Posts Tagged ‘beachcombing’
Posted by E.G.D. on January 15, 2018
Hello, beachgoers! We’ve mentioned it before, but I’ve decided to bring it up again: the dead of winter is a fantastic time for beachcombing. I was perusing the internet today, and it seemed like every time I stumbled upon articles about the best beaches to visit in January and February, the writers of those articles were sending beachgoers to warmer climes either on/near the equator or in the southern hemisphere (where it happens to be summer). It might seem weird for some, but I quite like having at least a couple of seasons in my year, and I’ve never thought it was less fun to visit a beach in the winter than to visit a beach in the summer. Therefore, I was inspired to make a concerted effort, and I found a few great articles about finding treasures on the beach when/where it’s cold outside. I’ve decided to share my finds with the Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches world!
The first article is from NCCoast.com (a website about the North Carolina Coast):
The Winter Beach – Shelling on the NC Coast
The article has fantastic advice about the best times to hit the beach, as well as advice about responsible shell collecting.
The second article is from CaptivaSanibel.com:
Best time for shelling on the islands comes during winter, extreme tides
I know the title seems to say it all, but the article is fantastic, and it quotes a true expert on the subject.
The third article is from chesapeakefamily.com:
Winter Beachcombing in Maryland
This article is a wealth of family daytrip advice that includes a list of great Maryland beaches to hit on cold winter days!
Don’t let the title of this last one from theislandermagazine.com fool you! It talks about beachcombing Galveston island in all of the cold months:
Fall Beachcombing
What I quite like about this particular article is that it covers most all of my favorite treasures, including sea beans, shells, shark teeth, and sea glass.
I hope that gives everyone hiding from the cold indoors some food for thought. Sometimes walking in a winter wonderland means day-tripping to your nearest beach.
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Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing | Tagged: beachcombing, sea glass, shark teeth, shelling | 3 Comments »
Posted by Jody on October 15, 2017
Knobbed Whelks
Just a couple of weeks ago, soon after Tropical Storm Irma’s 6-foot storm surge wreaked havoc on Jekyll Island, I visited this “Golden Isle” for a much anticipated girl trip. A dear life-long friend and I met in the Jacksonville (JAX) airport, rented a car, and drove the easy-peasy route north to Georgia’s little island paradise. The storm had done quite a bit of damage to many of the beach crossovers and it had devastated the protective dunes, but the state owned barrier island was in the process of returning to normal and was once again open for business.
Jekyll Island after Tropical Storm Irma
Over the long weekend, when the tide was low enough to barefoot it on the sandy seashore, we spent a great deal of time walking and catching up on the spectacular beaches of Jekyll Island (Mary’s Fitbit kept track and recorded our steps at 30+ miles!). Sand dollars were easily spotted dotting the shoreline but the grand prize of beachcombing on this fabulous weekend was hands down the Knobbed Whelk, Georgia’s Official State Seashell. They had been flung up into the rip-rap in abundance by Irma.
Beach Treasures found on Jekyll Island after Tropical Storm Irma
Our first sighting of these Jekyll Island gems happened when we spotted a family -looking very pleased indeed – coming towards us with armloads of something we couldn’t quite figure out. We just knew we had to ask! They were finding perfect Knobbed Whelk specimens hand over fist in the boulders piled along the dunes. They even happily shared some of their bounty with us! Afterwards, being on high alert to spot some of our own one-of-a-kind beach treasures, we began to see Knobbed Whelks partially buried in the sand just at the rolling surf line.
