Finally! Shells! I haven’t found piles of shells on Sanibel the last several days but they were sure rolling in last night at Lighthouse Beach. Benjamin and Anja from Germany can attest to that…
These were just some of the gorgeous shells they found…
Clark found most of the shells in the top photo but I think he was most excited about a double BUTTERCUP…
The low tide was at sunset so I didn’t have much light to take a photo but it really is the prettiest BUTTERCUP we’ve ever seen…
This next photo will show you exactly where we were to find these beauties. Oh, and notice my new OLIVE bracelet? I made one for all of us for Shellabaloo last week – I missed my last one. If you want to make one, I made a video a while back on how to do it- CLICK HERE
A few nights ago, we went to Captiva and met avid shellers Brian and Candi from Newport News, Virginia as they were looking for KITTENS PAWS and CALICO CLAMS. We talked about our old stomping grounds in Virginia and shared fun stories about some of the other places in the world we both have been shelling… like Turks and Caicos.
Also this past week, we saw Russ and Jill from Wisconsin again on a Captiva Cruise to Cayo Costa.
Russ found such a cool piece of WORM ROCK which is a colony of VARIABLE WORM SNAIL. Love this!
Sophia, Vincent and Andrew from New Jersey took advantage of the crystal clear water of Cayo Costa to snorkel for some amazing shells.
I’m sure tonight will be about the same shelling at the Lighthouse for low tide so if you are any where close to Sanibel, check it out and find some goodies!
Love that tiny, blood red Tulip! And a nice Calico Crab shell. Anytime I find one to keep, it seems like they dry out and crack apart. I’ve only ever made it home with one. Any ideas?
PS, just 4wks til we’re Sanibel bound! :D
That worm rock is really cool. Do you find much sea glass at all on Sanibel?
On Sanibel it seems to me that there are little bits of sea glass that you can find, here and there, every once in a while, but not very much of it. If you look on the list of topics here on Pam’s blog, down the left side of this page, you will see there are three posts that mention “Sea glass” and at least one of them shows sea glass from Sanibel.
Thanks Susan. I will go check it out.
Awesome shells from last night. Think there will be any left this evening?!
20 hour drive but if I leave now wishful thinking
Oh how y’all are sooo very lucky!! I am SOO thrilled we will be coming down to Captiva for the 1st 2 wks of Aug again . Sanibel/Captiva islands are without a doubt my happy place!
I’ve been meaning to ask whereClark got his “shelling, sifter, basket thingy” I know, very official name. Two years ago I got one from the beach shop that is on the left hand side as you are going to South Seas . Your hubby’s looks so much sturdier . Definitely ! Especially the way the handle is shaped and such. I don’t recall seeing them at Yolo like his either. So if you have any ideas were I could get one like his….I’d love to know! Thanks and 3 months until we will be on our way!!
Hi Kelly, those were hard to get for a few years but I know the Whitney’s bait n tackle ordered that heavy duty one gain but not sure if it’s in
Love all the shells-Clark’s double buttercup(great color), worm rock, and all the banded tulips! Hope the shells keep rolling in. Pat
I am so jealous of that beautiful clear water and warmth at Cayo Costa… do you remember that you had on your long winter coat and boots when we went in Jan? Still found great shells, but sheesh it was cold!!
Wowie, nice pickings! Never saw a whole buttercup with both valves attached before, that must have been super fresh. It looks really nice! Well done Super Sheller Clark! :)
Gorgeous shells! When I was there in February and March all that seemed to be coming in were minis. And one day, a headless alligator carcass that looked and smelled like it had been in the water a very long time. Sanibel never ceases to amaze me.
A headless alligator carcass?! Scary! How did that come to shore? I thought alligators weren’t in the ocean. Only in brackish water? Crazy…
Sherri from MN
The consensus of all the beachgoers and shellers that gathered around is that it probably came from the bay and his head was eaten by fish, or maybe was hit by a motor boat. The rest of his body was in really horrible condition. He had been in the water for awhile.
so weird! haven’t sent that before.
I guess when it rains hard, certain things can wash into the ocean from freshwater and brackish water areas.
Wow! The shells look great! I will be there in 5 1/2 weeks for a girls trip with 3 friends. We can’t wait to get there!
Love the double buttercup and mostly white tulip. Congrats!
Oh we left too soon!
We went to Lighthouse Beach last night (1May) and had so much fun catching amazing finds in our handy dandy blue scoops. Had to inspect the shells carefully because there were lots of live critters. Fun watching the Olives make their drunken paths in the sand. And so many bubbles.
Wonderful pictures! Adorable picture of you and Clark, Pam! Cutest couple on Sanibel!! Sherri from MN
I saw this post last night (May 1) and hubby and I got into the car and drove to the Lighthouse. I got some shells but I thought there would have been a bigger variety (I’m spoiled from our last visit!) I found severeal Murex and Tulips and even a few minis. I couldn’t see taking what I didn’t need so I started giving away my duplicates to others. I think that’s more fun!
Today I went to Blind Pass the water was so rough!
Terry, thats what we saw to start… murexes, conchs and tulips, then the more we shelled, the more we found. But we feel the same way! Its almost more fun to give shells away to folks that haven’t found them before. How many do we really need? This may be there one and only time to Sanibel- share the shell wealth! xoxo
well it hit me yesterday that i hadn’t had a iloveshelling email in a while…went on line and saw that i hadn’t had one since the easter scallops…still subscribed so don’t know why i am not receiving any….will be going into SHELL SHOCK if this situation isn’t remedied!!!!!
omg judy, i will check on why you stopped getting your emails. yikes!
i am hoping i fixed the prob lem mo..
We were just there – checked your website everyday – left yesterday
– I could cry :-(
I know, Justine. I wanted my Shellabaloo folks to see this too but Mother Nature has the upper hand and thats why when the larger shells aren’t coming in, we look for the minis. It opens up a whole other world they never saw before. Just as I told them, we have to enjoy whats in front of us and not be sad what we missed. It was a GORGEOUS week! How could we be upset?
We found many beautiful shells and Sunday was
My mini day – I just kept finding minis of so many
Shells !!! But watching your site for months I was
Really looking forward to the kind of shelling
that you post . I quickly got over it until I saw what came
In the eve of May 1 after we left ! But the weather
Was perfect and we saw many beautiful sunsets
And a gorgeous sunrise with the crescent moon and
Venus . Many good memories !
oh I’m so happy to hear that Justine! I always feel so badly if people are disappointed with their finds- ack! so THANK YOU for responding again and I’m VERY happy you did find the minis and some other wonderful things for great memories. xoxo
Left May 1st at 5 pm :-(
Oh rainy day today! Any suggestions where to look today?