“It’s not what you look at, it’s what you see”

This time I would like to share with you a few neat experiences I had at Grand Isle that were just unique, and yet so simple. If I was busier or rushed, they probably would have been missed!!

Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are so cute and so entrancing to watch! The beach off of Grand Isle is a very sparse beach with very few sea shells to look for. What I discovered, was that probably 80% of the shells I came across on the beach that were in one piece, were inhabited by hermit crab! How cool!

When I would pick them up, I could barely see their claws or their legs sticking out around the curve of the shell. But they were in there! They definitely preferred this type of shell. I only found one in a circular shell. 

HERMIT CRAB I

Sometimes I could see tiny tracks on the smooth, wet sand that would lead up to the shells.

However they were firmly tucked in when they sensed my thunderous approach across the sand. I began to patiently wait them out. Eventually I could see their legs come out bit by bit…pause…and then their treck toward to receding tide would begin. They could really go!

It was heartbreaking to watch the tide come up strong, swirl around them and roll them right back up the shore!! Poor thing! They would wait, recover themselves, and then go at it again. When it happened numerous times, I would pick them up and put them in a deeper section where the tide washed over them and left them alone. Enough Mother Nature! And on they would go, crawling along the sand under the water…

Other ones seemed to just rest on the upper sections of the beach. They made no attempt to walk to the ocean. Probably knowing that later the tides would give them a ride!  I checked them out and yes, the shell had a crab in it. Sometimes they would be rolled on their backs, and it was neat to watch them crawl slowly out of the shell and then flip it right over on their backs!

They were my favorite beach creatures!

Sand Crabs 

I also discovered sand crabs. This was new to me. The path from the RV park to the ocean was quite pretty as it wound through grassy marshland to increasing sand. As I neared the beach, I saw holes dug all over the path, of all different sizes. Outside of each hole were a lot of tiny travel marks and mounds of sand. What on earth?

One of the days I had seen some activity by one, so I stood quietly for awhile to watch. Finally, a little crab emerged and rewarded me by throwing a tiny bit of sand out! He peeked out a little farther so I could get a good look at him. My best way to describe him, is that he looked like a crab that had glue poured over him, followed by a dusting of sand! Amazing! They would be very difficult to see! I was again entranced  by their tiny size and their tenacity! 

Over the days, I caught glimpses of some of them outside of their holes. If it was not for their movement, I wouldn’t have seen them at all. This one was larger and had a less sandy look and more color. {I love enlarging  the picture and finding their two eyes on the antenna on the top of their shell.} One time I must have been treading very lightly, and the crab thought I was a meal coming. It darted right out of the hole toward me and then darted right back in. He scared me and I must have scared him! Every day I walked the path was a little adventure…  they are so cute! 

Jelly Fish

Now jelly fish are not my favorite sea creature, because they can sting and make you quite miserable. I was sad to see, however, 16 dead jelly fish washed up on shore within 300’ one day. I began counting because I had never seen so many. Wendy, another camper, stated that they are already dead when they wash up, but that this was an unusual number for that beach. The next day I counted 8, and then there were only a couple or so after that. Who knows what precipitated it.

I found it very interesting to look at how they were built, as you could see right through them! They had a commonality, but differences. I’ll include a few photos. I could see their tentacles, and stayed away from ever touching them. The shore birds came to pick at them.

A Live Jelly Fish Rescue

One day as I walked the beach, I came upon this jelly fish with quite a different and bright color. I began to wonder if perhaps, this jelly fish was still alive? I watched it closely. And then I could see it. The whole blob would expand and then contract slowly!! Really? I watched again and again. No doubt about it. Amazing. It was moving on its own. Was that how it was breathing? Whatever it was, I knew it was alive.

The problem, of course, was how to get it back into the ocean before it died or got pecked to death by the shorebirds. I had nothing along and certainly could not touch it. If I had a shovel, I could get under it and carry it to the tide. I scanned the shore and walked the grass line. I came back with a small square of driftwood I could use as a trowel. I watched the tide. It washed over the jellyfish periodically, but not enough to dislocate it from the sand. So, I put my chair nearby, and very carefully began to make a trench around the jellyfish, leading to the ocean. Instead of the tide pushing it down in the sand, perhaps I could get it to wash under it, and lift it off the sand to float it out. So I periodically dug, the tides periodically filled the trench with sand, I’d scoop it back out , repeat. I gradually worked the trench under the outer edges of the jelly fish. I sat and watched the tides come up and recede. It all depended on the tides, now…

In the meantime, I also kept one tenacious shore bird away from pecking on it. It would come near, I’d clap my hands, and it would scurry up the beach a little. Apparently this was it’s area of the beach to patrol, because it hung around all the while. (and there was a dead jellyfish just a little farther away to peck at.)  It learned quickly. After awhile, it would trot near the jelly fish, cock it’s head at it, look at me and trot on! Had to smile! 

Over time, between my dredging and the tide, it moved slightly. Then, so quickly I almost didn’t get a picture, the tide washed under it, picked it up and floated it out! It was so exciting to watch!! It was as if the ocean knew it was time to take it back home. Out it went!!

I’ll never know it if survived or not, but it really doesn’t matter. Between the ocean and me, we gave it another chance. That’s what matters. It was a wonderful gift to spend the afternoon like that. 🤗

I love becoming a part of nature. Traveling like this and staying at a park for periods of time, gives me time to do that. Nothing else mattered for that afternoon, except the ocean tides  and the jellyfish.…

I hope you can see it floating…😀