Since I skipped another post, I decided to post 2 shelling trips in one this time. Of course, anything from here on out can't top the big Whelk I found, but I have found a few other little treasures. I decided to try the beach west of the lighthouse since I hadn't been there since Irma came through. The water was very clear, though it still had that Root Beer color....just a little lighter. By no means normal. I walked along the ridge where the waves break the whole way. I think I could have filled a bag completely with Banded Tulips and Fighting Conchs, there were also a bunch of small Lightning Whelks. I have sworn off of all of these as I already have too many. My very first find, was half of an Alphabet Cone....so sad, not a good way to start off!
Things got better pretty quickly, I found this Lace Murex....so many variations of these, in color and texture....
and, of course, I'm not going to pass up on a Shark's eye...
I so wanted this True Tulip to be complete...what beautiful color!
I found a bunch right together....a Florida Cone, Blonde Shark's eye, Juvenile Horse Conch, Pretty colored Nutmeg, Mini Banded Tulip and Nutmeg...
This was my favorite find of the day, a Gaudy Nautica with amazing color, it was perfect!
Though the water was gold, it was very clear....see the circle? Can you tell what it is? (you can click the pic to enlarge, then x in the corner brings you back here...)
This is it, Love this size Horse Conch....
Then turned to the right, and this guy was just rolling along!
Such variation in color, about the same size...Perfect!!
I also avoid the Apple Murexs because I have so many, but the colors on this one were beautiful...
I did get a small Alphabet though not very colorful, but I took it anyway!
The final find of the day was this very delicate Lace Murex, so different from the first, much more dainty!
My Shelling Buddy Cheri Flew in today, so we planned to hit the beach as soon as she settled in....We went to the beach and were VERY disappointed at the color of the water....so Dark, darkest I have ever seen....and very rough...
Cheri is good at shelling the waves, My brain can't process things fast enough....I think I need some practice....so I shelled the shoreline...My first find was a Flat Scallop....
This is becoming one of my favorites, loving the Flats, all different and so unusual...
2 more variations of Lace Murex...the big Fossil like one with very little lace and color, and the tiny one, not yet lacey...but very colorful! (I apologize, this pic is not in focus, it's hard to tell in the bright sunshine!)
I found another Florida Cone..
But check out the color on this one that Cheri found, Isn't it amazing?!
She Also snagged this Big Alphabet Cone in the surf....I'd say that was a SCORE!
On the way back up the beach Cheri spotted these Eagles in a tree....she says it's a pair, Male and Female. How Awesome to see these Magnificent birds...
Well, the shelling wasn't fantastic, but it's still fun being out on the beach. Stay tuned for one more shelling Adventure before I have to head home....
:( This has been quite a trip, but so much fun....
::Shelllady Hugs::
There were tons of minis in the water at Sanibel Lighthouse yesterday morning....and almost everyone of them was occupied! Most with VERY energetic Hermit Crabs....
I always wonder when they pick a shell like this Pear Whelk how hard it must be to maneuver!
I found a beautiful Live King's Crown also....
I found this beauty too....and it was NOT live, so he quickly went into my Shell Bag, Daddy would be proud!
I found another small Alphabet Cone, but he is old and worn, good enough, he came along too.
I found a few other little treasures is a new shell pile...Coral, Worm shell, Olives, a tiny True Tulip and a Pear Whelk that should clean up nicely.
I decided to head on down the beach away from the lighthouse as I hadn't been there in a while, I saw LOTS of Fighting Conchs, Lightning Whelks, I have recently sworn off the keeping the Lightning Whelks as I have way too many....let someone else. I came across another shell pile area, small stuff this time.... A Baby's ear, True Tulip, and Jewel Box pairs...
I am always amazed how these fragile Paper Figs always show up in perfect shape after a storm...
I also saw this guy walking along the bottom, it's the BIGGEST crab I have ever seen, didn't get close enough to see what kind he was...Look at those Claws!
Another shell pile showed me the top of this guy, I admit, I couldn't refuse it, the colors were beautiful and it was empty!
I walked back toward the lighthouse, this time, just along the break of the water...came across an area that had a LOT of Fighting Conchs half buried in the sand...I noticed some small points sticking up, I started moving aside the fightning conchs, and worked my fingers in the sand....and after a little bit I pulled this beautiful guy out!
Is that amazing or what?! Top view....
It was very stinky and I rinsed out bits and pieces of the him over and over again....I think he got trapped there and died in place....This is a Lightning Whelk I will be keeping....for a LONG time!!
What a GREAT way to end my walk!?
Update: Here he is all cleaned up!
Aren't the colors Amazing?! I'm a happy Girl!
Stay tuned!
::Shelllady Hugs::
Yep, we're still here in Florida! We actually moved on Saturday from our paradise on the beach of Sanibel to OUR paradise, just off of the beach in Ft. Myers! We headed down to Florida a couple of weeks ago, expecting the worst and ended up enjoying the best! We got a Vacation in a Vacation! A week on the island! But there is no place like home! We have restocked our fridge, and I have spent the last two days cleaning shells from the last weeks adventures!
But I digress...our last adventure, last Thursday, Cheri and I had a few minutes to spend at the beach (3 hours) so we went on a long walk to see what we could find... The water was pretty clear...
The shelling wasn't crazy, but we were pretty steadily picking things up... today was going to be an Orange kind of day...We each found a Carrier Shell, along with some tiny Horse Conchs, a tiny Cantharus, & Orange Scallops and Jingles.
I also found a tiny Marginella....
Cheri, The Flat whisperer, found another awesome Flat!!
We came upon a small little area with a group of shells, and we just sat down and sifted through the shells.....we both did pretty well there! Cheri Found 3 Alphabet Coned, 3 Nutmegs, a DARK Lace Murex, 5 Florida Conchs and 2 Olives...these were just her favorites!!
I didn't do too badly either...Some of the treasures I found were Olives, a Helmet piece, 3 Florida Cones and 3 Alphabets, along with some Worm shells....
Check out this HUGE Olive Cheri found!...
This is the dark Lace Murex....what a Beauty it is!
She also found a Goldie Lace Murex on the walk back!! So unusual!
She spotted a Flat that she gave to me, and I found this unusual colorful Scallop....
This was Cheri's last trip, as she had to head home, but will be back in a few days....All in All, I'd say it was a pretty good day!
Ok, all the shells are cleaned up...Today was spent at Shellcrafters, so tomorrow I'm going back at it, I only have a few days left....wish me luck, and Stay tuned!!
::Shelllady Hugs::
