A Shell Seeker Adventure

Today was a beautiful day for a shell seeker adventure. 

We started our adventure with a picnic lunch on the white sands of cayo-coasta.

The turquoise water was calling us,

 the shells were laying on the beach just waiting for someone to pick them up and take them home.

The real adventure started when Shell Seeker took my two nieces Samantha, Kirsten 

and their friend Gabby tootling around. I took them to some of my shell seeking spots, so that they could see some of our Florida wild life. 

We came upon an osprey nest with one osprey feeding her newly born chick and the mate close by keeping a watch for unwanted predators.

I introduced the girls to the cactus that grows wild here. 

It has this bright yellow flower that turns into a maroon fruit. 

I picked up one of the cactus fruits, peeled it and gave it to each of the girls to try.

This is Gabby giving the fruit a try. 

Everyone said," It's really good."

While walking in the shallows on the bay side of the island the girls found a large conch shell.

 We were all very excited to find a large hermit crab living inside.

He was a deep red with very large claws. Mr. hermit was not happy about us picking him up and taking his picture.

Herm did come out of his shell to give us a full view of his amazing body,

 and then back into his shell he went. The girls gently placed him back where they found him and he scurried off along the sand bottom of the bay. 

Kirsten, Samantha and Gabby show us there favorite finds of the day.