ALPHABET CONES, GAUDY NATICAS, HORSE CONCHS, NUTMEG shells and more were washing up at Captiva’s Blind Pass around the jetty rocks on Sunday morning. Yahoo!
I met some awesome families shelling together in all the shellmania. Brooklyn, Nequoia, Avilyn, Kelli, Kamrie, Adam, Boston and Hunter from Utah were having a great time pacing back and forth watching the shells come and go with the waves.
They picked out some gorgeous shells like in the top photo and these…
But hold on… did you see the GAUDY NATICA? Here’s a closer view because the color (you can probably see the color best in the top photo) just seemed extraordinary. The colors were dark but it almost looked like a PAUL NEWMAN’S SHARK EYE with the hint of blue in the swirl. Love that.
This FLORIDA CONE was pretty extraordinary too. The colors… wow!
So Kelli let me hold it so I could take a look at the lip … that was perfect too. The lip of FLORIDA CONES are so thin that most of the time the lip edge is a bit ragged and fragile but this one was so nice. While I was holding it -Ut Oh- He was still alive! We rarely see live CONES wash up here so this was a surprise to all of us so I took a photo and Kelli gently returned it to the water. Live on, beautiful CONE. Hopefully you will make lots of beautiful children.
Another awesome family (with lots of beautiful children) Nick, Joe, Will, Nicole and Steve from Michigan found treasures of their own.
I see the Sanibel Six in there- WHELK, MUREX, OLIVE, CONCH, TULIP and CONE. Cool!
As fast as the shells came in, the tide changed and the powerful waves started bringing tons of sand to start covering them up.
That didn’t stop Fontaine, Alason, Mary Benton and Gail from Texas from plopping right down to sift through the sand to search for newly buried gifts from the sea. It was so much fun to talk shelling with y’all!
![sister sheller family]](http://static.iloveshelling.com/uploads/2016/04/sister-sheller-family.jpg "sister sheller family]")
Yesterday I decided to walk the beach at Gulfside City Park since the conditions had changed so much at Blind Pass. My morning walk led me to meet Jayne and Daisy from Montana who are very impressive on their shell knowledge as they have been shelling all their lives. They told me about some of their shells they found on a recent trip to New Zealand – hmmm… another place to put on my shell bucket list. Thank you for the walk, girls!
I few of their faves from the morning. :)
It was such a fun time shell talking and walking because as quickly as the shells can come in, the shells can either be covered up or taken back out with the powerful strength of the Gulf Of Mexico. It amazes me … every … single … day.
Hello!!
We are coming next week!
Can you tell me how the bugs are this time of year?
I think that the no-see-ums come out virtually every day of the year, but only for an hour before and after dawn and dusk, except when there is a good stiff breeze blowing, or when there is a really strong cold snap.
You should not be troubled by mosquitos, except at Ding Darling.
That top photo has such gorgeous colored shells in it Pam.
And who would have thought anyone would find a live cone washed up at Blind Pass!
Anyone who happens to find a live cone should be careful because a live cone can sting you like a hornet if you carry it around in your hand with the aperture against your flesh!
Susan, I never knew that. With all the live shells Pam picks up and holds, I just assumed none of them would hurt you. Thank you for telling us. I don’t think I have ever found a live cone – and as you said, it’s rare. However, I will be more cautious in the future. Thanks!!
I Love all of you posts and pictures, thank you! Could you possible label the pictures with the names of the shells? When you show a picture of a bunch of beauties as above, and list the names of 5 or 6 of them I can never get them all right! I think if they were labeled more often I would eventually know them like you do. BTW I’m in awe of the beautiful shells you find. Someday I hope to take a shelling trip with you. Happy shelling….do you ever find sea glass there?
Click on the top right for shell identification. Think you will find all the shells you are likely to find on Sanibel.
I was reading about shelling in New Zealand and they do not want people to take the sea shells. I didn’t check to see if it was a law or not but many comments said “Please leave our shells”.
Seams like there would be ALOT of shells in the ocean and beaches. Strange.
Looks like your family had a lovely time shelling! U all found some beautiful seashells to take home & enjoy!
I found a gorgeous bright orange Florida cone and the darn thing had a critter! Took a photo and put him back. Buh bye…till next time!
I found a beautiful dark brown cone today in Key West and can’t identify it. If anyone thinks they can help, let me know.
Those shell’s sure are beauties!!! As far as the girls shelling on a trip to New Zealand did they tell you what part of New Zealand? I have a Nephew that lives in New Zealand and might be going there (for the first time) I’d love to know where the good shelling is :))