After my seeing so many fab shells wash up over the weekend, I couldn’t wait to see what was at Blind Pass since that has always been my go-to beach after north winds. But…. I didn’t find much there. Okay fine, Mother Nature- You’ve changed your habits again so I’ll go back to GSCP. Yep, still shells (but loads of those SEA SQUIRTS too unfortunately). Thats my new fave beach any way!
Sue from Ohio didn’t mind sifting through all of the SEA SQUIRTS and other TUNICATES because she found so many beautiful shells and treasures to make her very happy. The first photo shows just some of her best loot…. SHARKS EYES!
Amy always seems to be on Sanibel when the shells come in… or maybe she bring the good luck with her. It was good to see you again Amy and thanks for bringing good luck!
See what I mean? Beautishells! After I took this photo of her SHARK EYE, ALPHABET CONE, KINGS CROWN, PEAR WHELKS, MUREXES and TULIPS… she found another ALPHIE (or was it 2 more alphies?) and so many more gorgeous treasures.
Cybill, You were so much fun to shell with! Your laugh is contagious and congratshellations on you brilliant FLORIDA CONE.
Mellyn (Chicago) told me all she wanted to find is a SHARKS EYE. Ten minutes later… Yay! A beautiful SHARKS EYE MOON SHELL.
As soon as I got on to GSCP, I ran into Terri and Aleece (Alabama). They started my shelling excitement by spreading the joy of their finds and picking through their finds to show me what they had just found in a matter a minutes.
Just to name a few of the shells, Aleece found a golden PEAR WHELK, a TURKEY WING with a pattern to die for, so many different variations and pattern of CONCHS and a perfectly sweet NUTMEG.
But I have to warn you now that its been a few days since this pile of BEACH BLING has been on washed up on the shores (not just GSCP but all along Sanibel)… it’s not smelling so good. The birds take this as the smell of a feast! They are chowing on this salad bar of sun baked SEA WEEDS, MOLLUSKS, TUNICATES and ECHINODERMS. The true shellers are ignoring these odors to plow through all of the smelly bling to find amazing hidden treasures.
Dont forget! This is the last day to register for your chance to win an amazing 5 NIGHTS at Island Inn Sanibel. What? You didn’t hear this yet? Well don’t wait a other minute because you only have until the end of today November 5, 2014 to enter by CLICKING HERE.
The shells are always so pretty no matter how many times you see them.
Lots of shells at Gulf Side City Park this morning. I also expected them to be coming in further west, but GSCP is the place to be. Pam, did you find any of the Lateral Mussels? Lots of them are now on the beach.
Yes MK! Hundreds of them. I brought a few home in september to research them but just didnt get a chance to blog about them. I think most of them live several days inside the tunicates on the beach so they relate to some the odor problems after the suns start to bake the tunicates on the beach. They are tiny but carry a big “stinch”.
Pam, seeing that you are a long time resident on Sanibel, I would love to hear your opinions on this November 3 article from the Huffington Post. I’ve heard so many different things about the fresh water release, even whether or not it was actually taking place….
I love the island, and I do know that you can’t judge water quality from it’s relative clarity or murkiness. Sometimes the clearest water is the “deadest” water. Thanks!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/tunicates-and-drones_b_6089994.html
Hi Olga, as much as I’d like to get on my soap box about the releases from Lake O, my blog is my (our) happily place and there is no room for negativity or assumption. There are sooooo many other forums that continually talk about those subjects, but I have promised myself I will not make this just one more place to complain. I want our water to be healthy and We feel like we do our part as shellers and beach combers here by learning about the gulf and its creatures but we all need to learn the other aspects on our own or through other sources. SCCF is a great source and experts in that field. I encourage you to look at the facts on their website about our water. Thank you so much for valuing my opinion but it’s much more complicated than I can explain. The facts and data are way more informative than my little ol’ opinion. :)
Thanks Pam!
You are right of course. Your site has often been our “pick me up” during the cold and dreary weather. I will never forget our Captiva Cruises shelling trip with you last December. You showed me a baby’s ear, which I had never seen before, and my hubby found one on the wrack line just a little while later!
Hope to see you again for another Cruise!
I was back and forth all day today. GSCP this afternoon stunk so bad, I couldn’t stand it..Nothing special washing in to keep me there. Blind Pass (both sides) was pretty barren at PM low tide. I settled in for some beach combing between beach access #4 & #7, and my trusty scoop brought in a few nice; lightening whelks + tulips. I also dug up 5 alphabet cones, so it was a good day for me.. I’ll repeat this though. GSCP was murky, terribly foul smelling, and kind of a waste for me today.. (When it’s good I love it, but this day, I’d give it a pass.) On the bright side, it was pretty crowded with ILS followers..lol (One tourist saw my ILS tee shirt and asked me “what is all that awfully smelly stuff that looks like dog poop everywhere. How can you possibly stay here for more than a minute?..) I had to admit, that even a die hard sheller, can only take so much.. Wonder how she’ll fare with the noseeums that are still relentless at dawn and dusk.. Happy shelling folks..
as a rookie who’s only been to Sanibel 2x, how do most of you deal with the noseeums??
