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DOLPHIN ENCOUNTERS OF THE BEST KIND

by Scarlet Colley - March, 2000

Our dolphin family in the bay seems to have an uncanny understanding of our habits. On all our encounters with them they continually pick up on the excitement of special days such as a holiday , birthday or even an anniversary. Repetitions of encounters like this have us either believing or fooled that they love to celebrate with us by doing special things they love to do. We had a couple on the boat that were celebrating their 41st. Anniversary and the wife's birthday. When Colley asked her how she managed to have her birthday and anniversary on the same day she replied that her mother made her wait till she was 18 to get married ! What a fun loving couple. Our dolphin were in Dolphin Cove that morning and got excited as they heard us approaching. I could see it was Sally and her baby Special, Nipper and her baby Nippet, and Skimmer . They proceeded to play and splash and thrash around in front of us. While we were thanking them for the wonderful show, they began a series of jumps we will never forget. We were all in awe as they jumped three at a time ,then two at a time ,then one, then three again, Wow. More than twenty jumps we had that wonderful morning . Our anniversary couple have a special gift to keep in their hearts forever. They were up on the bow along with me clapping and cheering at each jump and the little ones just seemed to be grinning as they came leaping out of the water. As they swam near the boat looking up at us as we thanked them again and they went off to feed . We went on our way to do some birding with pure joy in our hearts.

Another encounter just happened yesterday. We had Captain Colley's mother aboard Thelma and her friends from the shell club, of which two were having a birthday. We had a delightful lunch on board; grilled chicken with veggies . Mom brought a bottle of champagne. We skimmed along the bay side of the island as I cooked and everyone ooed and ahed at the gorgeous bay front homes. Then the birthday request came from Virginia, the birthday girl, if only she could see dolphins. Captain and I looked at each other, grinned, and off we went toward the shipping channel. It wasn't long before we saw the spray and dorsal fins near the mouth of south bay. There were two families together and the nursery was at play. Immediately Titan came up to us along with Bubbles right under the bow. Virginia sat right in front looking over the edge. I could see her face light up as they began to run in front of the skimmer with us getting us wet with their spray as they leaped out. Then our daughter Heather said "mom, listen, you can hear them" and indeed they were making their high-pitched sounds. Soon there were little ones everywhere and they we playing all around us. I believe we all grew a year younger not older with an experience like that. As we said goodbye, we were all breathless and happy all the way thru. What a birthday!!! Our dolphins of the Laguna Madre Bay are so special and incredible and our life with them makes each day an adventure.

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