Walkin' with the Willets

 It's time once again for some Beach Therapy! I decided I would do better at getting out early for the sunrises...AND hopefully catch some sunsets also! 

Cheri and I have already started our walk and talk, and this evening the dolphin were slowly feeding....so fun to watch!

I even caught a tail flip!! This was all in slow motion, and so graceful!!

a couple of times!!

The Reddish and Snowy Egret stood back and just watched!!

The sky was beautiful and so calming....just what I needed!!

I enjoyed it so much I got up early the next morning to head back to the lighthouse....

Of course, the tides are the driving force, the lowest tides are in the morning, and as we approach the time change, that is still dark....for now.

 I was greeted with smiles, and lots of life....Like these Live Calico Scallops...notice the rows of 'eyes' along the bottom of his shell....

The tidal pools were out, and I think that is my favorite type of shelling.....

There were little areas just filled with Dosinia....I love searching through these areas....

This Blue Crab wasn't as happy to see me, and let me know right away he wanted me to Social Distance!! 

I found a live Atlantic Winged Oyster...

and LOTS of Jellies!

This was beside the tidal pool.....it means the possibility of a complete Alphabet cone....for now, not!

I found this Huge Horse Conch and left him for someone else to enjoy....

He was just under the sand in the tidal pool, as I lifted him out, I saw something orange out of the corner of my eye....I reached back in and found this Beauty!

A deep orange True Tulip! This one I kept!! :)

I did find a nice Angel Wing....

I've seen lots of these Calico Crabs, but I don't remember ever finding one actually in the water, and have wondered if they did go underwater! Here's proof....he was walking around enjoying the tidal pool too....He didn't seem to mind that I was there also!! Love these guys!!

As the sun came up, the birds started appearing....The skimmers were there....I have tried and tried to catch a pic of these guys....and with it being so dark it's nearly impossible!!! Finally got one!!

The bottom of their bill is longer than the top and they fly just off the surface 'skimming' their beak in the water....I think they are just awesome!!! I googled a pic for you to see....

I only see them at sunrise or sunset so it's too dark to get a great pic!! 

As the sun rose, these 3 Willets decided to escort me down the beach....they went up and back with me, either in front of me or beside me the whole time!!

It was pretty cloudy so I didn't get a full sun sunset....this was just as beautiful to me with a little sun peeking through the clouds!

It just don't get no better than That!!!  

Stay tuned!!

::Shelllady Hugs::

Shelling and Bird Nerding

Can you believe it? Two posts in two days! I wanted to update as our trip is growing to a close and it might be a while before I post again....at least about Shelling in Florida!

The shelling has improved quite a bit in the last few days...or at least I've been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time! These are some of the best...

and These are my favorites from the group! (Cheri found that Huge Shark's eye!)

From the left, Shark's eye, Alphabet cone with two orange scallops above, Lace Murex, Gaudy Nautica above the lace, then a Tiny Bright orange True Tulip, and another perfect Horse Conch! 

The color on that Lace Murex is beautiful, They are usually white with a little pink tip!

A trip to the mud flats at Bunche Beach scored me some Sunray Venus, a beautiful Pear Whelk and 3 Kings Crowns (center)

Not only did I pick up shells, I am learning from the 'Bird Nerd' Cheri...so many different types of birds, many on their Migration journey and are 

stopping by here for a visit! Cheri gets pictures of their tags and can see where they are coming from. Some are even from near my other home in Virginia!

This is an Oyster Catcher (I'm counting on Cheri to keep me straight with this info!) ;)

The lighting is a bit better in this pic...

This is a Marbled Godwit

...a Little Blue Heron...

and these adorable little guys are Sanderlings...(That's a Willet in the back and a Rudy Turnstone in the front with the dark wings.)

We see so many cool things on the beaches we visit....this is a Moon Jelly...it's very large...look closely...

These tiny little Dog Whelks seem to be having him for lunch!!!

These 3 Kings Crowns are having a Sunray Venus for lunch!!

I love to see the live shells almost as much as the empty ones.....I snap a pic and we put them back...Here is a Live Lightning Whelk....

and a live King's Crown....

While shelling & watching the birds...we keep an eye on the sky....

Check out this perfect 'hole' in the center of this thunderstorm!!! 

Another trip has almost come to an end, I've packed up shells to take back to paint and hopefully will bring them back in a month or so to hide them on the island...it looks like I've got my work cut out for me!! 

These days, we don't leave the house much so this keeps me sane!! Stay Safe! ...Until the next post!

::Shelllady Hugs::