It's crazy the masses of stranded FIGHTING CONCHS and HORSE CONCHS I showed you over 2 weeks ago (CLICK HERE) are still on the beach at Gulfside City Park. Blind Pass Captiva has come and gone with shells a few times in the last weeks so each day is a surprise to what we find. The best thing I've found there recently is 10 year old Ryan from New Jersey. This kid has learned so much about shells, he could name every shell on the beach. It was so much fun to see that he was just as obsessed with all shells and bling... hmmmmm... I think I see a future Malacologist in the making. ;) He's pretty darn good at finding awesome shells too. It was a special trip to Sanibel for Ryan and his grandma Hilarie - he was teaching her about shells. There's something else interesting about this next photo too... this beach is on the inside of jetty rocks at Blind Pass Captiva- that beach is back! Over the years the sand shifts back and forth- opening and closing the pass. It's …
Sunsets
Sanibel Sand Dollars Days
There are days on Sanibel when hundreds of COCKLE shells... or DOSINIA shells... or PEN SHELLS wash up on the beach. Well, this past week (and lots of random weeks this year) there were hundreds- if not thousands- of SAND DOLLARS washing up on the beach. Lots of them were still living (!) but some were perfectly bare of cilia and spines which means they can no longer be alive. If you have any doubts whether a SAND DOLLAR is alive or dead, please leave it where you found it. But if you want to learn how to tell the difference, please CLICK HERE for my post How To Identify Differences Between Live And Dead Sand Dollars. Local sheller Karen knows the ones she can keep and was as dumbfounded as I was to find gazillions of them scattered all over the beach. So many in perfect condition. If you look closely at this next photo, you'll see those dark spots throughout the sand- most of those were still the live ones dotting the beach at Gulfside City Beach on …
Here Comes The Sanibel Sun
A few more beautiful sunrises and sunsets have happened since I took this photo last week. I almost forgot about showing you these amazing treasures and moments because time seems to be passing with the speed of light. I didn't find the shell of a lifetime so it didn't seem as important to post. But that's not what its all about, is it? It's not just finding the biggest and best shell pile in the world. It's finding something that makes you happy and content while you are on the hunt for that once in a lifetime seashell. The amazing thing about beach combing is that every day and every hour there's something beautiful to see or washes up at your toes. Life is colorful. No two people will see beauty the same way. Enjoy each moment on the beach. You might not find a more special place on earth. There will be days you will never forget. …