Knobbed Whelk found on Jekyll Island, Georgia
The Knobbed Whelk, as Jekyll Island’s “Your Official Guide” (Fall/Winter 2017) states, “… is the state shell of both Georgia and New Jersey. These big snails are a fairly common animal found along the intertidal beaches and marshes of Jekyll Island.” It goes on to say, “Feel free to take these shells as a souvenir, but only if they’re uninhabited.” The largest one we snagged was over 5 1/2 inches in length but they can grow up to 9 inches long. Also known to more scientific minds as “Busycon Carica,” they range from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Cape Canaveral, Florida. Our finds were everywhere on the color scale from light grey-brown (some being streaked with darker browns) to a very dark grey. The low knobs on the shells’ shoulders are a bit of a giveaway but an important fact in identifying a Knobbed Whelk is that the opening of the Knobbed Whelk’s shell is on the right. The Lightning Whelk, on the other hand, is a south paw!
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Any ideas on where we should go for our next girls only weekend?
We’d love to hear from you!
If you’d like to learn more about the Knobbed Whelk, I suggest this helpful site: Chesapeake Bay Program.
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Posted in Atlantic Coast Beaches, Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Seashells | Tagged: beachcombing, Busycon carica, Georgia beaches, Georgia's Official State Seashell, Jekyll Island Gerogia, Knobbed Whelk, seashells | 5 Comments »
Posted by Jody on June 22, 2017
Tropical Storm Cindy sure left a mess behind on our coastal beaches! Today, in South Mississippi, we still have lines of thunderstorms passing through, flash flood warnings posted, and a tornado watch in effect. Parts of the beachside highway are blocked due to sand coverage and many parking areas along the seawall fenced off by the county. Luckily, we were able to find a place to pull over and hop out for a quick look at one of the beaches in Biloxi this afternoon.
The aftermath of Tropical Storm Cindy on the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi..
Row of rental chairs buried in the sand.
I’m guessing we can negotiate a discount on these!
We’re going to need a bigger shovel!
Here’s one!
MDOT Sand Clean-up Crew
We didn’t expect to see this little guy:
Is anyone missing their pet turtle?
Cindy had a peculiar sense of humor.
She left this behind:
Seriously?? “The CYCLONE!”
It’s with a great big sigh of relief that we say, “So long, TS Cindy!”
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Posted in Gulf of Mexico Beaches, Sand and Shoreline | Tagged: beach, beachcombing, Biloxi Mississippi, Tropical Storm Cindy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Jody on January 30, 2017
Today’s Featured Guest Writer is Jacqueline Downs.
On a recent trip to Pismo Beach with my 7 year old granddaughter, I found a large shark tooth on the shore while shell seeking. I have being a shell seeker for many, many years up and down the California coast and have never found a shark tooth. Actually I have never really searched for shark teeth. I was extremely excited to find it while searching for sand dollars.
Shark Tooth from Pismo Beach, California
I found the shark tooth on the beach close one of the beach stairways north of the pier. I thought it was a nice rock, but behold it was a great surprise. The tooth is a little larger than a quarter.
Pismo Beach Prize
I’m thinking that maybe the tooth came out of the sea wall cliffs at the beach. California has had the a lot rain lately and maybe some erosion.
“Looks kind of old. Kind of like me” ~ We doubt that, Jacqueline ! 🙂
~Many thanks to Jaqueline for sharing her beach treasure with us! We are so happy that she sent along such fabulous photos of her very special find. Any day at the beach with a granddaughter is wonderful. Finding such a spectacular prize together makes it all the better!
Related Links: Pismo Beach, California (Official Site)
Pick Your Own Prehistoric Shark Teeth (Venice, Florida)
Please join us! Submission Guidelines for Guest Writers
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Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Featured Guest Writer, Northern California Beaches, Sand and Shoreline | Tagged: beach, beachcombing, Pismo Beach California, prehistoric shark teeth, shark teeth | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Jody on July 12, 2016
Visual Guide to Collecting Seashells on Florida’s Beaches!
