Archive for Crucifix Shell
The Sanibel Captiva Shell Report
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Captiva Great Blue Heron
I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that I’m catching you up on the good shelling from the week and if you are coming to visit, there are still shells at Blind Pass (Sanibel and Captiva), minis at the lighthouse and just west of the lighthouse we’ve been finding lots of other shells that I’ll show you.
Brianne and Kelly shell collecting
Brianne and her mom Kelly (AZ) were at the lighthouse beach finding SCALLOPS, WHELKS and CONCHS but the most unusual find for Kelly was part of a CRUCIFIX SHELL. It brings good luck!
Kelly's crucifix shell
They also found some beautiful PAPER FIGS in the low tide pools…
Paper fig
You’ve got to do The Sanibel Stoop to be able to spot good ones in the tidal pools.
Sanibel Stoop at dusk
The Stoopin found her this one….a double SUNRAY VENUS!
Kelly's Sunray Venus
Brianne was finally able to find and hold a live STARFISH for a minute or two to admire it before she safely put it back in the water.
Brianne starfish gazing
After talking to Liz and Sergio (central FL) while they were admiring a live SAND DOLLAR , Liz told me she was a record holder for the largest ALBINO LIGHTNING WHELK and received a Best In Show award at a Florida shell show. She found it at Lover’s Key about 10 years ago. Dang it! I forgot to write down how big it was so maybe she’ll comment and let us know.
Liz and Sergio (FL)
As we were walking west from the lighthouse the tidal pool got wider and wider for us to see live creatures and empty shells as well. This is Katie from Houston without a shell bag but making due by lining her treasures on her arm like a shelf…
Katie (TX)
Katie's shells
This area (around the Seaside Inn) was about where I found the live SHARK’S EYE I showed a video of yesterday. If you didn’t see the video, it’s a cool one you don’t want to miss so CLICK HERE.
Tidal pool Sanibel Island
To catch you up on Captiva’s Blind Pass, I stopped there on Thursday to find…. ahhhhh- such beautiful calm, aqua water with a pile of shells by the jetty.
Captiva aqua water
Sharon (Orlando, FL) was having a great time replenishing her shell collection since she just used most of her shells….. this is so sweet….. to decorate for her wedding last week. She is on her honeymoon!
Sharon (FL)
She was happy as a clam finding ….well finding CLAMS…and SCALLOPS….and CONCHS….and this COLORFUL MOON SHELL.
Colorful moon shell
With all this happiness, I don’t even want to give you the bad news. It’s just that my little Smittie the Kitty is sick again so that’s why I haven’t been keeping up with getting out all the shelling news too timely. I think she’s going to be okay now… oh it’s too much info to go into …but she’ll be a RadioCat next month- and that’s some good news!
Smittie the pretty kitty
Southwest Winds Bring Seashells To Sanibel
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Kings crown conch
I’ve had a little dry spell finding mid size shells lately but today…. The shells are back! Yippee! We had nice southwest winds the past few days and now the shells at the lighthouse beach on the pier side have started rolling in, baby.
Crucifix shell near the pier
I knew it was gonna be a good day today since I found a CRUCIFIX SHELL (which is really not a shell- click HERE or on the name for more info). It’s a good luck charm!
Beautiful True Tulip
It’s a great day when you find a KINGS CROWN and a red TRUE TULIP!
Sunray venus clam
I saw quite a few pairs of SUNRAY VINUS CLAMS that were still together. Lucky again!
Lightning whelk
This gorgeous LIGHTNING WHELK rolled up on the beach just waiting to be picked up by a lucky sheller.
Jim, James, Katie and Connie (MI)
This was a lucky shelling family enjoying gulf treasures washing up with every handful. They were having a blast! And me too!
Jim and Connie's fabulous finds
Check out those beauties. Okay, I know you didn’t miss that butterscotch yellow TRUE TULIP sittin’ pretty in the middle of all those other shellicious shells, did you?
