Dophins or NZ Orcas in the Tamaki Strait, water warming!

Lemons and daffodils

Spring is arriving at a rapid pace.  The citrus fruit and bulbs are coloring our vision, as we do our daily treks around the village.

Daphne and grapefruit

A few nights ago, my husband I were having a quiet, evening repast on the deck watching the ripples on the strait, obviously not stressing.  He startled me by saying, 'grab the binocs now!'  Oh good god my thoughts exploded; is someone drowning, has a treasure chest surfaced, the Loch Ness monster has migrated!?!  But no, relax, just the most beautiful blowing, breaching, and dancing of either small orcas or dolphins.  

I had just heard on the NZ public radio that the waters were warming more quickly than usual and that the sea mammals were traveling through our waters earlier than expected.  We sat back and enjoyed the show and talked about how we were learning to witness the herding of fish by larger fish, birds and sea mammals.

When I told the 20 something neighbor about the sighting, she told me to watch a you tube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msx3BAhIeQg

It is entitled: Dolphins purposely 'getting high' on puffer fish - Dolphins - Spy in the Pod: Episode 2 - BBC One

On listening to her description of the video, my first thought was a 60s song revamped for the dolphins: “Don’t bogart that puffer my friend…..”

When I told her about the musical association she just looked at me strangely.  Guess you had to have been there, in the 60s I mean.

Phil and I also watched cormorants perched on the bluffs, 'eyeing' the water and then as a group swooping down to about a meter off the surface of the ripples, forming a line and heading to the shore.  In about a foot of water they dove in, surfacing quickly with beaks full of flailing fish.  They had 'herded' the school of fish to shore.  So amazing to see a group working so well together for the common good.  If we humans could only learn.

Life is good here, J