Earlier this year, I was very surprised to find a copy of the beautiful, laminated Visual Guide to Collecting Seashells on Florida’s Beaches on the floor of my daughter’s car. Well, actually I wasn’t surprised that something was on the floor of the family mini-van, but it was definitely a shock to see my very own seashell photos inside the brochure. No kidding! I had been asked to help out with a seashell guide layout last year that I knew was for VisitFlorida.com. What I didn’t know is that it was going to be printed, laminated, and available for any and all travelers to pick up at the Florida Welcome Center! (Silly me, I thought it was going to be an online shelling reference guide. Must have been the “.com” that tripped me up.)
So, the next time Greg and I visited Florida, we stopped in at the Florida Welcome Center which is some 6 miles west of Pensacola on I-10. There we found stacks and stacks of the Visual Guide to Collecting Seashells, in all its glory – showcased everywhere from the Atlantic beaches brochure racks all the way around to the Gulf Coast shelves!
They were everywhere!
Free Florida Seashell Guide
Free Florida Seashell Guide
Welcome to the Sunshine State!
My photographs of bubble seashells, calico scallops, moon snails, a Florida fighting conch, and more – all inside! There is even a special recognition and thank you for me in the credits on the reverse side of the brochure. I couldn’t possibly be more pleased!
Be sure to stop in and get your free copy of the shelling guide the next time you are traveling through the Sunshine State, and use the handy-dandy checklist inside to keep track of your new found beach treasures.
So, what do you think? Does this mean I’m a shellebrity now? 😉
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Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Seashells, Tallies & Tips | Tagged: beach, beachcombing, Florida Welcome Center, Free Florida Shelling Guide, VisitFlorida.com, Visual Guide to Collecting Seashells on Florida's Beaches | 4 Comments »
Posted by E.G.D. on July 8, 2016
Today’s guest post, including the beautiful beach treasure photographs, is courtesy of Jake and Carla W.
Hi. I’m Jake and my treasure hunting partner is my wife Carla. This is my first post. The first pics are from 7/5/16, and the rest are from the last 2 to 3 months. We live south of Houston in Brazoria county. We treasure hunt in 3 Texas counties: Galveston, Brazoria, and Matagorda.
The last pics we think might be a partial megalodon tooth! I’ve emailed pics to a professor, but we haven’t heard back. Any input on that from the readers of Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches would be appreciated.
As you can see we like to go to the beach. Carla says its the only place we get along (LOL!). Anyway, enjoy the photos and happy hunting. -Jake and Carla.
About the Authors: “Jake and I are both in our 40’s and have been together for a little over three years. We love camping, fishing and shell seeking. We seem to have created an unspoken deal where he teaches me how to catch really big fish and I try to teach him the patience and tenacity needed to find shark teeth. I’m more into shells and driftwood, he’s searching for antique bottles and the occasional pirate treasure chest. To an outsider, we must seem odd, as we can go for hours with very little conversation and be content being with one another and our passions. But it works for us.” ~Carla
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A note from our Treasure Hunters:
We simply love to share when it comes to beaches, treasure hunting, beachcombing crafts, and beachy tips. How about you? Do you have a favorite beach you’d like to share with us? Maybe you have some great tips for beach picnics, seaside safety, or seashore activities. Please check out our Submission Guidelines for info on jumping into the fun at Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches. You could be our next Featured Guest Writer!
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Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Beaches of North America, Featured Guest Writer, Friday Finds, Gulf of Mexico Beaches, Seashells | Tagged: beach, beachcombing, Brazoria County Texas beach, Galveston County Texas beach, Matagorda County Texas beach, seashells, shark teeth, shelling, Texas Gulf Coast beach | 8 Comments »
Posted by Jody on June 20, 2016
It’s National Seashell Day!
To shell-ebrate, here are just a few posts on some our very favorite Beach Treasures:
Picture Perfect Calico Scallops
Wavy Turbans, Tile & Lots of Fun
Rayed Cone Snails
Angel Wings: A Heavenly Find
Colors of Sunset: Gould’s Wedge Seashells
Kitten’s Paws: Oh So Cute!
Would you like to check out other seashell posts? Simply type “seashells” into the search box (top left), sit back, and enjoy!