James with a sea cucumber
In with the shells, came live SEA CUCUMBERS, STARFISH and a few SEA URCHINS. James was a good sheller and gently returned this live sea critter to the water to help it survive. What a cutie!
My shells from today
I’m sure you can identify most of these shells but I’m especially tickled by the bright orange CHESTNUT TURBAN and the little candy HORSE CONCH. There is another shell I’m also pretty tickled with but it’s broken. It is the second one down on the right side…….it’s a CARRIER SHELL! I didn’t get a good shot of it so maybe I’ll show you tomorrow if I can get a good picture. Don’t know all the other names all of the shells above? Try looking at my SEASHELL IDENTIFICATION page. Good luck ….. Tag! You’re it! I’ve now passed my good luck from finding that CRUCIFIX SHELL today on to you. Have fun.
I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Beach Treasures and Willet Birds
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Shelling for Wentletraps
When the high tides sweep the beach of the larger shells and take them back out to sea, the hunt for smaller shells starts again along with any type of beach treasure. If you want to find the WENTLETRAPS, you’ve got to get down and dirty by bending those knees as much as possible. This is Clark at sunset at the Lighthouse Beach finding those little beauties.
Beach crucifix
I found a few wentles too but my best find was the head bone of a catfish called a CRUCIFIX SHELL. I know it sounds a little weird but it is a sign of good luck when you find one of these. Yippee! It’s gonna be a good week.
Sanibel Willet birds
I also found myself paying closer attention to the birds around me since my calling to little miss cutie Sandy The Sanderling. I caught these WILLET birds (above) all resting on one leg right at the shore line. Do you know why birds stand on one leg? My friend Bonnie helped me on this one….. Because they are conserving their energy and reducing their heat loss. Smart, huh?
Ring-billed Gull eating a seashell
Doesn’t this guy know better than to mess around with those PEN SHELLS? He didn’t get his beak caught like the Sanderling but geez, dude, watch out!
Tooth?
Maybe he lost this tooth trying to pry that shell open. LOL Yes, I know it’s not from a bird (birds don’t have teeth, silly) but what do you think it’s from?
While we think on that, let’s take a minute to relax and enjoy this scene at sunset.
Beachcombing Blogger-Palooza
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Low Tide shelling at Little Hickory
Shelling Bloggers Unite!
Blogger Karen from The Essential Beachcomber organized a low tide shelling expedition at Little Hickory for bloggers Rhonda from Shellbelle’s Tiki Hut, Debbie from Love of the Sea and ME! What a blast!
Bloggers Karen, Rhonda and Debbie
We met at Little Hickory beach in Bonita Springs at 7 am (yep, another early morning) yesterday for low tide shelling…. and gabbing.
Live sand dollar
Rhonda found this live SAND DOLLAR, then another and another. Lots of very healthy ones so even though we didn’t find any to take home, it’s always good to see them happy and healthy.
Bonita Springs Fighting Conchs
On the other hand, there are still hundreds of FIGHTING CONCHS fighting for their lives at low tide and many dead. I posted an article about this last week (Fighting Conchs on Bonita Beach) but haven’t heard an update as to why they think they are dying. As you can see, there are still tons of them.
Debbie's true tulip
Debbie found this gorgeous TRUE TULIP about 4 inches long. I think that was the best find of the day!
Crucifix bone
Another beachcomber, Carol, at Little Hickory found a CRUCIFIX SHELL. It’s actually the head bone of gafftopsail catfish and it is said to bring good luck to the finder. I sure hope that’s true because……
My Crucifix shell from catfish
I found one too! Mine isn’t as perfect as Carol’s but I didn’t read anywhere that it had to be perfect to bring good luck. Woohoo!
Little Hickory beach
I’m already lucky to live in paradise but I feel lucky too for getting to spend such a fun day with 3 other beach bloggers! See? It’s working!
Karen The Essential Beachcomber
Thank you Karen for getting our Beachcombing Blogger-Palooza together!
PS- I now have Google Friend Connect. If you are a member, please join me!
