Dolphins in the Lagoon

(It is finally starting to look like spring around here. The daffodils and serviceberry are blooming and the trees are covered with buds and tiny leaves. The Brown Thrasher and Rose-breasted Grosbeak have returned, and the hummingbirds can't be far behind. I am ready to get out to the woods to pull garlic mustard and return to writing about Michigan. But first, I have one final post from our trip in March to Florida.)

Within five minutes of putting our kayaks in the water at the Longpoint boat launch, Lori had a dolphin breach within 20 feet of her. Damn near gave her a heart attack. She related the event excitedly once Lisa and I were on the water. We paddled out into a more open area and sure enough, there were two or three dolphins fishing in the shallows of the lagoon.



I've never been this close to a dolphin before, and it was a thrilling experience to be right there on the water with them. They would swim in a quick circle, perhaps confusing or entrapping fish, and then well up with a splash, although never quite coming all the way out of the water.




We worried a bit that we would get caught up in one of these explosions of fish and dolphin, but we need not have--they kept their distance.


One of the dolphins had an entourage--two Brown Pelicans, one clearly older than the other, were tagging along, perhaps hoping to catch fish that the dolphin stirred up.


They stayed quite close at hand.


We floated and watched for an hour or more, feeling privileged to be so close to these magnificent animals.


It was a wonderful way to end what had been a wonderful vacation!