"Look! It's moving. It's alive. It's alive... It's alive, it's moving, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!"~Henry Frankenstein(1931) Greetings from sunny Ft. Myers! Hubby and I arrived this afternoon with our daughter Jess in tow, her Hubby Brad will fly in tomorrow for a few days! We will be staying until next Sunday and I am excited to have them both here with us in our Ft. Myers home....they have seen it but never stayed here with us! After a quick trip to the grocery store, and some Publix fried chicken for dinner, Jess and I headed out to Bunche Beach for a couple of hours before dark, she had never been there and we were pleased to see that there was a lot of the beach uncovered even though low tide isn't until nearly midnight tonight. There was so much activity on the mud flats, tiny baby horseshoe crabs....
...Fiddler crabs...dozens of them!
Live Kings Crowns...
Sunray Venus...both sides (Not live) He came home with us!
Here are a couple of King's Crowns being romantic! The small disc like pieces in the center of this picture are the eggs!
This is obviously some sort of egg basket, I call it a wubba bubba, I have no idea what kind of eggs these are!
Live Kings Crown
A tiny tropical fish of some sort, he looked like he should be in an aquarium!
Live Kings Crown 'walking' along the beach, notice his body or 'foot' on the sand underneath.
A baby horseshoe crab
Live baby horseshoe belly
A hermit crab in a bright blue auger
This is the first time I have ever seen Rosette Spoonbills in real life, and they are beautiful! Notice the gorgeous colors!
I got a little too close so they just moved on out!
A live Marginella, This little guy is less than a half inch long!
A live starfish (sea star) , see his 'feet'?
We were 'chased' out after only an hour by an incoming thunderstorm, can you imagine how many pics we would have taken if we had been there for two hours? We each found a Kings Crown shell that wasn't occupied, but not many more shells, but that's okay, we had such a great time, you can bet you will hear more about Bunche Beach this week!!
Cheri, I just got back from a week at Sanibel. Where is Bunche Beach? The shelling on Sanibel was non existent. Not even at low tide. I am amazed at all the kings you saw. And the other goodies as well. I love seeing the live shells and crabs and starfish!! Hope you have a fantastic visit and if you head to paradise May your shelling be better. I didn't even fill up a sandwich Baggie all week. Not even scallops or cockles. I have never ever seen it like this. Can't wait for your other posts!!!!
Roxanne, Bunche Beach is on Ft. Myers, you turn left off of Summerlin onto John Morris and follow it ~ 1/4 mile to the end. I believe it's almost the last road on the left before you hit the toll booth to Sanibel. Type in Bunche Beach, FL on Google maps and it will show you where it is! I know the shelling on Sanibel hasn't been great, I hope to checkout some of the beaches down south like Bowditch point, Lover's Key, Big Hickory etc. while we are here this time! (You can zoom out and see where I am talking about on the google map site.
I'm sorry you didn't have better shelling! I'm afraid that Sanibel has become too popular and some folks are taking live shells making the 'pickins' pretty slim! We haven't had great luck very often on our last few trips.
I know! Aren't they awesome?! They flew above us as we were heading in prior to the storm, I so wish I would have had my camera ready, the really looked awesome against that dark gray sky!!
Don't forget there are Geocaches there too!! Most of the trips to Bunche Beach has given me at least one empty Kings crown, but you have to look closely at a lot of live ones to find it!! So wish I could come down for your trip!! :(
I really like all the pictures of the live stuff you found. Looks like your well on your way to a great week. If you get the chance don't forget to check out Barefoot Beach. I think you will enjoy it. Make sure to make your way down to the pass. Toast the sunset for me this week, I'm already missing it.
Kim If it were me I would park in the last parking area. Go into the beach access there and go to your left towards Wiggins Pass. It's a long walk down to the pass but there are exposed tree roots on the beach there and they are great for catching shells.
Cheri,
ReplyDeleteI just got back from a week at Sanibel. Where is Bunche Beach? The shelling on Sanibel was non existent. Not even at low tide. I am amazed at all the kings you saw. And the other goodies as well. I love seeing the live shells and crabs and starfish!! Hope you have a fantastic visit and if you head to paradise May your shelling be better. I didn't even fill up a sandwich Baggie all week. Not even scallops or cockles. I have never ever seen it like this. Can't wait for your other posts!!!!
Roxanne, Bunche Beach is on Ft. Myers, you turn left off of Summerlin onto John Morris and follow it ~ 1/4 mile to the end. I believe it's almost the last road on the left before you hit the toll booth to Sanibel. Type in Bunche Beach, FL on Google maps and it will show you where it is! I know the shelling on Sanibel hasn't been great, I hope to checkout some of the beaches down south like Bowditch point, Lover's Key, Big Hickory etc. while we are here this time! (You can zoom out and see where I am talking about on the google map site.
DeleteI'm sorry you didn't have better shelling! I'm afraid that Sanibel has become too popular and some folks are taking live shells making the 'pickins' pretty slim! We haven't had great luck very often on our last few trips.
Oh. I have never seen the spoonbills in person either. They are gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteI know! Aren't they awesome?! They flew above us as we were heading in prior to the storm, I so wish I would have had my camera ready, the really looked awesome against that dark gray sky!!
DeleteGreat pics!
ReplyDeleteThanks King! Such fun!!
DeleteThis is the first beach we will be hitting with the girls on our trips and I know Moira desperately wants a Kings Crown.
ReplyDeleteYou're our scout this week Cheri - go hit up those other beaches and fill us in. Looking forward to lots of photos. Have fun!
Don't forget there are Geocaches there too!! Most of the trips to Bunche Beach has given me at least one empty Kings crown, but you have to look closely at a lot of live ones to find it!! So wish I could come down for your trip!! :(
DeleteI already have those caches on my list!! I wish you were going to be there too. It's gonna be awesome!
DeleteI really like all the pictures of the live stuff you found. Looks like your well on your way to a great week. If you get the chance don't forget to check out Barefoot Beach. I think you will enjoy it. Make sure to make your way down to the pass. Toast the sunset for me this week, I'm already missing it.
ReplyDeleteI'm hitting Barefoot beach with the girls - any hints or tips?
DeleteYes RC Do tell!!!
DeleteGreat pics! Great finds! Love the rich color of the live kings crown in the water!
ReplyDeleteThanks Moira! I hope you get one when you all come down...Bunche Beach is pretty good at having some empties for the picking most of the time!! ;)
DeleteKim
ReplyDeleteIf it were me I would park in the last parking area. Go into the beach access there and go to your left towards Wiggins Pass. It's a long walk down to the pass but there are exposed tree roots on the beach there and they are great for catching shells.
Okay, I'll try that if we get to go and I'll let you know how it goes Kim!! You'll be an expert when you get down here!! :D
Delete