In nature, it’s impossible to predict when you might see a MILLIPEDE SEASTAR or find a large pile of shells in the same place you may have seen it a week ago… or yesterday for that matter.
Because of winds and tides, the Gulf of Mexico is always moving. Winds from the east then west then north then south… the gulf is constantly swirling. Because of this continuous moving life force of waves in Southwest Florida, we get a fascinating view to watch our beaches constantly shift… leaving sand, sea life and/or their empty shells in different places every day. Just like this beautiful beach bling village I saw at Gulfside City Park beach on Sanibel Island this week, it won’t be there for long- wind and rain could wash this away at any moment. But I enjoyed every minute looking at this shellmazing piece of beach art.
We discover new treasures every day on the beach.
But it’s not every day when we will see a live HORSE CONCH and its egg casing…
Or see a LIGHTNING WHELK and its EGG CASING.
Even more unusual, I found this SLEEPY SPONGE CRAB (I believe its a Dromia personate) tucked inside a SEA PORK (TUNICATE) this week at Gulfside. Adorbs! This is exactly why a beach comber is called back to the beach over and over and over again. We learn something new every day!
I took a short little video to show you how cute he looked in his little SEA PORK house. I haven’t been doing many videos lately because I can’t figure out why they are so blurry- ugh. So I tried again and … oh boy….. it’s blurry still- grrrrrrr- but I’m going to go ahead and show it cause he’s such a cutie shellootie!
But wait y’all! Don’t forget the 80th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival is this week Thursday, Friday and Saturday – March 2, 3, 4 2017. And guess who will be there?!!! I will be at the festival every day with…..
Come visit us!
I love that every time we come down to Sanibel the beaches are totally different!
On a rainy day last year I found a Sleepy Sponge crab. It was bright orange as was the sponge it inhabited. Unfortunately it was dead but I still wanted a photo. I put it in my raincoat pocket and walked two miles back to my hotel. I washed the sand off of it to get a good photo. And it MOVED! I quickly took my photos and put it back in the Gulf. That wasn’t just a sleepy crab it was comatose! I had even touched it’s eyes when trying to determine if it was alive. No reaction. Nature always teaches me something.
haha MEM he was playing opossum! This one was definitely alive and well but had washed up in the wrack line so I placed him back in the water. Hopefully both of them were able to hold on to their houses and survive the water. Always something fun to learn.
I miss your YouTube videos so much!
Hi Keri, you are sweet that you liked them that much that you miss them. i don’t know what happened but the uploads to youtube take so long for me it just wasn’t fun to deal with it. i took a video of this sponge crab so now that you said that, i’ll se it anything has changed and it will upload. I’m keeping my fingers crossed! I’ll add it to this post if it works. Thank you Keri!
Never a boring time on the beaches of Sanibel! Could spend 24/7 on those beaches!
W O W! Those egg casings are awesome!
Pam I so love and miss your videos of shelling on Sanibel. I have watched most all of your previous videos numerous times. Keeps me going thru the long hard Illinois winters until I can get there again. Please share more of your shelling adventures. 🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚
Wendy and Keri, I just added the video. :) but….. now i remember why I haven’t been doing more videos. I can’t get them to upload correctly to youtube- they’re always fuzzy now- they changed something in the settings and i can’t figure it out. I need a twelve year old to help me through it- hahaha. I added it any way so you can see why I wanted to show this little cutie. Thanks for your sweet comments yall- it keeps me going.
I’m happy to FedEx my ornery teenage twins to you for technical assistance! 😊
I loved the sponge crab! Thank you!
Why does this page, text and photos keep jumping around and changing size? It’s really difficult to look at.
Thanks,
Catherine
Pam, I found a Sleepy Sponge Crab the other day and had no idea what it was. Thanks for telling me! I have learned so much from you. I’m looking forward to seeing you and the Shell Love Bug at the shell show!
Oh Pam, your video was perfect. I didn’t think it was too blurry at all! Thanks so much for sharing.
Ah I love that crab! I photographed a tiny one of a similar species but a bit different from this one, on Nevis a few years ago.
Pam, your photos are exceptional! Can I purchase the two egg casing photos from you to use in a shelling program I plan to give to my women’s club at home? Thanks! Your blog is constant inspiration and education!
Pam, I just saw your photo with the Love Bug at the Shell Show in the Santiva Chronicle. Great photo. Wish I had been there. Hopefully one day I will get to see the Love Bug in person. :)