You get that magical feeling when you see a STAR wash up on the beach next to your toes, don’t you? We always feel so lucky to be able to touch them, to pick them up and to return them safely to the sea … never feeling afraid they will bite like so many other sea creatures. They seem happy, peaceful and a little whimsical for some reason so we always feel a little giddy to catch a glimpse of them. So since they seem so magical, I’m gonna make a wish whenever we see a SEA STAR from now on.
All along the east end of Sanibel this morning, we saw lots of other healthy live creatures as well… like this beautiful PEAR WHELK.
Earlier this week at Blind Pass Sanibel, I found a few strings of shells lining the beach…
I found a few hidden treasures tucked in between the loads of ARK shells…
I found a few other treasures too…
Sue and Molly from Indiana were so much fun to talk to and happy as clams to be stooping for shells in the cooler weather.
Sue’s fave find was a beautiful GAUDY NATICA, while Molly was thrilled she found a little MOON shell too… a juvie SHARKS EYE and a verrrrrry cool BRYOZOAN COLONY that looks like a cross between a SPONGE and CORAL.
I also met other shellers traveling from Indiana to Sanibel…. Debbra and Steven.
We found lots of little mini shells along the beach at the water’s edge and some nice LETTERED OLIVES as we waded in the water shin deep.
My fave finds today? Seeing the live creatures were a highlight of the day and I found many cutie colorful SCALLOP SHELLS (and a sweet double SUNRAY VENUS) to make me even happier.
Join me on an iLoveShelling Beach Combing Adventure… CLICK HERE for more info
Beautiful pictures of the Sea Star, Pam!
Thank you Jody!
Thanks for the lovely sea star update, I made a wish too!
I’ve learned so much from you! Thanks. Are you going to post a 2016 Tide Chart?
Omigosh! Thanks for the reminder Diane! I was working on that before the holidays- oops- you know I’m so easily distracted. Haha
Wonderful finds! So neat to find a sea star!
Love the star fish and the colorful scallops. Even though scallops are common I love picking up ones with interesting colors. Pam, I have a question about the star fish. I found one last time I was in FL. I picked it up out of the shallow water and determined it was not alive. I even got the opinions of about 6 other people who looked it over carefully. It was dead. So I brought it up to my room and laid it out on paper towels. After a few hours I carefully picked it up and the tips of the rays started breaking off. Is there a trick to preserving a star fish??