When the weather on Sanibel and Captiva is in the high 70s and low 80s during the winter months like now, it’s hard not to be outside every minute of the day… so the world slips away. This weekend, Clark and I took a few walks on the beach at Gulfside City Park to find beautiful shells like the ones in my hand. Clark was scooping just at the waters edge with his big metal shelling backhoe to pull up the LACE MUREX (Lacie!) and that very cool HORSE CONCH. We both found more MUREXES, CONCHS and WHELKS but gave them to some nice folks on the beach. And then the fog started rolling in…then out…. then in again. It was wild!Â
I found some beauties on the north end of Captiva at South Seas Island Resort last week too.
Although you can only get to this beach if you are staying at South Seas Resort (or its a very long walk from Alison Hagerup Parking lot in Captiva)… if you are there, look for a nice shelly area near Sunset Beach…
It’s always a treat to find a SAND DOLLAR wash up at your feet.
I found a sweet baby SUNRAY VENUS right near the SAND DOLLAR.
And right next to the SUNRAY VENUS was this pretty little SPECKLED TELLIN. Weehoo!
After so much sand was pumped onto the beaches of Captiva a couple of months ago, some of it is already being claimed back by King Neptune. You can see two different erosion lines…
I could see shells stuck in the side of the erosion ledge so I started pulling a few out. Can you see that AUGER packed into the side?
I also pulled this bad boy out of the “cliff”. A FLAT SCALLOP. Voila!
Sending you warm sandy beach wishes of blue skies and cybershells…
Great shelling! Those are beautiful! Can hardly wait for my visit down there in late June early July!
A “whole” flat scallop! That is on my shell list
Nice shelling! Coming down for the Cayo Costa trip on April 2, Pam! 5 weeks! :)
It’s always a treat spending time “with you” as you happily shell for (and with), all of us. I also want you to know I am really enjoying the composition of your often one-handed photographs. They certainly delight the eye! In fact, our special Valentines for next year will be your Rose Petal Tellin heart note cards discovered in your Art Gallery. Thanks also for the many informative posts this winter. You often have us returning to our shell collection(s) and containers to ID more treasures! Gifts from the sea that keep on giving. Much like you and Clark!
Oh Nancy- you have made my day! You’ve noticed everything that makes me enjoy writing each and every post. I loooooove that u noticed that I take time with those compositions in my hand. Happy happy!
We had a nice weekend, but the cold is coming back. I thought I spotted the speckled tellin in the photo of the single cockle. Love the orange scallops and the flat one. Usually if I pull shells from the cliff they are only arcs. Enjoy your warm sunny weather. Pat
Lovely! Did you get a new camera? It seems your photos look different these days! Beautiful shells! I’m sure you’re getting really good at just keeping the really good ones, but love how you get excited about even the most common shell as they are all a part of the beauty of the beach.
Hi Julie! These pics are from the same Panasonic lumix camera but I think the since the sun Has been soooo bright, my pics have been a little differnt… Or maybe one of my settings got changed. I thought there was a difference too! :)
Dang, we were at South Seas in September and had zero luck with the shells. Now I know where to go there :) But we did hit pay dirt at Blind Pass, in the form of lots of great shells in the water and a bald eagle on the rocks. It literally took off and flew within 20 feet of me. Now that was a Sanibel treat that I’d never had before in all my years of visiting.
Looking forward to being there again mid-March!
Gorgeous orange flat, I am soooooo jealous!
Where are flat scallops usually found? Out in the water…buried in the sand? That is one shell I have yet to find, but am always looking for when I am in Sanibel! Hopefully I’ll find one when I come back in June!!!! I am SO excited ;)
Beautiful finds! Love your adorable sand girl. The hairstyling is great. :-)
Thanks for sharing.
I watch for your Facebook and blog posts all the time. Even though I’m only 46 years old I can’t wait till the day we can retire in Ft Myers and visit Sanibel every day! I love shelling.
I’ve even been working on my wife and suggesting that maybe we should move down there now!!! Sure would be a nice place to spend the next 20 years of my working career!
Thanks for the posts and pictures!
you always find the greatest shells. Can’t wait till April 2. Your humor and special effects are enjoyable. Thanks for helping us through a rough winter. Patti
Pam, you were quite the success during our “sea” story last week! I played the cyber shelling video at the lighthouse beach. My children were amazed! The sound of the wind and the “slosh” of the gulf was incredible. The look on my five year olds who have never been to the beach was pure magic! Thanks so much for your incredible posts that I can incorporate into classroom learning.
Way to go Clark! Nice bright orange Horsie and Lacie – you raked ’em in ;) Very nice flat scallop for Pam!
I LOVE scallops!
Hi Pam and Clark, On the way to Cayo Costa on a very foggy morning we saw what we called a “fog bow”. It was a white rainbow just like the one in your photo. I have talked to a lot of folks in NJ who are on the water in all types of weather and they have never seen one. I guess it is a Southern Florida phenom! Enjoyed seeing your shells per usual. Love Mother Earth Marilyn
I love the first photo in this post,
I’ve just spent wayyyyyy too long reading pages of back blog posts. I just discovered you on my last couple days down here; I was trying to figure out a type of shell. I’m totally loving this site! we’ve some amazing stuff down here and your page has helped me figure out what it all is!