Last week I spent two days exploring and shell collecting south of Marco Island. The tides that far south are tricky and dictate where you travel. The shell collecting was superb and the wind had the tides low. The Kings Crown was my best find. The cones had some unusual markings that are most intriguing. I was more than thrilled to find them. The true tulips were amazing. (Nick Hahn would have been going crazy, and I am sure he would have found more tulips) The albino lightning whelk was also a cool find. Going off the beaten path is always interesting. I enjoyed the smells, landscapes and solitude of the places just off the far horizon.
Is that a sponge in the 2nd photo? Gorgeous shells! It's fun to check out new places.
The kings crown is amazing, and I love the albino whelk. But alphabets are my favorite find of all!
Kim, it is a sponge and it was about two feet long.
Are those Florida Cones in the photo above the True Tulips?
Mike, I believe they are Florida cones with markings that are rare. I will keep you posted. I am taking a few shells to show the most knowledgeable shell person I know. I would be happy to know 2 percent of what this guy knows. He is amazing.
Holy kings crowns, batman! What a haul.
Mike, i talked with "The shell expert" he said they were florida cones. There was a little debate among his colleagues, they went back and forth on the latin names but in the end he said, florida cones.
He also said,"they used to be more common on Sanibel". I personally have never found cones like this before anywhere with these markings.
That Kings Crown is awesome!!!
I love love love that kings crown! Hope you can steer me to one like that when we are there in May!!!
I love the King's Crown. And your photography is spectacular as well. Thank you for sharing