Category: Field Trips

This past October we were literally treated to a great field trip which was provided by Doug & Toni Fisher. Let’s put it this way….that beach put Sanibel to shame and members Juan Marrero, Richard Sedlak, Heather, Joy, The Fishers, Patty Springborn and her two sisters, the Alvos, the Leidi Family, the Paces and Anthony Mestiski took advantage of the treasures.  The ocean started to pick up so the signature Blowing Rocks did their “performance” under the cloudy skies – perfect shelling weather, although snorkeling was out of the question.

Among the shells found, in addition to sea beans and other drift goodies were: The now “famous” Gelagna succincta – Lesser Girdled Triton – a Pacific Shell now showing up in the Atlantic!, Turbo castanea – Chestnut Turban, Nerita peloronta – Bleeding Tooth, Strombus raninus – Hawkwing Conch, Strombus gigas – Queen Conch, Cypraea cervus – Atlantic Deer Cowrie, Cypraea zebra – Measled Cowrie, Cypraea acicularis – Atlantic Yellow Cowrie, Trivia pediculus – Coffee Bean Trivia, Trivia suffuse – Suffuse Trivia, Cassis tuberosa and madagascariensis – the King and Queen helmets (lip pieces only), Phalium granulatum – Scotch Bonnet, Modulus modulus – Atlantic Modulus, Cymatium martinianum – Atlantic Hairy Triton, Astraea tuber – Green Star Shell, Glycymeris spectralis – Bittersweet Clam, Chichoreus florifer – Lace Murex, Stramonita rustica – Rustic Rock Shell, Tonna maculata and galea – Atlantic Partridge and Giant Tun Shell – large pieces, Pollia tincta – Tinted Cantharus, Fasciolaria tulipa – True Tulip, Oliva sayana – Lettered Olive, Conus mus – Mouse Cone, Arca zebra – Turkey Wing, Arca species, Atringa rigida – Stiff Pen Shell, Plicatula gibbosa – Atlantic Kitten’s Paw, Glycymeris species, Chlamys sentis – Sentis Scallop, Argopecten gibbus – Calico Scallop, Lyropecten nodosus – Lion’s Paw (halves), Trachycardium muricatum – Yellow Cockle, Globivenus rigida – Rigid Venus,  Macrocallista maculata – Calico Clam, Crepidula fornicata – Common Atlantic Slipper, Distorsio clathrata – Atlantic Distorsio, Busycon contrarium – Lightning Whelk, Melongena corona – Crown Conch, Polinices duplicata – Shark’s Eye ( some HUGE pieces as well), Murex pomum – Apple Murex, Laevicardium robustum – Giant Atlantic Cockle and Chione intapurpurea – Lady-In-Waiting Venus.  Please note that most of the bivalves were found as single valves.

There were 15 of us who went on the field trip to Blowing Rocks Preserve.  Our club were the only people on the beach for most of the morning.  It was fun shelling with other knowledgeable shell collectors.  Everyone seems to find great shells along the 1.5 mile beach.  Heather even found a shell not native to our area that must have fallen off a passing ship!

Due to the popularity of the Sanibel Show trip AND by request the club is going to have a trip on Saturday, June 11^th to see the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel. Director Jose Leal will be on hand to give us a special tour.

As per the Show trip we will meet at the Coral Ridge Mall (beneath the AMC Theater sign which fronts on Federal Highway).  Be there by 7:15 AM so we can get on the road.  We will return about 9PM.  The cost will be as before – $30 per person.  Cash is preferred or checks are acceptable, made out to me, Richard Sedlak, seeing as how the initial rental will come out of my account and not the shell club.  The admission to the museum is $7 per person which you can either pay in advance or at the door. We will do the museum, have lunch (most likely at Doc Fords) and then do some shelling and stop at a shell shop – or two. Bring a snack or drink if you wish, and probably some shelling gear. All that is asked is that once you commit, don’t cancel unless it is an emergency.  Sign up at the April and May meetings or call me at 954-296-5633 / sedlaki1@comcast.net.

This past March 5^th a van full of our Broward members and other friends descended upon the hapless and unsuspecting population of Sanibel.  The weather was perfect (just a few passing showers…with a rainbow) and the itinerary kept everyone busy.  Our intrepid group included Tom Ball, Juan Marrero, myself (Richard Sedlak who drove everyone – literally and figuratively), Nancy Galdo, new members Kathie Bishop and Linda Laurin who were both like kids in a candy shop and also former member Ed Sossen and guest Mike Sposito, and Lorenzo D’Oria (whose truck always saves the day at Shell Show set-up).  Violet Mass was the first to sign up and was so eager to go, but ended up in the hospital with a pneumonia condition.  Hope you are feeling better!

We hit the beach (so-to-speak) running,  by arriving at their wonderful show – the 74^th one this time.  One outstanding feature of their show is the craft section which is phenomenal.  The Sailors’ Valentines leave you breathless.  Also of note is the small area just outside where they have 6^th grade students from Sanibel, oversee tanks with live shells and they explain the shells and their living habits to the visitors.  A nice educational touch from the Sanibel elementary school.  Of course like all the rest of us food is always an “option” so we (along with other Broward members who were already there) attacked the Island Cow located a one-minute walk right next door (I have dubbed it “The Mad Cow”).  They are efficient; the food is great – and tons of it!  We then waddled across the street, got back into the van and headed for Showcase Shells, Larry Strange’s shop and Anne Joffe’s “She Sells Sea Shells”.  All that shopping makes one thirsty so we hit the Dairy Queen ….on the way to our final destination, the beach at the Sanibel lighthouse.  We all found some shells though the weather conditions had not been conducive to allowing the piles of shells one could usually find on the beach at other times.

Of course the day did have to come to an end so we all piled in the van with our various treasures and discussed the day’s events.  One thing that was discussed was another trip back to Sanibel for seeing the museum. Soooooo…..

Yup….we are going to plan another one day trip to Sanibel for those who would like to experience the oldest shell show in the state.  The club rents a 12-passenger van which will leave the Pompano Civic Center at 7:15 AM on Saturday, March 5^th.  We will see the show, have lunch, stop at a shell shop – or two, and attempt some shelling before it gets dark.  We return to Pompano about 10:30 PM or sooner.  The cost is $30 per person which includes the rental fees/taxes, gas and tolls.  The van holds a maximum of 12, but if we have enough interest we will rent an additional van….BUT I will need someone to designate as a driver.  I will be driving the first van (as usual).  Please see me at the February meeting or call/email me at 954-296-5633 / sedlaki1@comcast.net.  Checks are to be made out to The Broward Shell Club, but at least some cash payments would be nice, to use for the fuel and tolls.  All I ask is that if you commit to go then please do so.  If there is a remote possibility that you might not be able to go then please do not sign up as any cancellations will end up having to be paid for by the club.  It REALLY is a fun day and I encourage you new members to take advantage of this fun day.