My favorite time to shell is in the warm evenings when the receding low tide seems to expose a mile of undiscovered beach…
Whichever way you walk, you know will be the right way…
When treasures are half buried but you see just enough of a clue to know you’ve found something special…
When there are live creatures trying to camouflage themselves until they can make it back under the sand like this tiny baby SAND DOLLAR…
When the sky glows like a bon fire just before the sun sinks behind the horizon.
There were quite a few shells half buried all along the Lighthouse Beach (like the NUTMEG) but if you walk west on the gulf side this week in the evening you will see oodles of live FIGHTING CONCHS, STARFISH and other amazing creatures… oh and some treasures like the empty LIGHTNING WHELK as well. It’s just a beautiful site to see. I’ve heard that Bowmans Beach and Blind Pass have some great shells right now so if you are around Southwest Florida, you should get out on one of the beaches this afternoon/evening. It’s a site to behold.
And we have a little bit of SHELLEBRATING to do too! The iLoveShelling facebook page now has over 5000 fans! Wahhooo! 5000 shellers who love shelling as much as we do! We are in some exshellent company, my friends. Here’s a little shout out to our 5000th shelling friend, Angela Lucas! Thank you Angela and welcome to the world of iLoveShelling! Here’s Angela and her mermaids!
WOW…5000…that’s pretty amazing! Congratulations, Pam!
That’s also an awesome low tide and tonight is a full moon…looks like the shellin’ is gellin’ for y’all lucky enough to be on beautiful Sanibel! Hope you’re going out tonight and takin’ some pics and video to share with those of us “followers” who live vicariously through you and other sistahs! LOL
Happy Hunting!
Thank you so much for this fabulous blog post and low tide shell photos. They are amazing! We are chilling out from the cold in Alaska here in Sanibel and would love to meet up at the lighthouse this evening for the full moon and low tide shelling extravaganza.
Wow – all the way from Alaska! That is really awesome. I’m sure your home state is gorgeous as well. Enjoy and happy shelling!
Now I am wishing we came down a week sooner.
Also wishing that Shellaballoo 2 was a week earlier – we are heading North from Guantanamo Bay Cuba to Sanibel for some super shelling!
Congratulations on 5000 fans! I’m sure word will really start to spread now about your wonderful site! I love this post – you described the perfect shelling experience. We’ve been to Sanibel four times and only once hit a low tide like that. It’s truly awesome. Thanks for sharing Pam!
It took me a few trips to learn–when we start planning for Sanibel, the first thing I look at is the monthly tide chart with the phases of the moon. It doesn’t always work out perfectly, but I try! Does that mean I’ve officially gone over the edge? :-)
Yes, you have gone over the edge – just like the rest of us!!! :D
I’ve always planned my vacations to Sanibel around the tide charts so I’m right there with you. :)
Congrats! More and more people are finding this awesome blog! I can’t imagine such a low tide, amazing! Enjoy
Congratulations Pam on reaching 5000 fans! I can’t begin to tell you how much enjoyment, inspiration, and tranquility your website has brought to me over the years! Nothing like viewing your beautiful photos after a hard day of work, and I’m so longing to get back to Sanibel/Captiva! It’s also great to know I’m not the only shell fanatic out there – I’ve
been seriously collecting them since I was 10 yrs. old.
Wow!! Pam you’re killing me, we won’t be there till next week and the low, low tides are after midnight!!! :(
Congrats on the 5000 likes, I think that is really awesome!! We all depend on you and your updates to bring the Florida sunshine to our days!! You do a wonderful job!!
Cheri, Get a flashlight and drink a double latte – midnight low tide shelling is the best evah!
Our first night on the beach. Lots of live fight
ing conchs and olives, the husband caught a nice mackerel, and there was a great sunset. It’s good to be back.
Pam…thank you so much for making this night the highlight of our trip. We are just leaving the lighthouse and it was an amazing shelling evening. I thought at one point I could actually be shell-blinded! We met up with Karen from Pennsylvania who walked with us to the Lighthouse. The sunset was beautiful .
So pretty. I love the shot of the lighthouse pier. I don’t think I’ve ever been on the beach with a tide that low.
Angela is too cute with her mermaids. I love them!
Happy low tide to all you lucky shelters.
Beautiful post…
I read that throwing shells back in instead of placing them in the water will kill the shells. I wonder if this is true. It seems to me that something that can stand rolling around and banging about in the ocean is not going to be hurt by being tossed far out in the water where it will have a better chance of escape.
What do you think?
We tried to not disturb anything that was alive. The shells I picked to keep we’re in the dry sand on the beach. Most all that were in the tide going out beach area were indeed alive. The Olives and Starfish were plentiful and a treat just to watch move about without disturbing. There were kids placing the starfish back in the water. I would think that the live shells and starfish would survive and go back out with the next incoming tide, many were burrowing under the wet sand .
http://swfloridasurvivalguide.com/home/beaches/beach-wildlife-and-dangers/seashells-etc/
– Do not throw live shells back into the water. The concussion caused by hitting the water will likely kill them. Take the time to wade out past where the waves are breaking against the shore and place them in the water.
Anything in a shell like a fighting conch or small welk I tend to “toss” back into deaper water. But if it is a starfish or sand dollar (or anything not protected by a shell) I “place” back into the water. Hopefully I am not harming the “shelled” creatures. If anyone knows anything different, please let me know.
Crystal and Carol H, You should PLACE all live shells back in the water. If you toss a whelk or a conch into the water it may land on the tip (or apex) of the shell which could dislodge the mollusk from its shell…which would kill it. I always tell people just to remember that it is a living creature and most living creatures have a difficult time surviving being dropped on their head. Hope this helps!
Gorgeous sunset images Pam, especially the fighting conch with pink sky and pink reflection on the wet beach!
Is it true that tossing shells into deeper water will kill them? I am horrified. My aunt used to say that “The Way to Hell is paved with good intentions.” Please someone answer!
Congratulations Pam! I knew it wouldn’t take long to reach 5000. We sure aren’t the small group of shellers that starting following your blog 3-1/2 years ago are we? :)
Your photos and words are as beautiful and calming as ever. Thank you Thank you.
This blog has been such a Godsend for me. I look forward to it all day! Thanks for the great thread about what to do with live creatures.
well, i went out today with my -2.5 tide and certainly did ot find any goodies like yours. i truly think that they float home to you with the tide. can you please send them back to me..i miss them….
janet in az (puerto penasco, mex).
Whoa! -2.5? You seem to find more shells there in Mexico without the low tide. But then… it all depends on the winds currents and what Mother Nature wants to reveal that day, doesn’t it. It’s a mystery!
Leaving on a daytrip to Sanibel in just a little bit – hope we find lots of great shells ! I live about 1 1/2 – 2 hrs. away but it will be worth the drive : )