The weather outside is delightful. Our Sanibel Island mornings have been cool and crisp with the afternoons in the 80s- perfect holiday weather to share with peeps visiting from Boston like cutie little sheller Raquel with her dad Jeff, mom Jackie and brother Adam.
They showed me their favorite shells they found near Gulfside City Park beach then named each one since they just learned the shell names from talking with other shellers on the beach.
This is how the beach brings people to together… I had met sweet Beverly (Maine) and her daughter Carolyn (Boston) just a few minutes before meeting Raquel’s family… which they had been ones to share some of the shell names with them. It’s such a close and wonderful shelling community!
Then I saw Carol from Sanibel Seashells shop walking with a group of birders on the beach with binoculars, books and a clip board in hand. They were volunteering for the Sanibel edition of the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count. Bravo! They had already counted lots of birds in their count circle but leading the count in numbers were SANDERLINGS, LAUGHING GULLS, WILLETS and RING BILLED GULLS. So cool.
I stood with them a few minutes as they counted a few adorable little SNOWY PLOVERS then we turned to the gulf to see a SURF SCOTER sitting at the edge of the water. How odd! We rarely see SURF SCOTERS on Sanibel and there I was with a bunch of birders to see an uncommon sight … and then to realize it was injured.
One of the Bird Count volunteers Katharine (Vermont) quickly ran over to secure the SCOTER then rushed it to CROW (Clinic for Rehabilitation Of Wildlife). Great job Katharine!
Which reminds me… I found out that the SANDWICH TERN that we rescued on our Captiva Cruises shelling trip had been released. Yay! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for MS. SCOTER too.
The day seemed so serendipitous which is why I love this next photo. Here’s birder Katharine rescuing the SCOTER with a volunteer bird counter holding a bird handbook. Then there’s Jackie from Boston witnessing the rescue who learned shell IDs from Beverly along with her daughter Carolyn… from Boston (in the far background). Shellendipity!
Oh and PS- Look at the Captiva Boat Parade. So cute!
I’m in the spirit too so I’m off to make my SAND DOLLAR cookies for Christmas. Remember these? Everybody loves these cookies and they are so easy. CLICK HERE for my post on the SAND DOLLAR cookies.
Happy Shellidays!
FYI -just in case you might not know, any time you see that I’ve highlighted and bolded words in my posts- I have linked to another page for more information just by clicking it- happy linking!
Love the shells in the first picture-top, olive, lace murex, etc. Hope this bird recovers too. Brian’s boat looks great. Hope the shells stay around. Pat
I met Jeff and family their first day and every subsequent day and I’m so happy to see that they can not only name them now, but are finding some gems out there. Jeff, I’ll be out there tomorrow at sunrise:-)
Alicia
We are finally in Sanibel for Christmas.
Trying to find a few Whelks and Olives.
It has been beautiful weather here for the past 3 days,
But not quite the shelling adventure I had expected
Merry Christmas to ALL!
I know- Its been a little slow for whelks the past week but if you are crafty there are tons of arks, kittens paws and bubbles to collect. :)
Looking forward to our traditional family vacation to Mitchell’s on Thursday. Have my 500 mm lens packed and looking forward to lots of bird photos as well as shelling with my grandchildren. Shells, birds, spending time with my grandchildren…..what a magnificent way to start the New Year!!!!
Great post Pam! You are so right: the shelling community is really a terrific bunch of friendly nice people.
On Tuesday morning I am off back to NYC after a great two weeks here in beach island paradise!
In Sanibel the birding is just as great as the shelling, and I understand the fishing is also equally great.
I have done extremely well on this visit with the teeny tiny stuff. I found all kinds of species that I never found before, and alsoI found a whole bunch of small shells that are new to the list, including one of two that may actually be unnamed species.
Sanibel is really shell heaven. :)
Pam, what fun! You help us all to feel so connected, through you! I will be heading down there soon–on Tuesday night. We’ve never come over Christmas before, and are looking forward to it. My mom and sister are coming with us, another first! I can’t wait to show them all of my favorite places. We’ll be down on Middle Gulf, at Sundial, which is also new for us. I will still make as many trips down to Blind Pass as possible, and Gulfside City Park. And the Lighthouse, and…and…and… Hope to run into you somewhere. :-) Maybe some more Cross-hatched Lucines, too. That would be a great Christmas surprise.
Love your sand dollar cookies. My shelling daughter and I will for sure make them next Christmas! Quick, easy, and cute!
Thanks for the tip and have a Blessed Christmas.
Pam – love the sand dollar cookies! Would you share the recipe? I’m counting the minutes till I get to Florida on Christmas morning. Headed to visit my brother in Naples…will make at least a day trip to Sanibel to do some shelling.
Your website sustains me between trips south! Thanks!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Molly, oh gosh! i linked the post with the recipe in the post… Every time i link to more info, i bold and highlight the words… So just click on the highlighted and bolded words “sand dollar cookies”. PS- now I realize that many people don’t know this- so sorry!
It’s so great that you got to witness another example of sheller and birder kindness in saving that injured bird. I hope the scoter gets better!
All the festivities on Sanibel look like so much fun!
the beach,the shells,the sun ,the gulf,the birds and the fresh air even if you don’t find what your looking for to have a day like this is special,just enjoy the friendship you’ve made all around you and the good times you’ve had—————-priceless love the post sincerely r.g.stein
Love the boat lights, hope the Surf Scoter does well, will try decorating some cookies with sandollar motif for my next talk to the kids about shells and the sea. I am getting ready to do my third (this year) Christmas bird count locally. We go from 4am til 6:00pm. Serious birding is not for the faint of heart. I will think of your Sanibel group walking the beach while I slog through mud and snow. Of course, I don’t have to dodge alligators.