Combing the beach as the sun sets over the Sanibel fishing pier reminds us why we love our home.
After getting back from Grand Bahama Island, we couldn’t wait to breathe in our own beach. We were greeted by a beautiful view of our lighthouse with an OSPREY keeping close to watch over it.
This majestic creature posed for me long enough to let me snap this photo…
Mr HERMIT CRAB came out of his LIGHTNING WHELK home to say “Hi!”.
We saw many beautiful and empty shells on our own beach of Sanibel but didn’t collect any since we had already collected so many CARIBBEAN SHELLS from the Bahamas which still needed to be cleaned. Now I’m done! These are the shells we found within 2 days shelling the east end of the island and going on our boating adventure with Joel (I’ve now learned he spells his name Joel but pronounced Joe-L like I wrote in my last post). We always love to find so many different species like this.
Here’s a close up of some of shells and BEACH BLING. Gorgeous, right? One day, oh… one day, I will identify all of these on one post but until then, I have other posts with identification of most of them on our other shelling trips in the Caribbean –CLICK HERE.
And BTW… Happy Mothers Day to my sweet mom and all of you wonderful mothers out there! My kitties have been as sweet as pie to me today so thank you for a wonderful day my beautiful Dustie…
And thank you to my baby boy RustBucket (his newest name is PuppyCat- he fetches!)… even though I busted you eating my plants today.
Beeeeautiful Shells Pam!! Thanks for sharing :)
Hey Pam, visiting Sanibel for only the second time this week from northeast Ohio. We see a world of difference on the beaches this year. We are waiting to hear where the shell pile is next. Please keep us posted.
Yep, the beaches changes every single day, not just every year. We found plenty of minis and midis at the lighthouse. Thats the only place we’ve been since returning but you should explore the whole island for your treasure hunt… in and out of the water. Good luck and have fun in your adventure!
I think we must have had an exceptional visit last year. Shells were plentiful and of all varieties. We are not complaining just looking to the expert for some advise. We love our time here on Sanibel!
Since you wrote, I’ve heard other people say the same thing- the beaches have been quiet and not as many shells. ack! well, thats when I start collecting the arks and kittens paws and broken shells for making crafts. It happens and Im sorry to hear its happening now- seems like we’ve had lots of east winds and they will continue for a few days. Ive been out of the loop and won’t get to “hunt” for another day or so like my usual beach run. so if you find anything, let us know!? :)
Gorgeous sunset pictures. Love also the hermit crab, osprey and of course your kitty ones. Always nice to see new shells from a different area. I know some people are disappointed when they don’t find the big shells, but the minis are special too. Some shells only come in small. Glad you had a great trip. Pat
It’s always fun to go somewhere, but I can tell you miss your kitty babies as much as I do when I’m gone. I’m glad they made your day as special as you are!
Lynn,
Your words echo my thoughts so perfectly !!
Pam sure does enrich all that she encounters….
I LOVE SHELLING, KITTIES AND FELLOW SHELLERS’ COMMENTS EVEN MORE THAN I IMAGINED BECAUSE OF PAM & CLARK :)
Shellotte
Some great shells! I think I can tell what most of them are. I see you found a few cherry jewel boxes, and also I think I see a juvenile great tellin (remember the full-sized valve that you found at Lighthouse after a storm?). All kinds of other great stuff too — I love it that you like the limpets and all the plainer things as well as the prettiest shells. :)
Oh Susan H yes! We knew it was a tellin but different from any others we have found. I didn’t have time to research it yet. Ha! a juvie great tellin both sides-I’ll check it with the big book tonight. thank you so much!
Well I can’t be certain that it’s a juvenile Great Tellin, but it seems to me that it does rather look like that in your photo — let me know what you think after you have checked the books. :)
So glad to get this post on the same day you posted it! Planning to be at the Lighthouse tomorrow evening for low tide. Even if the shelling isn’t great, maybe there will be some nice beach bling. Any time you’re on a beach is a good time!
So happy for you and Clark and your amazing finds in the Bahamas, hope Hubby and I get there one day!!
Do you have a shelling cruise coming up end of June-beginning July? Jess and Brad will be coming down and we want to go out with you guys again!! June 6th is the latest you show!
I would be happy to come home to if I lived on on Sanibel. I bet those lovely cats were happy to welcome you home too. :)
Oh Pam, I’m sure your babies missed you!! Thx for sharing those shells, just wonderful!!!! Welcome back!
Mary Ann
East Granby. CT
We were at Sanibel all weekend and had the same trouble with the shells…just not a lot out there this past weekend. We did have a GREAT time hunting though and even had Bowman’s Beach ALL to ourselves starting at about 4:45AM Sunday morning and until the sun started coming up!! We did find some cool stuff and had an amazing time for our first trip to Sanibel…we will definitely be back!! :)
Heather Damon
South Hutchinson Island, FL
I saw you at the lighthouse tonight and really wanted to meet you. I didn’t approach you because I figured you wanted to spend some shelling time without people coming up to you that you don’t know.
I also wanted to show you a picture on my phone of a shell I found today. It’s a really nice and spiky Cabrits Murex that I found halfway down from Blind Pass to Bowman’s Beach.
Maybe if we happen to pass each other this week I can show it to you then :)
Oh Jodi- I can’t believe you didn’t come say Hi! I would have loved to see your shell- a cabarets murex? wow! hopefully i’ll see you again, and you’ll stop me.
I’ll come up to you next time, thank you, lol!
Your shells from the Caribbean are amazing, Pam! We arrived on Sanibel Saturday, and yes, shells seem to be much more sparse than usual. With some rain moving in through the rest of the week, it seems (boo!), I hope we’ll still have more chances for treasure hunting.
We were out at the Lighthouse beach yesterday evening for low tide, must have missed you (and Jodi)! I keep telling the husband we’ll run into the “shelling lady” one day. Found a few great ones there, but mostly just loved looking at all the live guys. ;)
Rain can be good, Heather! Hopefully that “bad weather” will throw some good shells up!
Hi Pam!
I have been following your blog since we booked our trip to Sanibel. We will be there the week of June 9th! Soooooo excited! Maybe I will see you on the beach!
Question: where can I purchase a shelling scoop on the island? I have my mesh bags, but not the scoop since we are flying!
Thanks for the awesome videos and shelling tips!
Angela
Pam,
You live my dream! Following you since Oct 2013. Only been to Sanibel twice, but it is heaven on Earth! And the fetching cat is almost as pretty as the shells. Next to shells and Mickey Mouse, cats rate 3rd. Hope to meet you someday!
Michelle
Northern NJ
Are those in the picture your cats?