As I walked onto the sand of Blind Pass Captiva towards the Gulf Of Mexico yesterday, I didn’t see much of a shell pile forming on the beach. But I did see Rena (Fort Myers) in the water about knee deep with her shelling backhoe filling up her bag. It was so much fun to see such much beautiful CORAL in her bag then she showed me her two FLORIDA CONES, GIANT BITTERSWEET and that sweet little orange candy.
There was one small string of shells that had come in at the high tide, that most of the shellers were picking through to find a treasure or two. Since this was on Captiva, you could say they were doing the Captiva Crouch instead of The Sanibel Stoop…. Oh yes… that would be a crouch!
After lots of people had already picked through this wrack line, Jay still found an amazing treasure. A perfect SCOTCH BONNET! Shellzam!
Brenda and Jay from St Louis were already happy with all of the other shells that they had found so the SCOTCH BONNET was just icing on the cake.
He was so surprised that it was in perfect condition with such great color just sitting in that shell line. You just never know!
Jamie from Ft Lauderdale was doing double time. After he threw out a fishing rod to catch a few fish, he couldn’t help but catch a few shells as well.
Beautiful OLIVES and CONCHS but I couldn’t take my eye off that gorgeous ROUGH SCALLOP right below the bucket.
Around 11am I felt so lucky to find a CARRIER SHELL! This is how I saw it….
I had to leave the beach around noon but came back to Blind Pass Captiva around 3:30pm just to see what the low tide had exposed. The beach hadn’t changed that much (actually, it looked pretty picked over by then) and didn’t see lots of shells in the water like the high tide had shown… BUT …. I saw another CARRIER SHELL! I may have missed it earlier since I don’t think the tide had brought in more shells after I left but this is exactly what it looked like sitting with the other shell. Click on this next photo. Would you have noticed it?
This is what it looks like from the side view. See how it collects other shell fragments and CORAL to cement them to its shell?
Here is another view of the one I found in the morning. I love that this shell is a shell collector too like us!
I love to find unusual shells so I was thrilled with my treasures. Other than the CARRIER SHELLS, I didn’t find many whole UNIVALVES like WHELKS or TULIPS in that line of shells but I did find a piece of a LIONS PAW and a piece of JUNONIA and some awesome CALICO SCALLOPS and CORAL.
The other shell above the piece of CORAL in my last photo is a FROND OYSTER. I wouldn’t say it was a rare shell, but I don’t find many of them in good condition like this one. I know, it’s not so pretty (like the CARRIER SHELL) but I gotta tell ya, these things make me so happy when I find them. It’s all about the little things in life.
Have a great weekend!
Wow, what a nice Bittersweet, so big! Not to mention that Carrier shell and that gorgeous Scotch Bonnet.
Nice day for shelling. Miss being on Sanibel in November.
But, any day is a nice day for shelling.
That bittersweet is sweet. I would love to find a huge bittersweet. I’ve only found two little ones, ever! Cool coral, too.
What fabulous finds! The giant bittersweet, scotch bonnet and 2 carrier shells.
I wonder if I found a frond oyster and put it with my kittens paws. They look like they’re from the same family. Have fun shelling-wish I was there.
Pat
Jay’s scotch bonnet is crazy gorgeous, what a score!
Oh my gosh just love the Scotch Bonnet.
Oooooooooo! Some really great finds!!! :)
Never found a scotch bonnet! On my bucket list! And flat scallop – used to find them a lot in Naples when I was younger, but never found one on Sanibel. Shellabaloo here I come!
What do you think is a good time to stay for 3 days ? begginning of Dec.
I would love to find each and everyone of those shells! Must admit, I’ve become particularly fond of the carrier shells. In the past year I’ve found two small ones at the Light House, and in each case they were upside down as yours was. It makes me wonder if I’ve seen them in the past and just didn’t recognize them. Thanks to your posts Pam, I’m recognizing more and more shells. I cringe at what I missed in the 25 years before ILoveShelling!
Scotch bonnet…NICE. I am sad that since we are in the process of moving that all my shells are packed up so i cant see them…cannot wait to unpack them all, its gonna feel like Christmas!!!
Just got my issue of Coastal Living and a good two page spread on Sanibel. Was hoping to see you, but they missed mentioning one of the real treasures of Sanibel…!
Outstanding shells! Congrats! Thanks for pointing out the truly gorgeous little rough scallop which I overlooked the first time checking out the photos. Zoom in on that photo for a closer look, y’all! Cyber shelling is so much fun. I hope all the shellers have a great treasure hunt this weekend.
Your last comment tells the entire story of the reason I love to collect shells: “These things make me so happy when I find them”.
WOAH!!! SCOTCH BONNETT! WHAT NOW! No seriously, great find!
Just got back home from a retreat at the Jersey Shore this weekend. Usually take a beach walk to pray and look for “gifts” from the sea. The beach is still in a reconstruction status, due to the destruction of the hurricane last year, not only for the retreat house, but the all the township beaches as well.
This taught me to focus on the “now” and what is “Gift” in the present situation.
Shelling and the changes in all beaches every day had prepared me for not being disappointed in not getting “on” the beach, but just being close to it and seeing God’s presence.
Thank you, Pam, for your insight and inspiration daily.
Oh thank you sweet Cindy for such a wonderful note! <3 <3 <3
What fabulous finds! I’ve never found such a large bittersweet and the scotch bonnet is gorgeous! I guess it’s all in the timing!….Lucky ducks!
OMGoodness!!! I love that huge bittersweet and the scotch bonnet is amazing!! Congrats on your carrier shells. Not sure I’ve ever noticed one of those before. Gonna have to keep a closer eye out for them in the future. ;-)