May

The water and clouds were inviting through the lens of the camera today. The bird in the photo is a reddish egret. I revisited my photo from an earlier post(porthole to the future). I liked the clouds in the porthole shot I took today. The beauty of the islands is that they are always changing.

A May Evening Shelling

Today, the May evening weather was perfect. A long time client and her son traveled with me to one of my favorite spots. The mini sand dollars were showing up, as well as some nice olives, a moon shell, a sunray venus and a little horse conch. It was nice to be out on the water on this beautiful May evening.

All Good Days

It's the middle of May, my favorite month.  Sometimes you just have to go to your favorite spot by yourself and listen. Listen to the tide, wind, leaves falling, and hear what they are saying.

Texas Shellers

The super moon tide was going out fast when we reached my favorite island.  Karen, Alaina and Melodie were as excited as I was to start exploring this isolated stretch of beach. The ladies from Texas were hearty shellers. They shelled their way from Texas stopping at beaches along the way. Then they were going to shell their way back. We talked about shells and what they had found along the way. They told me about the operculam from the turban shell they had found the day before in Northern Florida. I told Karen I had found some up that way a year ago, but never on this "island". Ten minutes later she said, ''Look at this". I'll be darn if it wasn't a operculam from the turban.(second photo from the top) Then she found another. WOW!! Then Melodie found one. Then I found one. My first ever in this location. The whole thing was very exciting. The ladies kept finding them and giving them to me. I just shook my head in amazement. All very cool finds. You never know what you will find. They also found many sand dollars and one excellent Arrow Head Sand Dollar. Karen had a very good shelling eye. Melodie was also a sharp sheller. We reluctantly started our trip back to Captiva, (we probably could have shelled all night.) The May skies were beautiful. It was a great trip with the ladies from Texas. Thank you ladies. God bless Texas!

Moria and Marty

 Sunset and a super moon low tide with friends Moria and Marty, WOW! It was a wonderful trip. Marty was like a magnet for sandollars, Moria found a key hole limpet, cockles, a baby's ear shell, tusks, rice shells, olives, sun ray venus, wendeltrap, bubble shells, and many colorful coquinas. Great conversations were had and mutual shelling friends were talked about. Kim the ever busy bee was brought up often. The Essential Beachcomber was also talked about.  The day was filled with great memories. Thank you Moria and Marty.

Captain Brian Goes Astray

I don't often stray to crowded beaches, but today I competed in a 1 mile Paddle Board Race at Fort Myers Beach.  I have looked forward to paddling in this race for some time.  I paddled hard and I  am proud of receiving the honor of 2nd Place.  Now I am anxious to get back to my favorite spot to listen to the familiar sounds and smells of a beach I call home.