Beach Bling Clinging To Wing Oyster
By
I found more shells clinging to SEA WHIPS! This time I found quite a few ATLANTIC WING OYSTERS hitch hiking on those beautiful SEA WHIPS I talked about on my last post.
Notice how pearlescent the inside is! I didn’t want to break the two valves apart but you can peek in to see the beauty.
I found quite a few of these attached to the SEA WHIPS I found in the BEACH BLING last month.
I know, this WING OYSTER doesn’t look that pretty hanging on to this gorgeous purple WHIP but he would definitely clean up nicely if I chose to untangle him.
I’m just always amazed at what I’ve overlooked before.
I didn’t find all of these on the beach in the last month. I looked through some of my other SEA WHIPS I collected through the years and low and behold… I didn’t even realized I had perfect specimens of ATLANTIC WING OYSTERS wrapped up in my WHIPS.
I can’t believe I can’t find the photo (sorry!) …. but at the 75th Sanibel Shell Fair and Show this year there was a display of an ATLANTIC WING OYSTER still attached to a SEA WHIP. I kind of laughed to myself because at first it looked like a dirty purple SEA FAN with some junk not washed off. Then I put on my cheater glasses to look at the display. Cool! A WING OYSTER treasure! I love it- I learn something new every day.
After looking closely at the larger double shells, you’ll be able to see that both the sides don’t match. The two valves are completely different sizes and even the shape is different too.
You might not think these shells are pretty enough to toss in your shell bag, but at least when you see those SEA WHIPS, you might be able to find a little hidden treasure that most other people would pass right by and never see.
We are here where to for best shelling
At the top of this page there is a heading “Shelling Tips”. If you click on that hyperlink, you will go to a page that has the information that Pam gives anyone who asks for recommendations on best shelling.
I’m sure Pam mentions it, but also check wind direction. Which ever way the wind is blowing (the day or night before), go to that part of the island. ie: NW winds – go from Tarpon Bay road up to Captiva, SW winds – go from Tarpon Bay road to Lighthouse beach (gulf side), E winds – go from Lighthouse point to fishing pier, etc. It’s not a guarantee but the winds do make a difference. Good luck. I wish I was back there with you.
Wow, how interesting. That is a great shelling tip. We’ll be on Sanibel for the month of November and I’ll be checking on those winds.
Thanks for that tip.
You’re welcome Lee. Good luck in November.
Linda, you are lucky to be there this weekend!
From space.com:
“The biggest full moon of the year is due to arrive this weekend…nicknamed a supermoon… due to be about 16 percent brighter than average…
(It) will officially become full Saturday (May 5) at 11:35 p.m. EDT…
The normal tides around the world will be particularly high and low. At perigee, the moon will exert about 42 percent more tidal force than it will during its next apogee two weeks later.”
Extra-low tide + super-bright moon= Maximum Super Shelling!!!
WOW…we will arrive on Sat around noon!!! Thank you for sharing and we are so excited!!! We go to Sanibel at least a couple of times a year, but this will be a first!!
John & Kathie
Southlake, Texas
Oh how I wish I was there this weekend for Supermoon!!! Enjoy all!!
Mary Ann
It was my wing oyster displayed at the 75th Shell Show – uncleaned. It took 2nd place in the self collected Sanibel Shell category. I’ve also found the one- tooth Simnia on sea whips. It is great fun!
Vicki! I loved your display!! I wish I could have found the photo I took of it to share with everybody It was very inspiring, as you can tell. Thanks for commenting!
Pam…You talk about cleaning up some of the shells you find…Would you please share some of your tried and true best tips…Many thanks from an avid beachcomber, with wet, sandy toes…
Well, we will miss that full moon time once again….but with a little luck, maybe not next year! We’ve purchased a small home on Sanibel, and as soon as ours sells here, we’ll be down! We’ll look for you on the beach, Pam. Bob and Johnnie Lorren (PS – your pictures are stunning!)
I think we experienced the beginning of the supershelling due to the supermoon this aft and early evening at Bliind Pass Captiva. I have never seen anything quite like the shells rolling in to the beach at low tide. It was shelling Nirvana! Going home tomorrow, so we are so thankful to have gotten to see and shell!! Pam, we have looked for you for the past 10 days and never got a sighting!! Maybe next time. Wendy
Hi Wendy,
Good for you! Can’t wait to hear….what gems did you find??
The variety and beauty of the Atlantic Wing Oyster shells is impressive. We’re coming in tomorrow… looking forward to the Super Moon shelling opportunities. Any suggestions for time and location for the best shelling?
Now that is really cool! I’m missing Sanibel!
We’ve been on Sanibel since thurs and the weather has been great. It’s low tide now going out shelling again
We’re on the lookout for Super Sheller Clark.and Pam
Sunday we’ll be trying the beach on west gulf drive.
This is a FABULOUS site!
Im SO glad I ran across it!
So much information, Im going to ‘save’ it and read it all very soon!
Thanks!
Julie ~ julsofparadise.etsy.com