Oh those noseeums! Sometimes there are none, sometimes there are lots! These are my extreme suggestions, Erin, from the last time both my hubster and I reacted badly to the bites. It only happened once out of probably a dozen visits.
We start taking a 24 hour non-drowsy antihistamine as soon as we see that this particular visit to Sanibel is going to be a “bitey” one.
Keep in mind, I am a pretty hard core sheller and beach walker, and will go out there protected and happy, rather than itchy and fashionable! ;-D. When we go on the beach at sunrise or sunset, we keep our limbs covered. Even if you are just wearing loose weaved cotton, such as a gauzy material, it will still keep them off.
I make sure that I have socks to protect my feet as well, and tuck the pants into the socks. (I know, it’s quite the sight!). If I plan on going in the water, I will yes, wear water shoes with the socks! Don’t forget to cover arms as well, as you bend over to pick up shells, those tiny bugs will jump up to bite.
If we are just going for a sunrise/sunset walk, we have found that we get fewer bites if we walk close to the water, rather than on the dry sand.
For a repellent, if we decide we want to skip the long pants and sleeves, we have found we get the best results with the oily ones, such as the “skin so soft” types. And you need to be generous, as I think it’s the oily barrier that keeps them from biting.
If we do get some bites, we have had the best anti-itch results with antihistamine or hydrocortisone creams or ointments.
These are just things we have learned through advice from others and trial and error. There are have also been some great threads about this topic on the Sanibel Island FB group
Happy itch free shelling!
Wow! Thanks so much for all of that great advice!!! I got over 140 noseeum bites once, and it was NOT FUN. Thanks to your knowledge, I will never go through that again! You just proved my theory; most shellers are awesome people.
Lydia, you are so funny, that you counted them all! We took photos…… Not pretty! LOL
Erin, The bugs really love me. Like Olga, I have found that the ‘skin so soft’ repellant works great. Good luck.
Kathy, at times like that, I’ve sometimes thought about wearing one of those small dust masks. I wonder if it would help?
thanks for the advice! I gotta shell when there, so the bugs won’t stop me now!
I am so excited to get shelling that I’m doing it in my sleep. I know that’s crazy but I would rather shell than golf, than gamble,than play games on the computer,than go to the flea market,than play cards, I must be sick or something but I love it that much. see you in January and thanx for another great post sincerely r.g. stein from cold and dreary ohio
Oh I hope this keeps up! We get there on Tuesday!
It’s been since last October that I had the opportunity to shell in the Sanibel area. Loving your website – so much information and lots of pictures to make me almost feel like I’m there. I have decorated my bathroom in shells from all my shelling expeditions and people ask “you have enough shells?” and I reply “you can never have too many shells.” Enjoy sunny Sanibel, as our Illinois weather is turning cold. Thankful for your site to help make my winters a little warmer.
Sending warm sandy, shell filled wishes to you Judy and a big thank you for your note.
Pam, I have been trying to enter for the Island Inn giveaway but can’t get entry form on phone or computer. Sorry to bother you but no info on how to enter.Just official rules. I did send an email to them. Not sure if that counts.
As for the beach bling I did find lots of urchins
And sea whips. The odor was strong but the finds were worth it.
Sunshine from me 2 U……. Cynde.
Loved the gorgeous Florida cone.the large Kings crown,bright alphabet cone&the various conch patterns(found a knobless one last Sept)!Pretty sure those Sea Squirts wouldn`t stop me from having a ball digging thru all the bling!I love seeing all the deeper colors in the cones&conchs..everyone enjoy congrats!
It stunk and I kept on shelling. My 12 year old was right
beside me. He found Chestnut turbans true tulips
Orange horse conchs no one home Florida cones
King Crown Nutmegs Lace Murex, Small Whelks
we had a good day!!!
The shells are still at Gulfside City Park and thank you Pam for the heads up on the shells. It stinks to high Heaven there but found a beautiful sharks eye and some baby horse conchs, murex and nutmegs. Lots of coquinas with very pretty colors.
Great finds Amy! Lovin the kings crown especially.
Have you picked a winner yet? I’m dying to see if I won!!!
Pam, I’m wondering why there are so many shells with dead creatures in them at Gulfside City Beach. Was the stormy weather responsible? Was sad :-(. At Blind Pass and the Lighthouse Beach we didn’t notice any shells at all with dead creatures. I know there is a red tide bloom but it doesn’t appear to be affecting Sanibel from what I could research.
I think by now the winner would of been notified yesterday on the 6th, it wasn’t me. Whoever it is I hope it’s someone who’s never been there before and not someone who goes every year. Sorry that’s how I feel.
I think by now the winner would of been notified yesterday on the 6th, it wasn’t me. Whoever it is I hope it’s someone who’s never been there before and not someone who goes every year. Sorry that’s how I feel. Whomever won enjoy !!!
I think they would of notified the winner yesterday on the 6th.
Who won? It wasn’t me.
Hi Pam
I just wanted to tell you how great it was to finally meet you! The shelling earlier this week was shelltacular!!
It was wonderful to have your wealth of knowledge right there. I am going to speak for the Northern followers, please keep doing what you do. You keep us going in the long, cold winter months. ;)