Finally, we got out on the boat to do some sight-seeing, beach-combing, and fishing. Our travels took us south toward Mosquito Lagoon, where we spotted many manatees. We did some island hopping and ended up on a sandy beach just off the ICW. This is where I came across the hermit crab party. A gathering of pretty shells were crawling all over a little rock in shallow water near the beach.
As I strolled along the beach, I wished I had carried the camera with me. When I don’t have it, I see amazing things, of course!
As I was nearly ready to turn back, I saw this cluster of shells up on a rock (probably coquina rock) and it appeared that the hermit crabs were fighting over a shark’s eye shell which was on the very top of the rock.
By the time I went and got the camera and came back, the shark’s eye shell was nowhere to be seen. But a gorgeous pink crown conch caught my eye.
Usually the crown conch has brownish stripes, but this one had stripes of pink and lavender! I have not touched up my photo below. That is the real color of the shells. What a treat to find such a beauty….! I did not collect it because it was home to a crab.
I liked this photo so much that I made it into a square poster, which is for sale in my Zazzle store.
Group of shells (with hermit crabs inside)
There are 5 seashells in my photo; 2 pear whelks, 2 crown conchs, and a big tulip shell underwater. Wish I’d taken a photo of that big shell, but there was a hermit crab in it so I didn’t want to mess with it.
I didn’t touch the “rock” but I assume it is a chunk of coquina covered in seaweed or sea grass, and the usual slime. You can see the barnacles on top as well.
The water was warm – too warm. The idea is to cool off on a hot Florida day, but dunking into the river is like sitting in a lukewarm bathtub. The sea water temperature was 85 degrees.
I always wish I had taken more photos, but keeping the iPhone out is dangerous around the water, and the baking sun isn’t good for it either. And did I mention that it was hot?!
Hermit crab gathering
We caught some fish too, but then the clouds moved in and built into big thunderheads, so we had to go home.
Clouds building over the land means thunderstorms are coming
Emma Cownie
I guess the problem with iphone and water is there’s a chance you might drop it – at least with old-fashioned regular cameras you have a strap to hang around your neck.
Pam
And I have a waterproof case for the iPhone, but it’s even more difficult to manage to get photos when it’s inside the case. Between the salt, water and extreme sun, I don’t like taking my expensive camera out on the boat.
Emma Cownie
I don’t own an iphone, ipad etc so I wasn’t aware that you could buy a case for it. Though that makes sense. I can see a case doesn’t make photography particularly easy.
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Pete Hillman
These shells have such beautiful colours and forms! Lovely, Pam!