what I say I’m going to do. I will post it today when I get home.
Posted!
Always love seeing the horsie candies!!
Wow Pam,
I learn something new always: didn’t know there were BROWN lace murex! So pretty! And can you send some of that warm weather up to New England?? Please!!
Happy Shelling everyone,
Mar Ann
East Granby. CT
Hey Pam, that turrid you found looks a bit different? Is it a turrid? It has a line down it…
Susan, yes, it’s a turrid but I think it was injured at some point but I’ll go back and look at it again to have a look-see.
There’s a bunch of good ones there ! I like the top pic the best
The lace murex has always been one of my favorites! I don’t know if I have a brown one though… . Sounds like another good reason to get back to Sanibel!
Your website is wonderful! Thank you!
I have wanted to go to Sanibel ever since I was a child in the early 1950s finding shells on Ponte Vedra Beach. I finally will be there, on January 28 at the Island Inn for four nights. I am so excited and looking forward to lots of beautiful shells.
Congratulations Carol! We are all excited for you, have a great time!!
At castaways…weather turned cold and windy, no pam sighting yet, although did talk with Randy White, the author, after he paddle board in the waters. Hope to have good shelling if winds calm down.
Joan, winds tend to bring shells, especially if they are from the W or NW. Today or tomorrow should be good. Keep us updated.
Katherine…..you are correct. Shells all over the place…blind pass. My husband walked north from Bowmans Beach to Castaways and he came upon beautiful empty Florida state shell, horse conch !! Now we are eatting at Doc Fords, might see Randy White paddle boarding later !!!
P.s. calamari salad at Doc Fords……Awesome !
Absolutely love that last shot. And the brown murex.
Bum-mer! We’ll be there end of March until April 13th. I’ll miss your charter by one day. Next time with luck. Happy to see that you’re having these excursions!
Re your 1-18 post, my ears hurt just thinking about being on the windy beach at 45 degrees. Brrrrrr. That is dedication to the hunt. :)