the weathered whelk

I went for a walk on the beach yesterday morning. There was a wind advisory, high surf advisory and rip current statement, and I thought the rough waters might wash something interesting ashore. As it turns out, there was surprisingly little on the beach. It was broad and smooth. There wasn’t even a line of wrack at the high-tide mark. The waves were relentless and the wind was blowing biting sand against my legs, so it was not a day to be on the beach in shorts, despite being the start of a summer holiday weekend. What I had hoped would be a long, rambling walk became a fairly brief outing. The sunbathers were smart to stay home.

I did pick up one weathered whelk and somehow managed to find three shark’s teeth—two tiny ones that I’m surprised I could even see, and a larger one that will make a nice addition to my collection. For me, three shark’s teeth is a good day. Though I’ve found as many as a dozen on a single day, that is unusual. Most of the time, I go home empty handed. When I do find them, one or two is typical.

As for the weathered whelk, it will be added to a larger collection—one I thin out by returning shells to the sea every year or so. Here on Amelia Island, we find lightning whelks, knobbed whelks, channeled whelks and pear whelks.

While most beachcombers seek out the still shiny, fully intact shells, I never fail to fall for the aged, weathered and worn ones. To me, they have more character and I love their muted colors. I have been photographing them for years. But like shark’s teeth, I don’t always find them on the beach. They seem to come and go in spurts—one of the mysteries of the sea. One can never know what might wash in with the tide from day to day.

Are you a beachcomber? If so, do you seek out specific shells or just collect what piques your interest? And if you are on a beach this weekend, let me know what interesting things you find.