How about getting your feet wet with your own seashell post? We’d love to hear from you! Click on the “Submission Guidelines” tab for more info.
How will you shell-ebrate National Seashell Day?
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Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Holiday, Monday Miscellaneous, Seashells | Tagged: beach, beachcombing, National Seashell Day, seashells | 3 Comments »
Posted by Jody on May 28, 2016
Weekends Rock!
~Morning at Caspersen Beach, Florida~
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Posted in Gulf of Mexico Beaches, Weekend's Rock | Tagged: beach, beach photography, beachcombing, Casperson Beach Florida, Florida Gulf Coast beach | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Jody on May 24, 2016
Caspersen Beach, Venice, Florida. Yes, collecting shark teeth is allowed.
The best of our finds (so far)!
Have a great day at the beach!
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We’re off to Sanibel Island!
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Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Gulf of Mexico Beaches, Sand and Shoreline, Sharks, Today's Special | Tagged: beach, beachcombing, Casperson Beach Florida, Florida Gulf Coast beach, shark teeth, Venice Florida | 6 Comments »
Posted by Jody on May 23, 2016
There is a camaraderie among beach treasure hunters in Venice, Florida, that charms folks into returning over and over again. Locals and repeat visitors are quick to lend a hand along with plenty of advice. Perfect strangers will plop a load or two of scooped up seashells onto the sand in front of you to get you started. I’ve seen more than one longtime treasure hunter simply pick up a shark tooth on the sand and gift it to someone they’ve never met before. Everyone has a system of finding the treasured shark teeth on the shores of Venice. Some of us have a whole beach bag full of how-tos.
Here are a few tips, tricks, and how-tos we’ve learned along the way. They’re all tried and true!
1.The Dig and Sift
The Dig and Sift is accomplished by simply reaching into the water to get the biggest portion of settled shells possible, then sifting through the seashells and fragments in hopes of spotting the perfect shark tooth specimen. You can buy a fancy pants scooper (sold at the local Walmarts for just under $18.00) which is simply a little wire basket on a pole. Folks ’round here have been known to attach a kitchen sieve to a $1.00 thrift store golf club to achieve the same results. Clever! Right? The cheapest bet: scoop with your own two hands, although you should plan on chipping the polish off of any prettily manicured nails. (Come to think of it, this may indeed be the most expensive option of the three!)
The Dig and Sift
2. The Sweep and Trap
The Sweep and Trap system doesn’t require braving the surf. You just need to find a section of the beach where the surf is washing over a patch of smallish seashell fragments. Crouch on the sand and start to run your hand back and forth across the small bits and pieces while the surf comes and goes. Now, with this system, you’ll likely see a treasure or two get away before you can actually grab what really did look like a shark tooth. Hence the “trap” part. Quick reflexes are necessary to trap any dark, suspicious form before the waves wash your suspected precious beach treasure back into the sea.
The Sweep and Trap
3. The Scoop and Toss
Can’t find a place where the waves are washing across a section of seashell fragments? Have a friend simply scoop a colander, bucket, or basket of seashells and sand from the water and plop the load along the surf line for you. Follow the “trap” part of technique #2 from here.
4. The Dig Like Heck at the Shell Banks Left Behind After High Tide
🙂 Self explanatory:
The Dig Like Heck at the Shell Banks Left Behind After High Tide
5. The Walk and Scan
Enjoy a lovely walk on the beach and just look down. I can’t tell you how successful this system has been for many a beach treasure hunter on the beautiful beaches of Venice. Yes, this how-to is too obvious, but we just had to mention it!
The Walk and Scan
The Ultimate Venice Beach Treasure!
Good luck & have a wonderful day at the beach!!
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Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Gulf of Mexico Beaches, Sand and Shoreline, Seashells, Sharks, Tallies & Tips | Tagged: beach, beachcombing, Florida Gulf Coast beach, shark teeth, Venice Florida | 4 Comments »
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