Coquinas on the beach

Like many other shellers, my first memories of shelling were being mesmerized with the colors of COQUINAS. “Butterfly” shells. I can get lost for hours in a small stretch of beach sorting through pink, yellow, red, orange, purple and striped COQUINAS. This is exactly what happened last night at Sanibel’s Gulfside City Park. Something happens to the rest of the world. I’m not sure where it goes but it disappears when I see these little beauties as I wonder how each one can look like they’ve been hand painted by thousands of different artists.

Coquina sea shells on Sanibel

The only thing that can snap me out of my world of seashell wonder is another extraordinary event… like an OSPREY plopping down his dinner feast on the same stretch of beach.

osprey eating a fish

It’s not often an OSPREY will get so close to us on the beach with his meal but I think this fish was about to wiggle its way out of the grips of this hungry predator. I’m assuming Mr Osprey had to land his catch on the beach to get a better grip so he wouldn’t lose this tasty dinner. Whatever the reason, Clark and I were thrilled to see this OSPREY show and I figured you might want to see it too! Enjoy the quick OSPREY show…

shellabaloo January 2015