I love Bald Head every time of year. But, it is especially nice in the fall. It's cooler and there are less people here, which makes it feel almost like your own personal island more so than in the summer. I had the perfect Bald Head day yesterday. Since it was my first full day here, I decided that I needed to scope out all the beaches for the best shells. I hit every beach, even running north on East Beach for a couple miles to see what was up there.
While the shelling isn't at it's best, there are some great finds. And, after the thunderstorm on Friday and the new moon tonight, I'm hoping by tomorrow or Tuesday the good stuff will be out there waiting on me.
I've been working really hard. And, sometimes when I'm in a groove, it's hard to get me out of the office. I'm so glad the boyfriend did. It was maybe the prettiest day this fall, and being out on the water and visiting a barrier island for the afternoon was just what I needed to get refreshed and ready for another week. Very great day shelling; lots of interesting goodies washed up.
Starfish
Banded Tulip
Dancing Starfish
Calico Crab with some kind of parasite that was growing on the shell.
Channeled Whelks
Carcass of some unknown animal...kind of gross, but of course I was intrigued.
I feel like I am always able to find something to pair my scarves with, but Polyvore gives me the opportunity to think of new ways. I love this outfit featuring the Horseshoe Crab Scarf. If I can picture myself wearing this outfit does it mean it really happened? That is, without having to buy it all.
Holy sh*t. I know I shouldn't be that surprised that Mary Lee, the 16 foot long, 3,456 lb Great White Shark who visited New Hanover County last year, is back, this area is lovely. But, I am. She was off the coast of Wrightsville Beach just on Sunday. If you want to freak yourself out, you can follow her here.. Right now she is off the coast of Carolina Beach.
Check out the article, with some incredible pictures of this gorgeous animal that may or may not give you heart palpitations here.
Menhaden is a word that has been in my vocabulary even before I knew what having a vocabulary meant. I used to go with my Dad to catch menhaden for his trips offshore growing up. I remember seeing loads of these schools of shiny fish when I was younger. Not so much any longer, at least not in the creeks and channels where they used to be plentiful. My theory is that the flood of hurricanes the Wrightsville Beach area had in the late 90s disrupted the normal menhaden migration.
Two years ago, fishing at low tide on a shoal at Cape Fear, I experienced one of the coolest marine events involving menhaden. We were catching pigfish and whiting, so our focus was narrowed. That is until we could hear the menhaden approaching. It took some time for the 200 yard school of menhaden to reach us, and even longer for them to move south along Frying Pan Shoals. But, those 30 minutes were ones I will never forget. I just wish I had it all on camera. It was if the menhaden planned on giving us a show of our lifetime. My sister, my friend with her young son, had just arrived on the shoal to shell, when the shark show started. The menhaden were popping along the surface when the shark fins starting shooting through them, sometimes jumping out of the sea. I think a tarpon even got in on the fun. I managed to film a small bit, it doesn't do it justice - but, you can see the menhaden. You never know what you will witness hunting and gathering along the coast. It's better than any TV show or film you pay money to watch.
Recently, while shelling on Masonboro Island, I came across another school of menhaden. Hoping for another shark attack, I filmed for a bit. But, I only captured the action of the school swimming in the breakers. Maybe next time.
Last week I was determined to find sand dollars. And, low tide was nice enough to come early in the morning. I was so determined that I woke up wide eyed at 4:45 a.m. Patiently waiting until the sun came up, I did a little work before combing the beach. And, because of the cloudy weather, I was the only one walking towards the Little River Inlet Jetty on Bird Island.
This Sand Dollar had a suction animal on it. I removed it, but I think that's why it's discolored.
Gorgeous cloudy morning.
Bird Island Reserve
Calico Crab Shell
Sand Dollar
Baby Sand Dollar
Sand Dollar
Mornings like this are the best way to start the day. The feeling of having an island to yourself is almost heavenly, and then to find these treasures just laying on the ground is joyful. If you see me on the beach talking to my gems, just ignore me. I already know I'm slightly crazy.
